Page 65 of Smoke and Fire
Damn. Jess had hit number one on her launch.
I mean, I did.
My thoughts bumped over themselves for several moments. I sat in them, unsure of what I felt. Should there be more excitement about the number one slot? Of course, I was proud of Jess. Relieved for the income that it would provide to Inessa and Dad, but . . .
But what?
I clicked the first video with an unsettled feeling. Dahlia’s usual smile calmed my queasiness.
“Hey! Just grabbing some lunch. Everything is looking good here. Social media is steady. Initial reports show that everyone loves the book. Emails have been simple. Talked to Pri and I love her. There are some trolls mucking up that one review site, but otherwise nothing to report.”
The video clicked off almost as quickly as it started. I blinked.
Wait, what?
I navigated to the next video. She stood outside this time, the gleam of the RV filling the background. She’d pulled her hair up and wore it in a high ponytail, revealing the graceful curve of her neck. I swallowed. Her teeth shone a lustrous white when she smiled through a pair of aviators that reflected the image of her phone.
"Hey again! Nothing big and new. Just been keeping on top of emails most of the day. The groups are exploding. There's been like 100 posts today. Some of the closed groups have even let me in, like they have open enrollment now or something."
Behind her glasses, I imagined her eyes rolled so dramatically, I chuckled.
"No sign of Katrina anywhere, and I'm just about to finish book fifteen. You’re number one on most fiction lists that I can see. Priyanka sent me a few other places to track. I don’t have access to the reports, but it’s safe to say you hit number one for not just one bestseller list, butallof them, I think."
Thankfully, she didn't cut the video off at the end of her report, but rambled about a few more things. I watched it two more times, just to cement the fact that one of my books had launched and I didn't have to expend all my emotional effort over it. The whole thing made my brow furrow.
Did I overdramatize things?
How was this so much easier for her?
Launches normally left me emotionally wrung out. On the rare occasion that one of my books released while I was on a fire, I tried not to think about it and jeopardize my safety or anyone else’s. An almost impossible task.
During the winter and spring when I launched new books, I spent the whole day just trying to understand what to do, how to talk to these women, and how to display compassion or empathy or excitement. Those things came far more naturally to Dahlia.
Which, in hindsight, felt pretty obvious.
I let out a long breath, grateful that the day was almost over though I’d had almost zero part of it. I’d check the sales later. They didn’t matter as much as what Dahlia had done for me today.
Bastian:Thanks for the updates. And for everything you did. Sounds like it was a good launch.
I stared at the screen and wondered if I should say more. Compared to her natural brightness, my responses felt bland. Her reply arrived moments later. I lingered so deep in my mind I almost dropped the phone when it vibrated in my hands.
With a shake of my head, I cleared the cobwebs.
Dahlia:Stop it. It was a GREAT launch! At least, I think it was. I’ve never done this before.
Bastian:You’re right. It was awesome.
Dahlia:Awesome? It’s way better than that! When you get back in three days, I’m going to take you out to dinner.
Bastian:I’ll take that offer.
I sent the reply before I could overthink it—because overthink it I would. Thankfully, she didn’t make me wait.
Dahlia:It’s a date.
GIF
The GIF that followed showed two pretentious people lowering themselves at a finely lit dinner, clearly high-end. At the last second, the GIF exploded into a party. They jumped into the middle of a mosh pit, hair and clothes unwound. I snorted.
