Page 88 of A Bookish Story

“It’s a controversial book, I guess, what with the ending, or lack of one.” She shrugs. “I just didn’t know anyone would be questioning whether or not you wrote it.”

“I know, right?” I bite my lower lip, guilt pressing as I lie to a nice lady. “Thank you for handling all this so well.”

“I’ve been around the block a time or two. Can I ask? Why did you leave the ending so open-ended?”

“I actually expected the questions tonight to be more about that. The good news is there’s a sequel with a very clear ending.”

I already know Lula is going to wind up with Grayson, maybe after a suitable amount of time realizing Derek is a first-class jerk.

Finally, once I’m in my car, I take a moment to text Chris:

Just wanted to let you know, it’s not cool that you didn’t show up. Tonight was important to me. If you really were my friend you’d understand this.

I don’t wait for him to respond but text Ryan instead.

Where are you? I have some important things to tell you and I thought you’d be here.

Maybe he’s in the habit of letting people down all the time and this is simply the first time I’ve personally experienced it. I didn’t expect Ryan would blow me off like this. He’s always been grateful even if not always entirely supportive when it came to the sequel.

Maybe he has a good excuse, but even if that’s true, I’d at least expect a text.

My family asked me to come with them to the local café where they want to treat me to a special dinner so I’ll head there next. Before I go, I check social media to see if any of the reels are trending yet. All I have to do is search book signing and I find videos of my mother smacking the idiot man with her purse. Some are set to music boomerangs and others have been made into memes with: #whenyourauntthoughtthegummieswerecandy. I suspect my cousins.

Someone has commented: Isn’t that Geneva Santana from Desperate Hearts? OMG, I love her!

The hashtags are all over the place from #anotherwaytoreadbooks to #bookattacksman and #thispurseisonfire but thankfully, so far, no mention of the fact the signing was for Elizabeth Brogan. They are too preoccupied with my mother’s purse. For a moment, I fool myself into thinking no one will ever make the connection to Elizabeth and the book. No surprise, negative news makes it faster to a reel than anything positive.

My phone pings, displaying Pepper’s name, and I pick up. “I can explain.”

“You’re okay!” Pepper says.

I slink in the driver’s seat and cover my face with my hand. “You heard?”

“Yes, and we were just worried you’d been hurt.”

“No, not me.” I groan, not entirely willing to admit my mother was the one with the attack purse.

There’s a small chance no one ever has to know that.

“When Millie let us know, naturally, we were concerned about you, too. Good to know you’re fine.”

“What does Millie have to do with my book signing?”

There’s a long pause. “I’m not sure we’re talking about the same thing. Millie called us from the hospital to let us know Ryan was in a car accident on the way to the bookstore.”

And that’s when my world splits into before and after.

CHAPTER 29

Car accident.

There are no two other words in the English language that, when put together, have such a sickening effect on me. My mind goes back to a rainy night twenty years ago. A policeman at our front door. My mother falling to her knees. Later, Eddie, openly weeping without a hint of shame. And me, wanting someone to blame besides the rain and a father who loved driving fast through mountain curves.

There are fissures in a life, moments that define what happened after.

I don’t want this to be one of those moments. It can’t be. I would not write it this way and I don’t even think Ryan would.

“Is he okay?” My voice breaks.