Page 106 of One More Chapter

“I haven’t even said yes yet!” I laugh, clutching my chest.

“Why not?!” Claire insists.

I bite back tears.

Why not?

“Because…”

The excuses are there, right where they’ve always been, but they’re muted somehow behind friends who are already looking up flights and booking babysitters, and a man at home who wants to read my books to get to know me better.

“If I let PJ Layne’s mask drop, it’s not a secret anymore. The whole world will know.”

“As theyshould,” Claire nods. “If this is about your job, Nathan already has your back.”

“And if it’s about the fear of leaving teaching, Pen, look at this empire you’ve already created,” Lucy adds.

“You’re brilliant at what you do.” Juliet, sitting next to me on the L-shaped couch, wraps her hand around my wrist. “Change is hard. Change is scary. But you’ll never know if it could be worth it if you don’t take the first step.”

Lucy, who is still holding my phone, hands me the device with the email facing upward. Their support means everything to me. So do Juliet’s words. I know she’s right—I have to allow myself the thought of failure in order to give myself the chance to succeed.

“Okay. Okay, I guess the world is finally going to know PJ Layne.”

Those words come out in a whisper of hope. Claire insists on more champagne, and as she’s filling glasses, I email Rafe back two simple words:I’m in. I text him that he can hold all phone calls for tomorrow morning, put my phone on Do Not Disturb, and settle in for a night with my girls.

Claire is finished with her social work program, and can officially begin applying at schools; Lucy and Aaron are thriving, but also neck deep in wedding prep; Juliet declines champagne, because she and Sam are officially “for real” trying to get pregnant.

“And Penelope is going to be worldwide news come Christmas time,” Claire says, to cap off our round of catching up. “Hey, how are things with lover boy?”

I tense at that nickname.

“Anthonyis fine. He’s at home reading his first PJ Layne, actually.”

“Which one did you give him?Pleasetell me you gave himA Whisper in the Light.”

“Absolutelynot,” I choke out a laugh. “He doesnotneed that level of smut on day one.” I shake my head. “No, I gave him Nash and Aria.”

“Sweet little butterflies,” Claire says, swooning with her hand against her forehead.

“They were justso perfect for each other,” Lucy agrees.

“I don’t know, Pen. If you give himA Whisper in the Light, you could be reaping the benefits.”

Juliet lifts her brow and reaches to our snack-cuterie table, dipping a chip into a bowl of queso. When I hesitate too long, they all sit up a little straighter, and I realize I’ve been made.

“Oh. Unless…”

“She alreadyisreaping the benefits?”

“She said ‘he’s at home’ as intheirhome. Notherhome where he’s just her annoying roommate anymore.”

They all talk over each other like a couple of Swifties trying to sort out a new theory. Finally, Lucy puts up a hand to quiet them.

“Put us out of our misery. Are you two together?”

My closed mouth grin is my answer. Luckily, we are at Lucy’s so there is no baby to wake with their ear piercing shrieks.

“Okay, okay!” I hold up both hands to stop the inquiring. “We’re not technicallytogether, but we are… I don’t know, exactly?”

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