Page 13 of What I Like About You

“Go for it,” I say, not breaking eye contact with my screen. I can’t lose my flow now.

It’s my firstTeen Voguepiece, but I’m planning to pitch a monthly column to an editor I’m a Twitter mutual with. All posts would include a link to One True Pastry, which would behuge. I’m currently being hyped as their teen contributor, so I feel like there’s a decent shot. I’m aware that myteenfactor has an expiration date,but for now? I totally embrace it. Let me be ateen voiceon any and all major media platforms! I’ll never say no. I built One True Pastry on being for teens, by a teen.

Because engaging with adults who think YA is for them? It’s exhausting.

Twenty minutes later, I click “save draft.” It’s not exactly what I needed to do today, but after twelve hours in the car and narrowly avoiding a panic attack, it’s something.

My laptop dings with a new email notification—and my chest tightens for the millionth time today.

I glance at the clock.

It’s four thirty-two. Almost the end of the workday. Unlikely.

But possible.

I exhale and click the “Inbox (1)” tab.

Subject: READ BETWEEN THE LIES Cover Reveal

Oh God.

It’s a rejection.

I feel it in my bones.

My cursor hovers over the email. It might seem small, waiting for a cover reveal, but it’severything. Ariel Goldberg hasn’t released a new book inthree years. In publishing, where so many popular authors are on a book-a-year schedule, this feels like alifetime. Hosting a highly anticipated cover reveal like this one? One that should probably go to a major media outlet? It’s exactly what One True Pastry needs to keep the momentum, torise above the everyone-has-one kind of blogs out there, to be noticed by industry professionals and impress NYU admissions.

Now that the email is here in front of me though, and I have the power to click … I almost don’t want to know. I thought no email was worse than a rejection. I take it back. Why did I ever think I wanted something in writing telling me I’m not good enough?

I wait a full minute, then click on the email before I change my mind.

Hi Kels!

I’m Alyssa Peterson, Ariel Goldberg’s publicist. I’m so excited to confirm that Ariel would LOVE for One True Pastry to host theexclusivecover reveal forRead Between the Lies.

I rereadconfirmandlovetwelve times before I am convinced that’s really what it says.

I got the Ariel Goldberg cover reveal.Me, Kels from One True Pastry.

Oh my God.

I slam my computer shut.

The sound reverberates through the silence.

Sorry,I mouth to the person sharing my table, trying to contain the stupid smile that must be spreading across my face. I make eye contact with him and for the second time in literally thirty seconds, I don’t believe what I’m seeing. I blink once.

I’m hallucinating. It’s the only logical explanation.

“Good news?” he asks—but really, he’s trying not to laugh.

“You could say that,” I say.

How am I speaking? How am Ibreathing?

He isn’t a hallucination.

I know him.

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