Page 86 of Divorced from Number Thirty-Eight
And I just want the floor to open up and swallow me whole.
Not because I’m ashamed of what I do, but because everyone is looking and I’ve spent the majority of the last years with my fictional family, so this much attention is…uncomfortable.
Like a too-tight sweater.
Plus, there’s always a weird dynamic when people find out I’m a writer, especially of romance.
The expectations, the snide comments, the offers to inspire me.
I don’t think that Luna will be like that, but then again, I don’t know her that well.
“Yes, I am,” I say, lifting my chin.
There’s a beat of quiet.
Then she’s fist-pumping with a whoop, bouncing excitedly on her toes. “Oh, my God! That is so cool! Would you sign my books?”
“Um”—I slant a glance at Gray, whose face has softened, the Courtney effect already waning, same as the scent of her perfume is fading from the room, the volume of her protests through the front door—“sure.”
“Awesome!” She whirls around, hurries toward the hall. “I think I have almost all of them in the library. I’ll go grab them.”
“Wait, what about the shower?”
“Eh.” She waves a hand. “There’s plenty of time for games later. How often do I get to meet someone who writes killer books and will sign them for me.”
Then she’s zipping out of the room.
Gray and I follow her—a good thing, it turns out. Because she does have almost all of my books.
And since there are several dozen of them on the shelf, we don’t let the pregnant lady grab them.
Gray pulls them down, I sign them, and he puts them back.
Thus, the chaos outside fades into laughter and the satisfying sound of pages turning as we chatter about Luna’s favorite characters and I make recommendations to Kailey and Veronica about which books I think they’d like.
Then I do the same for Aiden’s mom, Luna’s work friends, and for the wives of the suited men who helped the Grizzly men escort Courtney outside. And carefully, for Bri, who is technically an adult, but a young one.
I even make recommendations for the caterer, Harper, when she brings in a tray of desserts because the guys eventually get rid of Courtney and join us in the library.
(FYI, signing fifty books along interspersed with chatting and reading expectations takes a while).
Still, even as I’m doing all of that, I make note of which books Luna is missing.
Not just because she has the others.
Not even because Gray is relaxed and smiling and right beside me instead of out front dealing with his ex.
And not even because she bought me pajamas and has done her best to make me feel included from the first moment I met her.
It’s because in this book-filled room, I know I’m no longer alone.
For once, I’m not the quest observer taking notes—I’m part of the story.
And maybe because I think a few more love stories will make a perfect gift for a mom-to-be.
Twenty-Nine
Gray
