Page 86 of A Bookish Story

“Will do!” She has to pry my fingers off hers and gives me a thumbs-up.

But before Sofia can fetch Ryan, the bookseller finds me. “It’s time!”

I follow her out on my shaky knees and find my spot on the dais next to her chair. She introduces me to the audience as the bestselling author of Soulmates and explains I’ll do a short reading, then take any questions from the audience.

I’m prepared and pull out my copy with the scene I’ve chosen. It’s a touching scene in which Grayson decides he must let Lula go. It’s effective and I hear several sniffles as I read. When I look up, I see my mother and Eddie sitting together, beaming, Abuelita next to my mother. All of my tios and tias are here, with their adult children. No wonder there was a line out the door. My family alone could fill this room. I relax, knowing I’m in a safe space. They love me, no matter what I do or how hard I might fail. Eddie has talked about an impromptu karaoke party to celebrate but so far I’ve avoided him. It’s enough that I’ve given my blessing for him and my mother. I shouldn’t have to suffer through more karaoke so soon.

But as I take questions from the audience, I still can’t locate Ryan. I do see someone else I know, however. Someone I didn’t expect to be here, though I now wish I’d been far more in touch. She’d sent me one other email I hadn’t replied to in which she asked again why I couldn’t at least share I had a contract without the particulars.

There’s no excuse for being a bad friend and in that moment I realize that’s exactly what I’ve been. Far too caught up in Ryan, this opportunity, then my mother and Eddie. The whole secrecy of the project. But none of that matters. No excuses. I’ve failed in the friendship department.

Holly is seated in the first row.

She’s got a copy of Soulmates in her lap, and I swear I can see the whites of her knuckles as she clutches it. Most of the questions are run-of-the-mill and fully expected. Everything from how long I’ve been writing to how I came up with the idea. Pepper and I have gone over these at length and my answers are easy and ready.

Then it’s Holly’s turn and she stands.

I give her a smile and wave, something I haven’t done with anyone else. It’s an “I see you, please forgive me. I’ll do better,” greeting.

She doesn’t return the smile.

“So,” she says. “Elizabeth Brogan is a pen name, right?”

“Yes, true.” We’ve never represented anything else. “I also go by Luci Santana.”

My abuelita beams from her seat, nodding.

“I thought so.” She sets her book down on the chair.

“Everyone, Holly is my long-time critique partner and a friend.”

There’s a murmur among the crowd as they turn to Holly, giving her their attention.

Holly seems to sag a little but my acknowledgment is not enough for her. “It’s just, as you know, I’ve read your earlier works and this…it just doesn’t sound like your voice. The tone is different. The word choice.”

“It’s a stylistic choice that seemed appropriate for the book.”

“Yes, but you’re a ghostwriter, so I wonder if you hired one for this book?”

I clear my throat. “You know that if I had I couldn’t reveal that to you anyway.”

“What do you mean?” the bookseller says, scanning the room nervously.

She’s probably never had an author accused of this in her bookstore.

Sofia is filming, but she stops, giving Holly a look through narrowed eyes.

“I guess what I’m trying to ask here,” Holly says, meeting my gaze with nothing short of contempt. “Did you actually write this book?”

CHAPTER 28

There’s a collective gasp in the room.

Scanning the audience for Ryan I see he’s still not here. Neither is Chris, by the way, but I don’t need him. Still, he’d at least rally to my defense and so would his gym bros. My poor family is in the audience and those who are paying attention look worried. Eddie’s eyes are wide. My mother is chewing on a fingernail with narrowed eyes. Most of my cousins are on their phones so they have no idea there’s something more interesting going on right in front of them.

“I’m sorry, but we’re not gathered here to accuse an author of plagiarism when she’s a New York Times bestselling author with a publishing house who does their due diligence,” the bookseller says, coming to my rescue.

“I’m not accusing her of that,” Holly said, chin tipped. “But she’s a former ghostwriter so maybe she hired her own ghostwriter for this book.”