Page 7 of The Nicest Thing

By the time I left, the sun was setting; we'd drank all the tea, and Grandma Rose's smile was the last thing I saw before driving away.

She wanted to stay, so I would make that happen.

I just had to earn more money.

Find more readers.

Sell more books.

Shouldn't be too hard, right?

#

This must be what it feels like to throw a party, and no one shows up.

I laughed quietly to myself.

It was either that or cry, and I always tried to choose humor over feeling sorry for myself.

Hidden in a little corner, seated near the back of the store between the nonfiction and self-help sections, I hadn't seen a soul for the past 15 minutes.

When I did spot someone, they looked right through me.

Actually, that wasn't true. There had been the barista who brought me a complimentary bottle of water, and the one lady who gave me a pitying glance before walking by, as if to say, "Sorry kid, you picked the wrong profession. "

Maybe it was true.

My hangups did not a good marketer make.

And I had…several.

I shook my head. No, I was meant to be a writer.

It was the only thing I'd ever wanted to do.

The only thing I was good at. I mean, sure, my book sales were currently on life support, and I was still relatively unknown.

But I had a decent following. The problem was my readers were spread all over the world.

That, and again, I had no idea how to market my stories.

Any success I'd seen was admittedly down to luck.

My first book sold like crazy. The next one too.

And the next. I had a few others that did well, some that didn't, but I couldn't depend on fate now. I needed to try something new.

Hence the book signing.

It was my attempt at putting myself out there.

And I did send a newsletter.

But you didn't tell your family or friends, my mind whispered.

There was a reason for that.

It was a stupid one.

But at the time, it seemed sound.

Looking around, a pang of regret shot through me.

At least if Emmy or Finn were here, we could laugh about the whole thing together. At least I wouldn't be alone.

"Need a refill?"

I looked up to find the guy who worked at the coffee shop standing near me with another water.

"Gotta stay hydrated," he said.

I laughed at that and shook my head. "No, I'm still working on the first one."

"Ah okay."

Truthfully, I hadn't opened the first bottle he brought me, but it was a nice gesture.

"Is this company policy?" I asked. "Do you bring all the authors who sign here drinks?"

"Only the pretty ones," he said which made me blush.

I didn't know what to say to that.

"Hey, I get off in a couple hours. Would you want to—"

"Rose," a familiar voice said.

At first, I thought I was hallucinating. My imagination was known to run wild. If that was the case, it had never been kinder to me than it was right then. My eyes widened as Finn jogged past bookshelves up to my table, stopping not two feet away.

"Sorry, I'm late."

"Finn," I breathed. "What are you doing here?"

"Heard my favorite author was having a signing," he said, giving me one of his heart-stopping smiles. "I wouldn't miss it."

My heart melted.

I was pretty sure I sighed.

"I…I can't believe you're here."

Finn shrugged like it was nothing, tucked his hands into his pockets, and lifted his chin at the barista. "Hey."

"Hey." The guy nodded then looked to me. "You need anything?"

"Ah no, but again, thanks for the water," I said with a smile.

"Anytime," he said.

Finn watched him as he walked away, but I couldn't help staring at my best friend. He was real. He was here.

"I still can't believe you came," I said.

"Of course, I did," Finn said, looking back at me. "Got held up because of an accident. I was worried you'd be sold out by the time I got here."

I lifted my hands, encompassing the emptiness surrounding us. "Nope, definitely not."

"Guess I missed the rush?"

"No one came, Finn."

His brows pulled in, and I laughed.

"It's okay. I kind of expected it. I didn't tell anyone."

"Why not?"

I shrugged. "Self-doubt. Fear of failure. Not a lack of confidence so much as an overabundance of caution. I want to know the ground is solid before I leap. You know?"

Finn nodded. "I get that."

"So I sabotaged myself in the process," I said with a sigh. "You're the first soul I've seen in a while." I sent him a smile. "Not that I'm complaining."

"What about that guy?"

I drew back in surprise. "What guy?"

"The one hitting on you when I walked in."

I shook my head on a laugh. "You mean Bobby the barista?"

"That his name?"

"Yeah, he wasn't flirting."

Finn scoffed.

"He just brought me a pity water," I said.

"Didn't look like pity to me."

There was a weird note in his voice, and I squinted, trying to figure it out. "You okay, Finn?"

"Yeah." He cleared his throat then said, "So, will you sign a book for me?"

"Of course!"

As I opened the cover, I couldn't stop the sigh that escaped.

"What's up?"

"I haven't sold any books, Finn," I admitted.

"Really?"

"Yeah. Total fail, but at least we're the only ones here to see it, right?"

"You're not a failure, Rose," he said.

I nodded but didn't look up as I passed him the book.

"Hey." Finn placed his fingertips under my chin and gently lifted until I had to meet his eyes. "You're amazing, the most amazing girl ever. Say you believe me."

I rolled my eyes.

"Say it, Rose."

"I believe you are the best friend I could ever ask for," I said softly.

