Page 116 of One More Chapter

“Alright, superstar,” Rafe says, clapping his hand on my shoulder. “Let’s get you inside.”

“Guys, I’m starting to freak out,” I whisper.

We’re standing backstage, where the girls will stay with me until the last possible minute.

“What if no one shows up? What if no onecaresthat I’m doing a public event? What if?—”

“Breathe,” Lucy interrupts, placing her hands on my shoulders. She makes me do three five-count breaths, before tugging me to the curtain. When we peek out, the entire auditorium is packed. There isn’t an empty seat in the house, save for the few up front with reserved signs for my people.

“See? The people love you.”

“They love your books,” Claire adds.

“This is the best choice, Pen. Take what you’ve earned and live out this dream,” Juliet smiles.

I offer them an appreciative smile, knowing no amount of extra sappy words are needed just yet. I’ll save them for the end of the night, when the eight of us head to dinner.

“Are the guys here yet? I didn’t see them.”

“Sam said they landed,” Juliet says, pulling out her phone.

“Aaron said they’re on their way,” Lucy adds.

“Yep, Nathan’s location says they’re a few miles out.”

Claire holds up her phone with the Find My Friends app displayed, showing them in transit.

I check my phone, a little disappointed that I don’t see anything from Ant. But I have to shake out my nerves, because sooner than I expect, the girls are ushered out into the auditorium, and Rafe is giving me a pep talk.

I go over the softball questions that were preselected, re-rehearsing my answers. I chug half a bottle of water, knowingthat I’m going to sweat it out before I have to pee. Suddenly, I’m clipped into a mic-pack, given a hundred different directions, and ushered to the stage right wing. The sound of the microphone clicking on kickstarts my heart, but I hear the introduction underwater.

Something aboutPJ LayneandFirst public appearanceandSelect audience. I tune it all out, and when I close my eyes, I see Anthony. He’s standing on an empty stage, wearing that soft smile he seems to have recently acquired that he only dons around me.

The words he’s told me before echo loud and clear because I’ve etched them onto my heart.

You can do it. It’s okay to be scared, but don’t let that fear hold you back anymore. Don’t hurt yourself because of a what-if. Take a chance on you. You’re worth it.

It’s theYou’re worth itthat pushes one foot in front of the other. TheYou’re worth itthat leads me out onto that stage to thundering applause that drowns out everything but the Anthony in my head telling me to take a chance.

I take it all in. The ocean of a crowd, standing on their feet, all formeand the worlds that I’ve created. But before I let myself take any more of it in, I seek him out.

My eyes zoom to the front row where seven seats have been reserved for my friends. I see Sam and Juliet wearing huge smiles, Lucy beaming and Aaron cupping his hands around his mouth to cheer, Claire’s hands clapping together furiously while Nathan cheers in a more reserved fashion, and one empty seat.

My stomach falls to my shoes.

The Anthony Ellis in my head is the only one in attendance.

He isn’t here.

after florida

3:43 PM

Anthony

Yeah, 7:30! I can’t wait to see you :)

7:10 PM

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