Page 173 of The Romcom Writer

‘We’re so proud of you!’ Jane said as they all took it in turns to give me hugs.

‘It’s really amazing!’ Theo said. ‘Congrats!’

‘We always knew you’d go far!’ Jackson added.

‘Thanks so much, guys. I couldn’t have done it without you. And I owe so much to this incredible man.’ I turned to face Ben and kissed him.

‘And to think how much you hated him before!’ Jess teased. ‘Now look at you. You’re all over him like a rash!’

‘I know, I know. It’s embarrassing.’ I laughed.

‘I think the exact phrase she used was: “If you were the last man on earth, I wouldn’t touch you with a hundred-foot bargepole.”’ Ben grinned.

‘And now I can’t get enough of your bargepole!’ I giggled.

‘Ewww, TMI!’ Jess cringed.

‘Don’t act all innocent! I know what you get up to with your husband! Anyway, I don’t care if I act obsessed around my incredible man. I’ve never been one of the cool kids.’

‘You’re not just one of the cool kids now. You’re set to be the UK’s coolest author. Just don’t forget about us when you hit the big time!’ Theo said.

‘As if! My biggest signing is going to be right here. And you’ll be gettingallthe special editions before anyone else.’

‘We’d better!’ Jess laughed.

‘And of course I’ll still be working here. You can’t get rid of me that easily.’

‘Thank God for that,’ Ben teased. ‘Imagine if I’d come all the way back to Sunshine Bay and you buggered off.’

‘No way. You’re the one that’ll be doing more travelling than me with your new role.’

Ben was now in charge of looking for a new site for a second Romance Library.

Yep. Thanks to the success of our amazing library here in Sunshine Bay, Jess and Theo were considering the possibility of opening another Romance Library. We didn’t know where yet, but I was sure that Ben would find the perfect location.

They also dreamt of creating a romance festival and organising huge romance signing events. The sky really was the limit for the library.

And for me and Ben.

Whilst I’d been busy writing, Ben had also taken up a new hobby: making bespoke handcrafted bookcases.

He’d made the first one as a surprise for me because he knew how much I missed having my personal collection of books at home.

It was so stunning that I mentioned that it’d be a real shame if other booklovers didn’t have the chance to have something that beautiful in their homes too.

Thankfully Ben agreed and was now selling them through the library’s website. Despite the high price tag (which was worth every penny), he’d already got dozens of orders.

I loved seeing him at work in the studio he’d had built behind the library. He always came back with a big smile on his face.

It was great that we’d both finally got to follow our passions.

‘You haven’t forgotten that you agreed to travel with me to find the perfect location, have you? Surely the beauty of being promoted to social media director means that you can work from anywhere.’

I beamed with pride. I was really chuffed when Jess said she was so happy with my work and how much the social media had boosted the library’s revenue that she was promoting me. Theo had also set aside a budget for me to hire an assistant, which was a godsend now that I was juggling work with my writing.

‘Oh, dear. It’s going to betorture, travelling to pretty locations with my amazing boyfriend and trying to findsomewhere as beautiful as Sunshine Bay. What a hardship!’ I laughed. ‘OfcourseI’ll be coming with you! You can’t get rid of me, remember? You’re my happily-ever-everything, Benjamin Benchmark,’ I said, using one of my latest nicknames for him.

It was very appropriate, because Ben really was the gold standard. Not even the greatest book boyfriends could compare to my man.

Turned out that real-life heroesdidexist.

‘Glad to hear it. It’s you and me forever,Supreme Sarah.’ Ben dipped his head and planted a kiss on my lips. ‘And I wouldn’t have it any other way.’