Page 102 of Confessions of a Smutty Romance Author

I laughed. “Better get used to it. I'm pretty sure you're going to have the most ripped cheeks by the end of the night.”

She laughed. “Well, at least one part of me will be ripped.”

We walked inside through the revolving doors, and there was a line for concessions being paraded up an escalator to a movie theater. There were signs everywhere for the premiere, posters with the actors’ pictures or shots of the book cover.

Birdie called out to us, already holding armfuls of popcorn containers. We took a couple from her to lighten the load and went up the escalator with our friends. We gave our tickets to security at the door and went to a long row of seats reserved for Mara.

She sat between Birdie and me, holding my hand with one of hers and her buttery popcorn in the other.

Mom sat on the other side of me, both of her hands holding tightly onto her own popcorn. I could tell how happy she was but also how nervous by the pinch to her lips. Being here was a huge deal for my mom. For Mara and me. Not only had she gone out in public, but to be around so many people and so many cameras... My mom really thought Mara was special. And so did I.

I leaned over to Mara and whispered in her ear. “Am I going to have to do the whole yawn and stretch thing, or will you let me put my arm around you?”

She gave me a wicked smile. “I was already planning on making out like teenagers.”

I laughed, giving her a deep kiss.

The loud sound of the credits starting over the speaker system quickly broke us apart.

Mara’s eyes went wide as she looked at the screen. “They’re playing the movie. They’re playingmymovie.”

And then her name appeared on the screen.

46

Mara

Confession: This is the best day of my life.

Based on the book written by Mara Taylor.

I staredat the words on the screen, tears forming in my eyes. This had been a lifelong dream, and here I was, watching it come true.

Everyone had told me when I was younger that I wouldn't amount to anything. They'd said that dropping out of high school would be the end of my life, that I'd be a single mom by the age of eighteen, living in a trailer house. (As if that was anything to be ashamed of.)

But they were wrong. Here I was, living the life of my dreams, having the career of my dreams, loving the guy of my dreams—without a high school degree. Without the support of my parents.

I had done it on my own.

I had gotten here.

I had reached my dreams.

My name was gone as soon as it appeared, but I sat enraptured by the movie, seeing the characters interact so flawlessly with each other, listening to the score as if the songs had been written specifically for the story.

As a writer, usually I put my book into the world, and I never really got to see or hear from readers until they were done with it, if they chose to reach out at all. But now, watching everyone respond in the moment, was incredible. At every good moment, Birdie would squeeze my hand. And at the sad moments, I looked around and saw people with their eyes wide, completely engaging with the characters. It was more, better, than I ever imagined it could be. Of course, some things had been changed from the book, but that didn't matter. It was a process. My work was growing, taking on a life of its own, becoming something completely outside of myself. And the fact that so many people would be able to take part in it was beautiful. And I got to experience the story that I've written in a completely new way.

I laughed with the other people in the audience. I cried quietly with them, and I squeezed Jonas's hand when a particularly loving part happened on screen. The characters were getting their own happily ever after, and I was letting myself have the same.Finally.

As the end credits rolled over the screen and my name appeared again, Jonas and Birdie ushered me to my feet, and everyone clapped. I would remember this moment, this feeling of creating something so tangible, for the rest of my life.

I couldn’t wait to see what this had done for my book sales. The movie had been done so perfectly, it couldn’t be a flop. It would be the perfect movie to eat ice cream to before Jonas and I fell asleep.

When the credits went blank and the blooper reels had finished, everyone in the theater began shuffling out. And as soon as we had some time, my friends and family were hugging me and telling me how amazing the film was. Charlotte even pulled me aside and told me that we had several interviews scheduled for the next week to help promote the movie and its sequel.

Down in the atrium, Mariah and Cade both gave me a big hug. Cade said, “I’m proud of you, kid.”

Then Mariah hugged me tight. “I’m so happy for you, Mara. Tonight was a fairytale.”

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