Page 137 of The Romance Library

The brilliant thing was that not only had she agreed, Mia had been promoting the library on her social media and even gave it a mention in her OnTheDaily.co.uk column too.

All for free.

Since then, we’d received so many messages, comments and calls from people all over the UK about coming to the opening.

I’d already drafted in Sarah to help Jane and me on the day, which I’d thought would be enough.

But now I’d just read Mia’s second email, even if I hired a hundred extra pairs of hands, I wasn’t sure we’d be able to cope with the influx of people who were going to come.

If I’d thought Mia was my fairy godmother before, I didn’t know what words I could use to describe her now.

‘Amazing doesn’t even begin to cover it! Mia’s just asked if…’ I paused, still not quite believing it. ‘She wondered if I’d like her boyfriend, Liam bloody Stone, to come to open the library too!’

‘WHAT!!!’ Jane shouted. We’d only known each other just over a week, but Jane was so timid, I’d never heard her raise her voice until now. Even when she was angry with a supplier who was supposed to be delivering the bookcases. ‘That’s fantastic!’ She jumped up from her chair.

‘It’s more than fantastic! We’ll get so much publicity! Everyone knows how madly in love Mia and Liam are. They’re like the perfect couple! They’re the definition of romance! Everyone will love it! It’s happening, Jane! The Romance Library is gonna be huge. Like the Strand Bookstore in New York, or Waterstones in Piccadilly. People are going to come from all over the world to visit!’

‘That’s the plan!’

My heart soared. After months of blood, sweat and tears, it felt like things were finally starting to come together.

Right now, the contractors were putting the finishing touches to the library. Tomorrow it’d be finished and Jane and I could start filling the shelves with Mrs Davis’s books, plus the extra stock we’d ordered for the bookshop and get everything prepared in time for the opening next week. It was cutting it fine, but if we worked around the clock we could get it done.

I looked at my watch. It was after eight in the evening and Jane had been here since the crack of dawn working.

‘You should go home,’ I said.

‘I don’t mind staying a bit longer.’

‘Thanks, but you’ve been here for twelve hours already and tomorrow’s a big day. And after that we’ll be flat out, so please, go and get some rest.’

‘Okay,’ she sighed.

Jane had been an absolute angel. She worked so hard and was just as passionate about romance novels as I was. Every day I counted my lucky stars that I’d found her. There was no way I could’ve managed all of this on my own.

‘Not long until we get a proper office,’ I said as Jane tidied her side of the desk.

‘Yes! I can’t wait to see how the whole library looks tomorrow. Oh, I just remembered. Glenda said there was a delivery earlier. I’ll go and get it.’

‘Thanks.’

As Jane left the room, my heart sank a little. It was crazy. Tomorrow I’d finally get to see the completed works on the library, which was fantastic. And if that wasn’t enough, Mia had just confirmed that one of the most famous actors in the world was coming to open our library, which was amazing. Yet I still felt a sharp twinge of sadness in my chest.

I missed Theo.

I still missed him like crazy.

I wished that I could share big moments like these with him.

When the sale went through for the library, I wanted to tell him.

When I hired Jane, I wanted to tell him how relieved I was.

When I confirmed the date for the opening, I wanted to send him an invite.

When Mia first replied to my message to say she was up for doing the opening, Theo was the first person I wanted to call. I knew he’d be so excited for me.

And now I knew that work on the library would definitely be completed tomorrow, I wanted him to be there. I wanted him to be one of the first people to see it.

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