Page 149 of The Nicest Thing
For us.
I just hoped it wouldn't kill me—or my career.
"I'm going to tell them," I said.
"Tell who what?" Finn asked.
"The readers, everyone, I'm going to admit the lie.It's the only way, Finn."
He sat up beside me in bed, suddenly alert."But Rose, what about your books?"
I nodded."I'm going to keep writing.I won't let this stop me."
"I know you won't.But—"
"My stories are good.They'll keep selling, or they won't."I gulped."If I can't make a living as a writer, I'll just have to pivot."
"You told me other authors get a lot of hate for the smallest thing.I don't want to see you go through that," Finn said, and I laid a hand on his chest, feeling his heart beating beneath my fingers.The rhythm was steady and soothing.He put his hand over mine."It's just one more day.Why not ride it out?"
"Because I can't," I said."I didn't realize it before, but this lie is killing me slowly, sitting like a weight on my chest."
"Spoken like a true writer," Finn said.
"Maybe not for much longer."
He didn't laugh, and neither did I.
"If I don't tell the truth, I'll never feel worthy of this," I said, running my thumb over his heart, seeing the realization in his eyes.
"You don't have to do this for me."
"I'm doing it for us."I leaned in and pressed a kiss to his lips.He returned the kiss with fervor."I love you, Finn, and if this is going to work, I need us to be able to tell our story.Our real story."
He ran a hand through his hair."Okay, if you're sure."
"I am."
"How will you do it?"
"By posting a video on social media," I said with a grim smile."Feels right to end this where it started."
Finn blew out a breath."Well, I'll do whatever I can to protect you from any blowback.I'm with you no matter what."
"I know."
And I did.
Finn never broke a promise, and it comforted me to know he was in my corner.
Through the good, the bad, and the ugly.
#
"This is bad, Rose," Emmy said from her square on the screen.
The rest of the book club members nodded in agreement.
"The video has almost 500k views," June said, "and it's been up less than an hour."
