Page 73 of Loved Out Loud
“The manager says it’ll be fine.” Sierra sets her phone back down in her lap. “There’s a second story balcony to the store she can set them in where they can watch from above without anyone seeing them if they want.”
“Perfect. They’ll do that.”
The store is tucked away in a quaint little part of the city with tree-lined streets and lots of small businesses. As there has been at every stop on the tour, there’s a line stretching out in front of the building that snakes down the sidewalk and around the block. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to seeing that many people come out just to hear me talk or read a passage from my book.
It’s absolutely surreal.
The SUVs pull up to a discretely marked door behind the store. Both Adam and Dan position themselves on either side of the vehicle door we’ll use to exit. There’s no one around except us, but they still scan the area like they’re expecting an onslaught of paparazzi or something.
Unsurprisingly nothing happens though, so we walk into the store quickly and with zero issues.
The manager directs the guys to a side staircase. They ascend, their heavy footsteps echoing through the otherwise quiet space.
“Christ. They sound like a herd of elephants,” Jade mumbles.
I give Dan and Adam a wry smile because they really do. “Are you two staying down here?”
“Yes. You’re the priority,” Dan tells me.
“Stone told me the same thing.” Adam glances up at where the three of them look down at us. “They’re all contained up there, anyway. I’m not concerned.”
Just then the manager comes over, pulling my attention away. She walks me through the event and gives me a rundown on how many attendees they’re expecting. Apparently there were one hundred tickets, and they sold within five minutes of the announcement. I blink, shocked, at that news. Sold out in five minutes? Just to see me?
I’m once again overwhelmed by gratitude. How can this even be real life? Months ago I was just a poor grad student living with her mom. Now I’m here. Signing books and meeting people who occasionally cry just because they’re in proximity to me.
The store manager gives me a heads up that she’s opening the doors while I wait back in the stacks of books. I pick up a romantasy that I’ve seen all over social media while I wait for everyone to take their seats. The synopsis is interesting, and the cover is stunning. I might have to pick this up at the end of the night.
“That looks interesting,” Sierra picks up another copy of the same book and flips to read the last page.
“Stop that.” I pluck the book from her hand. “I can’t believe you’re still reading the last page first.”
“I need spoilers. My anxiety can’t handle not knowing.”
The argument is forgotten when the store manager announces the doors are opening. We continue to hide in the back of the store while people file in. This will be one of the biggest crowds I’ll have been in front of yet, so I focus on deep, calming breaths. Sierra reaches down and gives my hand a quick, reassuring squeeze.
I step out of my hiding place and onto the small platform where two seats are placed. The moderator shakes my hand, and we both take our seats. While she gives a brief introduction, I look up into the balcony above me to find three sets of eyes looking down on me. But the only ones I focus on are Stone’s deep blues.
He watches me with such adoration it soothes my usual anxiety at being so exposed. His attention drapes over me like a warm blanket. It’s my own personal armor and boosts my confidence. I feel invincible.
The moderator is incredible, and our conversation flows so easily, I’m surprised when the conversation comes to a close, so I can answer a few questions. Even the audience is amazing, their questions are so insightful that I have to dig deep to think about how to answer.
“That was amazing.” Sierra hands me a paper bag with the store’s logo on it as we wait at the bottom of the stairs for the guys to come down at the end of the night.
“Truly. The crowd was incredible. I think that was my best night of the tour so far.”
“I completely agree.”
I peek in the bag as Jade joins us. She has a bag in her hands as well. Inside mine is the book that both Sierra and I were looking at earlier.
“Thank you,” I tell her. “Did you get a copy, too?”
“I purchased the ebook, so I can read it on my phone on the flight home.”
Two arms wrap around me from behind, enveloping me in Stone’s amber and leather scent. He presses his lips to my temple, and I lean into him, gripping his forearms in my hands.
“That was so great,” he says against my skin.
“Yeah,” Tobias agrees. “I didn’t think I’d be so entertained at a book signing.”
