I close the laptop and stretch my arms around and behind me. My back cracks as I move my head from side to side. Wow. I’m pretty sore. I have been stuck in a stationary position for quite a while and all the joints in my body feel like they need extra fluids to lubricate them. I haven't worked this hard and focused this intensely for what seems like forever. Even my face feels tense. I rub my temples and stretch out every limb in my body. I feel excitement pulsing through my veins. When I glance at myself in the mirror, I see a wide, broad smile stretching across my whole face. I’m even smiling with my eyes.

I peek outside, past the blinds and the curtains. The sun is barely up. Only the idea of morning exists as a sliver of yellow somewhere over the horizon. A part of me wants to rush over to Aiden, wake him up, and tell him about everything that I have just accomplished. I can’t just keep this to myself. I feel like it's bursting out of me. But when I glance over at him, I see how peaceful he’s sleeping, even snoring a little bit every third breath, and I don’t have the heart to wake him up. No, this can wait. He needs his rest. All the emotional upheaval over Owl, and Robert Warrenhouse coming in last minute and saving the company from total collapse must have taken a toll on him. All the stress and lines around his face have straightened out. All the tension that has been sitting somewhere between his eyebrows has dissipated.

I pace around the room trying to think of something to do. I thought that writing would put my mind at ease and calm me down, but I’m still riding a high. I feel like I drank four cups of coffee, even though I haven’t had any caffeine since yesterday morning.

So, I decide to take a walk. I see little white flurries hit against the windows and decide that I definitely need boots and a coat. A hat and a scarf will also not hurt anyone. I’ve always been quite a wimp when it comes to the cold. I don't know if it’s my body temperature being naturally cooler than other people’s, or my slow metabolism, but I’m always cold. Even in the summer. I always need at least two more layers than other people just to stay warm, and running in place or doing some exercises doesn’t help much. I just get sweaty and then I’m even colder than before.

I slip my feet into a thick pair of my favorite Uggs and relish how comfortable they feel. They aren’t the most attractive boots, but they are perfect for an early morning walk around the property. Then I put on a thin, long-sleeved sweater and wrap my favorite pale pink scarf around my neck. After I put on a hat and my jacket, I’m ready to brave the cold. But before I step outside, I run over to the computer again. In all the excitement, I had completely forgotten to check on my sales and book downloads. I’m not expecting much, but every sale is a small victory. I’m still in shock that anyone is interested in the story that I have to tell, let alone are paying me to tell it.

When the Amazon dashboard finally loads, I almost scream out in excitement. Fifty three sales! Oh my God! No, this can’t be right. I reload the page, but there it is. The sales are legit and now there are fifty four sales. In addition, I also have five thousand page reads! I shake my head, unwilling to believe my own eyes. Is this really happening? I mean, am I really making money being a writer? Is this what it feels like to live your dream?

I can’t contain my excitement much longer and decide to step outside before I wake up Aiden. When I get out to the porch, I let the burst of cold air wash over me. I inhale deeply and savor the smell of the salt water. The ocean is less than a hundred feet away and I stand on the steps of the cottage, watching its slow and mesmerizing waves crash against the beach. Finally, my anxiety and excitement is starting to subside. I’m still riding a high, but the sight of water has always had a calming effect on me.

I walk down the path and toward the main house. I don’t have a destination in mind; it just feels good to walk. Most of the cars that were parked out front are gone, along with the valet people. There are some party favors and empty cans and cups scattered out on the front lawn. Wow, people can be very disrespectful. The Warrenhouses put on this awesome party that must’ve cost them a fortune, and the guests still don’t bother to clean up after themselves. Even in the mildest, smallest way. I toss all the trash that I pick up into the empty garbage pails near the porch. I consider heading into the house, but don’t want to disturb anyone just in case they are sleeping already.

A strong gust of wind rushes through me and I zip the jacket tighter to keep some of the cold out. I bury my hands in my pockets and find my phone. Oh, yes, of course! I completely forgot about it. I won’t lie. I’m kind of a phone addict. I’m usually on my phone most of the day. If I’m not talking on it, I’m texting or checking my emails, or wasting time on Facebook and Instagram. But somehow, I have completely forgotten about it for close to twelve hours. Very impressive, Ellie, I say to myself.

But as soon as I look at the screen, my pride vanishes immediately. I have four missed calls from Caroline and another ten texts. Shit, I say to myself. I scroll through her texts and listen to her messages. Caroline isn’t big on leaving voice mails, so I know that this is important.

What could she want? I wonder. Her first texts came in around one in the morning and the rest came soon after. Then suddenly, nothing. Crickets. Maybe she wanted a ride home. Maybe something happened with her date? What was his name? My mind is running in circles. She came here with the guy she met at the auction on Aiden’s yacht. She has seen him a number of times before, and he has even been to our house. But that doesn’t mean that he’s completely trustworthy, does it? I mean, what do we really know about him except that he has a lot of money and is willing to spend almost a hundred grand for a one night stand? I can’t remember exactly how much Caroline got, but it was enough to pique her interest. Besides, she wasn’t really supposed to see him after the auction, but he made an impression. He asked her out once they were both back in the city. He was genuinely interested in her. At least, it seemed that way.