Kara
Work has been my lifeline these last few days. The guilt over hurting Sawyer has been like a noose round my neck. I never meant for things to turn out the way they have, but it would’ve been worse to let things go on when my heart wasn’t in it.
Liam has been keeping me company at work and we’ve been preparing for the book signing with T.H. Moore tonight. When I opened up this morning and saw Liam walk in a few minutes later, I felt lighter than the past few days. He was in a chatty mood, as ever, but more so because he’s fangirling over Trudy.
“She’s just so cool and I can’t wait to meet her. Talking to her assistant, it seems like Trudy’s looking forward to it too.”
“I’m glad. We’ve sold out of tickets to tonight’s event, so it should be a great turnout.”
Liam gives me a knowing smile. He knows just how I’m feeling at the moment. I’m trying to push my feelings to one side and muster as much enthusiasm for tonight as I can.
“I’m just waiting for her to get here. I know I’m going to just totally fangirl all over the place.”
“Going to? You already are!” I tease.
“I can’t help it, she’s just the most awesome author ever. Do you read her tweets? She’s hilarious.”
“Yeah, she’s really friendly and interactive with her fans too.”
“Should I go and make sure the room is set up for her?”
“I was hoping you could re-adjust the Indie shelves for me first, as we’ve got some new stock in.”
A smile lights his face and he turns to go to the stockroom.
“Thanks, Liam, you’re a star. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
I go to the coffee bar and grab us both a drink before we open.
***
Today’s gone by in a flash and now I’m helping Liam put the last of the chairs out for tonight. My phone chimes in my pocket and I stop for a moment to answer it.
“Hello.”
“Hello, is this Kara?”
“Yes.”
“Hi Kara, I’m Debbie, Trudy’s assistant.”
“Oh hi, are you here already?”
They were a few minutes earlier than expected.
“Yes, we’re outside in the car park.”
“I’ll send Liam down to let you in.”
Liam’s only too happy to be the one to greet the ladies. He walks off, whistling as he goes.
“Thank you, Kara.”
“No problem, Debbie. See you in a minute.”
I end the call and straighten up the last two chairs.
Laughter rings out in the lobby and I walk down to join them.
The gorgeous woman with long black hair looks in my direction and I see the purple streaks she’s recently had added. She did post a picture on social media, but it looks so much nicer in the flesh.
“Trudy, so good to meet you,” I say as I stretch out a hand in her direction.
She brushes my hand away and pulls me in for a hug instead.
“Good to meet you, Kara. This is my PA, Debbie.”
I shake hands with Debbie, then smile at Liam, as he looks as though he’s about to burst with excitement.
We lead the ladies to the room set up for the event. Trudy smiles as she sees the way everything looks.
As the ladies get themselves sorted, Liam goes to the lobby to wait for the customers to arrive. I make sure the microphone is in working order, as I have a list of questions to ask Trudy and we need to be heard at the back of the room.
Looking at Trudy, I love her quirky style which is kind of rock chick, but nothing too outrageous. I love the dress she’s wearing—it’s black and the print looks almost like an x-ray of the upper body—I have the same one in my wardrobe at home because Zoey bought it for me, but I’ve never actually worn it. She’s paired it with silver knee-length boots adorned in skulls. I wish I had the confidence to pull off such a look. I’m too scared of looking silly, and although I’d love a tattoo on my leg, I couldn’t rock the ivy that I can see creeping up underneath the fishnet leggings she’s wearing. Nor could I pull off the watercolour style sleeve of tattoos like she has on her right arm. I love the ink I have on my own arms, but it’s not a proper sleeve, and isn’t as daring and beautiful as Trudy’s. I realise I must be staring and look away as I feel my cheeks colour. Thankfully I hear voices in the lobby and can turn my attention to the customers instead of looking like I have a girl-crush on this gorgeous woman.
As the last customer is seated, I turn on the microphone and welcome everybody. I take my seat next to Trudy and thank her for coming.
The question and answer session goes on for about forty-five minutes, and she has some really interesting answers. She has everybody hanging on her every word. Some people just have that kind of presence about them that captures your attention, and Trudy is amongst them.
After the last question, we move over to the table set up for Trudy to sign everyone’s books. There are about fifty people here, so it may take a while. Liam is busy taking photographs for the store’s website and I can see he’s having fun with it.
Once the last customer leaves, Liam and I manage to sit and have a chat with Trudy and Debbie. We get our own books signed and take selfies with Trudy. Her effervescent personality leaves little room for thinking about any of my own crap. It’s actually really nice to just sit and talk about something I am passionate about…books.
