Page 72 of Unconventionally, Elle
Emma agreed to watch Louie. She was going to come over to my condo and stay with him. She was still recovering from the funeral and the loss of her dad, which, honestly, I could relate. It took me forever to want to do anything again after my grandparents died.
After checking my document one last time, I went onto the competition website to submit. I felt my heart race as I clicked through the prompts to upload my manuscript.
As I was waiting for my book to export into a PDF, the boys went quiet and a stranger sat right next to me. I noticed her out of my peripheral vision, an oversized puffy blue jacket and short blond hair. As soon as I caught the scent of her perfume, I knew. Because after a decade of friendship, I'd know Vera Wang Princess absolutely anywhere.
In shocked disbelief, I turned my head toward my stranger. She was smiling from ear to ear and opened her arms wide to embrace me. I couldn't help it. I burst into tears and threw myself in her arms.
"Sarah!"
I couldn't believe my best friend was sitting next to me. A glance at my computer screen and I saw my manuscript was done exporting into a PDF. The file was ready.
"Oh my God! I can't believe you're here!" I was crying, laughing, and smiling all at the same time. "Is Rach coming?"
She hugged me again, tighter this time.
"I knew today was the day you submitted your manuscript. I wanted to be here. James is watching the kids for the weekend, and I got on the first flight out of Virginia so I could be with you when you hit submit. And no, Rach and Josh have plans in Saint Louis for New Year's and are flying in tomorrow to meet the movers at their new apartment."
I'm not sure words could describe the emotions fluttering through my body. My bubbly best friend was here. Finn and Jackson too. Oh, and heaven forbid I forget my pork chop, Louie. If only Rach and Barrett were here, but it was fine. It was okay. I'd see both soon enough, and I knew they were proud of me.
My exhaustion, fear, and joy poured out of me as tears streamed down my cheeks. It was okay, everything was going to be okay.
Sarah grabbed my hand and squeezed. "You haven't submitted yet, right?"
"No, actually, I was just about to do it. It's ready." I smiled as all three of my friends gathered into the booth with me, holding my arms, my shoulder, anywhere they could reach. Louie was now sitting in my lap.
"Let's submit this book and get ready for a brand-new year," Sarah declared as I lifted my finger to hit the button.
"Wait!" I shrieked.
John looked up from the espresso machine, eyebrows pinched in concern.
"I'm doing it, John!" I yelled across the café. "I'm submitting!"
"It's time?" He clapped his hands together and jumped. Turning to the others behind the bar, he yelled across the café, "Guys, it's time! She's submitting her manuscript!"
The café broke out in applause--baristas, strangers, everyone. They cheered me on as I lifted my finger to upload my manuscript.
"You got it, babe. Submit the damn thing," said Finn.
I met his gaze and gave him a curt nod. Then Sarah, Finn, and Jackson all placed their hands on mine. Together, we submitted my manuscript at 2:47 p.m. Perfectly imperfect and ready for the judges' eyes. The confirmation hit my email moments later, and I broke down into tears again.
"I did it," I cried into Sarah's shoulder.
Finn was rubbing my back and Jackson had his hand in mine.
"You did it," Sarah said, squeezing me tight to her chest. "And I'm so fucking proud of you."
"We all are," Finn whispered, and Jackson gave my hand a tight squeeze.
I gave Louie an early New Year's kiss before leaving the condo and left him a treat on his dog bed. Emma would be by in a few hours, and he'd still have a New Year's kiss. Lucky dog.
As we got through the turnstiles and ran toward the train, Finn and Jackson waved me and Sarah on. We couldn't run as fast as them in heels.
"Let's goooo!" Jackson yelled. Finn was laughing by his side, watching us stumble and try to rush to catch the train.
"You two are a hot mess," Finn said as we caught up to board the train to New York's Penn Station.
We laughed with our hands on our sides, trying to catch our breath.
