Page 114 of Rewriting the Story

“Guys, get the streamers ready,” I say as I hear footsteps outside. “Hads, hit the music.”

She does, and as soon as it starts playing, the door opens. His face pinches in surprise as he sees me and all our friends greeting him.

“Woah,” he says as Paige sets off a few hand-popping streamers. “What’s all this?”

“Well, we had to celebrate,” Grant says. “Someone over here finished their third book!”

Everyone sets off their streamers as Henry comes closer, a smile I’ve never seen from him before showing up on his face.

“Congrats!” we all say as he wraps me in his arms.

“I’m proud of you, Hen,” I whisper into his ear as he buries his face in my shoulder.

“Thank you so much, Mills.” He presses a quick kiss to my lips. “What the hell are you all wearing?”

Laughs echo around the room as he stares at all of us, and I can tell when recognition hits.

“Are you guys all dressed as authors?”

“Our favorite ones!” Paige says while she pops another streamer. Hads reaches over and takes the bag from her.

“And since everyone has to be dressed according to the theme,” I say as I open the door to my bedroom, “I left you a very important outfit in there. So, go get changed, and when you come out, we can fully start the celebration.”

“I love you,” he says as he presses a kiss to my forehead. “Although, it feels weird saying that to you while you’re dressed as…me, I assume?”

“You’re my favorite author, Hen,” I remind him. “And I can understand that.”

As soon as he gets dressed, he comes back out and greets the boys, the four of them trading hugs as us girls watch Ella mix our drinks for us. My drink of choice tonight is a Shirley Temple, and I’ve been in the biggest hyper fixation of my life for the past few weeks.

“Proud of you, buddy,” Oliver says quietly.

“Good job, mate,” Leo says. “I’m not much of a reader, but I can’t imagine actually writing a story, let alone three.”

“Thank you, Leo.” Then his eyes land on Grant, and I swear, he’s about to cry.

“I’m just super proud of you, dude,” Grant tells him, his voice sincere as they hug. “I remember rooting you on from the book club classroom all those years ago, and now, you’re published three times over.”

“Fuck, that feels like forever ago,” Henry says. “I think you called me your favorite almost-author or something?”

“This whole getting old thing is driving me nuts,” Oliver says, and for once, I agree with him.

“Me too,” I say to the room, and I swear, you could hear a pin drop if the music wasn’t playing. “What?”

“You just agreed with Oliver,” Paige says, her eyes shining. “I never thought I would see the day it happened in front of him.”

“What do you mean in front of me?” Oliver asks as I shake my head.

“She means nothing,” I tell him as I sip my drink. “Now, can we get to celebrating?”

“Of course we can!” Ella shouts as she pops the champagne while also pouring me a glass of water. Everyone cheers as glasses are poured, conversations are had, and snacks are eaten. Eventually, the karaoke machine is brought out, and just like old times, Grant and Ella sing a duet, Paigeand I sing at the top of our lungs, and Oliver pretends to hate it, but I can see him smiling to himself as he watches his wife.

“I am so glad Paige and I practically trapped you two at her wedding,” Grant says, his lips loose from the alcohol. “Oh, shit.”

“Grant!” Paige says into the microphone as her solo song ends. “Out of the two of us, I thought I was going to be the one to blab!”

“Shit,” is all he says as we all stare at the two of them.

“Are you guys serious?” I ask them. “You pulled a parent trap on us?”

---