“It’s a great place you have here, Kara. I’ve had a lovely time. All the readers were so lovely, some brought me gifts, and they all seemed eager to get the swag bags Debbie put together for them.”
“I’m hoping Liam got some really good pictures of this evening for our website.”
“Oh, I did!” he announces proudly, flashing me his mega-watt grin.
“Has anyone ever told you that you’d look good on a cover, Liam?” Trudy asks.
I look over to see him looking shy, a look I haven’t seen often on his face.
“I’ve told him, more than once,” I say as I smile in his direction.
“I’m far too shy,” he admits.
I giggle to myself as I try to imagine a more introverted version of my friend.
“Well, if you ever change your mind, I could totally set up a photoshoot with some of my other gorgeous cover models.”
“That would be…” his voice breaks a little, “that would be amazing.”
I can just see Liam posing with some sexy guy for a cover shoot. He would have so much fun. He might be shy about exposing his body, but I’ve seen him without his t-shirt on and he really keeps in shape. He has that V women go absolutely gaga over. If he wasn’t gay, he’d be my ideal man. He’s easy-going, makes me laugh, and has a serious side, which makes confiding in him easy.
“See, what have I told you?”
I wink at him and blow him a kiss. He pretends to catch it, which is so cheesy, but he’s adorable.
We talk a little longer and Trudy hugs us both tightly before leaving. She tells Liam to think about her offer and to get in contact with Debbie if he decides to go ahead.
***
Liam and I open up and we’re still chatting about last night. It was incredible how many people turned up and we’d both had so much fun. What more can you ask for when your job gives you so much satisfaction? It gives me a sense of pride too. If I hadn’t opened the store, then I wouldn’t feel like this.
I’m still buzzing when a customer comes in and asks if she can check out the ‘mom and baby’ room. I ask Liam to show her round while I get the cash register sorted.
A little while later, the lady comes to the till with a copy of ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar.’
“I loved this as a kid,” she says.
“Me too. It’s one of the most popular books in the children’s section.”
“I remember my mom reading it to me and I wanted my baby to experience the same with me.”
“How far gone are you?”
I look at her and she isn’t showing, so I assume she can’t be too far along.
“I have my twelve week scan in a couple of weeks.”
Her smile lights her whole face.
“Congratulations. I hope you liked the ‘mom and baby’ room.”
“I did. I’m sure I’ll be bringing my son or daughter here.”
“I’m Kara, by the way, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Hi Kara, I’m Molly.”
“She works over at Madison Avenue,” Liam says as he walks towards us.
“Yeah, I’m a part-time waitress there. It helps with the bills.”
She looks almost embarrassed, as though being a waitress is something to be self-conscious about.
“I haven’t actually eaten there,” I admit.
“Oh well, you should come by some time, I’ll use my family and friends discount for you.”
“That’s so kind, thank you.”
“The food is gorgeous. Jason and I eat there sometimes. Reid even joins us on occasion,” Liam interjects.
At the sound of his name, I wince. I know that Liam is dating Reid’s brother Jason, but we don’t tend to mention him.
I ring up Molly’s purchase and put it in a bag for her.
“Thanks, Kara, I’ll see you around.”
“You’re welcome, Molly, see you soon.”
Watching Molly walk out of the shop, I daydream that I’m in her position. I guess I’ve always wanted the white picket fence dream; a gorgeous house, a husband, children, and maybe a dog or two.
“Earth to Kara,” Liam says as he waves a hand in front of my face.
“Sorry, did you say something?” I ask as I snap myself out of my wistful thoughts.
“I just asked if you wanted a coffee.”
“Oh, yes please.”
Liam wanders off to the coffee bar and I go back to my daydreaming.
***
The rest of my week went by uneventfully. Work was great, but I wasn’t really socialising outside of work, so I rang Zoey and asked if she wanted to go baby shopping. As the weekend is my own for the first time in a while—because Liam convinced me to hire weekend staff for the store—I intend to make the most of it. We’re going to the local mall to do a spot of shopping and then getting a bite to eat somewhere.
***
I enjoyed shopping with Zoey and we ended up grabbing something to eat at Madison Avenue. Molly was working and gave us a discount on the incredible food. Liam had been right about how good a restaurant it was and I wondered why I hadn’t eaten there sooner. Zoey took me back to the house she now lives in with Brock and I got to see for the first time what a gorgeous place they have. I was a little envious that she had exactly the life I wanted, but I was happy for her. Gone is the bitchy Zoey from years gone by. She’s now mellowed out and excited to be a mom and wife. We spent some time discussing the wedding and she asked me to be her maid of honour. Of course I accepted and we toasted with mock-tails, considering her inability to drink alcohol for the next few months.