Page 9 of Resisting the Running Back

Miller's eyes light up before I answer his question. He's the only person I've really confessed any of this to. He's the only one who knows my pen name. Tyler never supported my writing, but Miller always has. I think he's even bought a couple of my books.

“I can tell you're thinking something, so just come on out with it,” I say, pursing my lips and raising a brow as I fold my arms across my chest.

He shrugs innocently, but then he says, “What if this is the push you needed to do this dream of yours full-time?”

I sink back into the booth. On one hand, it's not like I haven't wanted to make writing my full-time job for years. On the other hand, it always just felt way too far out of reach. Turning hobbies into careers doesn't always pan out. The lastthing I want is to develop negative feelings toward one of the things I love doing most in the world because it becomes my sole way of earning money to support myself.

But on the other hand, maybe he's right. Maybe this is exactly what I need to push me out of my comfort zone and take the risk by doing the damn thing.

I chew on the inside of my cheek as I think it over. “Where will I live? My royalties have been nice bonus money in addition to my teaching salary, but I don’t think it’s enough to pay rent.”

“Look, Sophie. I've read your books. You have what it takes to be successful. Your words are as incredible as you are, and you deserve the chance to make this happen.” His blue eyes are warm and sincere across the table.

My jaw slackens as his words register. “You've read my books?”

“Every single one of them.”

I gasp. A long silence fills the space between us, and then I ask, “Which is your favorite?”

He chuckles. “Second Chanceswas pretty good, but I thinkMarried to the Enemywas my favorite. That tension when they got married but you knew they both wanted it to be real was next level.” He's talking about my fourth book, still one of my best sellers to this day. “I mean it. I know anybody can publish a book these days, but not everybody has the talent you have. I believe in you, and I want to see what you can do with giving this a shot full-time.”

“The problem is that it takes more than just writing a book to get people to buy it. There's a marketing side of it, and having been in the classroom full-time since I started publishing, it's difficult to find enough hours to get everything done.” I don’t even know where to start, if I’m being honest.

“So hire an assistant,” he suggests.

“With what money?” I ask.

His eyes light up some more, and to be honest, I'm a little fearful of what he's thinking.

“Come live with me. Come to San Diego. Quit your job before they force you into an investigation you don’t want. Blow this town and use this as your moment to give your dream a try.”

“I can't do that, Miller,” I protest. “I won't have an income.”

“I have plenty for both of us,” he says, and his voice is low and incredibly convincing. He’s not bragging about the amount of money he has but rather seems to be telling me he has enough to support the two of us, as if he wants to share it with me. “Stay with me and let me invest in my favorite author.”

My chest tightens and my heart squeezes as this overwhelming feeling of gratitude washes over me. “I can't do that,” I protest.

For a split second, I wonder why exactly I'm protesting. What do I have to lose by giving this a try? I don't want to mooch off my best friend, but he's offering my dreams on a platter, and that is a difficult deal to resist. I'm not sure it makes any sense at all to say no.

“I want this for you, Sophie. Let me do this for you. I will lend you what you need to get it off the ground.”

I think quickly. I was splitting rent with Tyler for the last year and a half, so I saved a bit between my teaching job and my royalties. I have probably six months or so worth of expenses saved, so I can get by for now.

Maybe this isn't such a bad idea. Maybe getting out of this town for a little while is exactly what I need.

Before I get a chance to answer, the waitress comes by with our food. Neither of us picks up our forks to start eating despite the rumbling in my stomach. I feel hopeful and excited and a little less sad for the first time since I told Tyler I was done last night.

And I also see the hope and excitement in Miller's eyes.

He's in a new city, though he's been there for nearly a year at this point. But I know how important it is to him to be surrounded by people he trusts. He's had a rough year and a half between finding out the man who raised him isn’t his biological father and then losing his biological father before he had the chance to really get to know him. He found out his parents had been lying to him his entire life. And then he left the team he’d been playing for his entire career and moved to a completely new city. Only his twin brother has been with him through it all.

So part of this feels like a new beginning for both of us. To live with my best friend for a bit after a bad breakup doesn't really sound so bad.

I pick up my phone before I give him an answer, and I dial Elizabeth.

“Sophie?” she answers. “I haven’t heard anything yet.”

“I know. I’m calling because I want to resign.” I blurt the words and realize my hands are shaking. “The investigation is only going to waste everyone’s time, and it’s going to come out that I am, in fact, publishing romance books under a pen name. So let’s save everyone the time and just call it what it is.”

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