"That'll have to do, I guess." Finn stepped back, saying, "I need to make a call, but don't go anywhere, okay? I've got a ton of questions to ask about your next book."

I shrugged. "I'll be here."

Finn smiled then disappeared, and for some reason, despite being placed in this lonely corner, not having people show up, and only selling one book, tonight somehow felt like a win.

How did he do that? I wondered.

But I already knew.

Finn O'Brien was magic.

Several minutes later, two guys stopped at my table.

"Hey," the dark-haired one said while looking at my cover. "Did you write this?"

"Yes, I did," I said and sat up straighter. "Do you like romance books?"

"Not really."

My shoulders fell. "Oh."

"I'll take one," he said, and I looked up in surprise.

"Me too," his friend said.

"Awesome," I said, hearing my voice, knowing I sounded way too excited. Modulating my volume, I asked, "Would you like it signed?"

"Sure."

It felt surreal while I signed their books. Afterward, they nodded to me, and I sat there staring until Finn showed up at my side.

"Did I miss anything?" he asked.

"Yes!" I said nearly jumping with excitement. "Finn, these two guys came over and bought my book!"

"They did? Cool."

"Yeah, one said he didn't read romance, but he must know someone who does because he got a copy. He got a copy, Finn!"

Finn threw me a grin. "That's awesome, Rose."

Before I could say more, I looked up, and there was another guy standing at my table. This one was a blonde with an easy smile.

"Hi," he said and picked up my paperback, "so, you Liv Lamoreaux?"

"Yeah, that's me," I said.

The guy flipped a few pages and said, "There any sports in here?"

"No," I said but corrected, "actually yes. The main character's older brother plays hockey."

"Looks good. Let me get one."

I blinked. "You want to buy a copy of my book?"

"Yeah. Can you sign it too?"

"Y-yeah," I said, signing quickly, "thank you! I hope you enjoy it!"

And then another person came. And another. Soon there was a long line leading to my table, and I felt so giddy I didn't know what to do with myself.

They were all guys.

That was the only strange part.

Honestly, I was too happy to question it.

But in the back of my mind, I knew there must've been something going on.

My thought was maybe there was a sports convention or martial arts exhibition happening nearby.

They all looked pretty fit. They must be the most well-read athletes ever, I thought as another stepped up to my table.

It took way too long for me to realize, but as the next guy stepped up, he said something that spiked my curiosity.

"Hi," I said, smiling.

"Hey," he said with a wink, "you the author?"

"Yes."

"Romance, right?"

"What gave it away?" I said. "The half-naked guy on the cover?"

"Might have. I'll take one." He laughed, passing me a book to sign, then said, "Ever write about a baseball player?"

"Not yet. But there is a little hockey in this one."

"Baseball would've been better," he said.

I tilted my head, noticing his shirt for the first time. "Southern U. Huh, I go there."

"Oh yeah? You a Wolves fan?"

Finn cleared his throat beside me, and as I watched, the guy looked up. When they made eye contact, Finn shook his head slightly. The player grabbed his book, said, "Uh thanks," and was suddenly gone.

My eyes narrowed as Finn smiled innocently.

"Finn," I said.

"Hmmm?"

"Did you know him?"

He drew back. "Know who?"

But I couldn't forget the look they shared.

Or the comment about baseball.

The Southern U t-shirt.

My eyes widened as it all clicked.

When the next guy stepped up and flashed me a smile, one I remembered from the other day, I pulled Finn to the side.

"Please tell me you didn't," I said.

He shrugged. "Didn't what?"

"Finn, who are those guys?"

"Book lovers?"

When I glared, it bounced right off him. Finn looked completely unapologetic. Glancing back at my table, I noticed what I hadn't before. The people in line were all talking, like they knew each other, and I recognized at least a few from practice.

I looked back to Finn and lifted a brow.

"Did you…invite the baseball team to my signing?" I asked.

"Maybe," he said.

I felt like groaning and hugging him at the same time.

"What's the problem?"

"Well, do any of them even read?" I asked.

"Not sure. But it wouldn't hurt them to crack a book once in a while."

Finn grinned as I looked back at him in defeat.

"What?"

"Finn," I said, "you shouldn't have done this."

"Well, I did," he said with another shrug. "I wanted your signing to go well. It's not like I had to threaten anyone."

I frowned. "How did you get them here?"

"They owe me. I called it in. No big deal."

But it was.

To me, it was.

"You're not mad, right?" he asked.

Staring at him, I couldn't stop the smile that spread across my face.

"Why would I be mad?" I said. "Finn, you're here. I just…I don't know how I'll ever repay you for this."

"You don't have to." He wrapped his hand around my waist, the contact making my breath catch. "Now, go back out there and sign some books."

I was still trying to control my heart as I walked to the table.

I sold all the copies the bookstore ordered.

And Finn was with me the whole time.

He looked even happier than I was.

Happy because I was happy.

How could I not love him?