Page 118 of Rewrite the Rules

I slide the paperback over to my side of the table and uncap my pink pen. “Thank you, that’s so sweet. I’m glad you liked it. What’s your name?”

“Keegan. K-e-e-g-a-n. Hey, I have a question for you…” A coy smile creeps across her face and she leans into the table. “Is this book like purely fiction or based on like real-life stuff?”

“All books are inspired by some element of reality, right?” I answer distractedly as I scribble a note into Keegan’s copy ofPretend With Me.

“No, I mean like—do you actually know people who did it doggy-style on an open balcony in a high rise in L.A.? Because that’s just freaking amazing.”

I laugh impishly. The majority of the book is inspired by real events. I changed our names and made the setting California, but the entire novel is a raw retelling of the first time I fell in love. My first…everything. “No, I honestly don’t know of anyone who did that in L.A.”

Keegan is too drunk to register my emphasis onin L.A.and my clever half-truth goes almost unnoticed. A loud chuckle from right behind us captures my attention and my eyes snap up to see the outline of a man in a perfectly tailored Armani suit with what looks like golden cufflinks.

“Just so you know,” Keegan continues in her slightly drunken slur. “Your book is waayyy better than Tessa Rayne’s.Toy With Meis garbage compared to this one.” She hugs her signed copy before she walks away, thinking she left me with a compliment. Good grief.

Ted Arnett, live and in the flesh, is next in line holding a copy ofPretend With Me.This is just for show. He has about a hundred stacks of these in his office in L.A.

“You actually waited in line?” I ask, raising a brow. He is still chortling at Keegan’s odd compliment. I knew Ted flew in with Tessa for this little shindig, but he’s been caught up with business all day. This is the first time I’ve seen him in person. I’ve only known him from Zoom calls. He looks so much smaller in person.

“I wait in lines like everyone else. Another thing you may not know about me—I’m a hugger.” Ted steps around the booth and holds out his arms. I eagerly push back my chair and accept his kind gesture.

Validation.

Ted pulls a square red box out of his pocket and hands it to me. I’d feel a little awkward in his embrace if I didn’t already know Ted preferred his men fully bearded and with a lot of chest hair. We’re talking backwoods lumberjacks. I gingerly open the lid. Inside lies a cheap pink plastic button that reads ‘I proved Ted wrong’ with a golden star underneath.

“Addie, don’t you get all emotional on me now.”

I blink back tears as I poke the pin through my expensive new Marc Jacobs romper that makes me feel like I’m playing dress-up. Today’s costume? Adult.

“I will wear this as a badge of honor. I will never take it off. Seriously, I’m even going to sleep with it. It’s beautiful. It’s thewrongpart that really sings to me, you know?”

Ted rolls his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. One question though.”

“What’s that?”

“The dedication.” He flips to the front of the book and reads:

“Despite everything, I will always love you. Thank you for stepping aside, so I could find better. It was the kinder thing to do.”

Ted closes the book. “I always meant to ask. Did you and your guy work it out? I know in the book it works out, but I mean in real life. You said he stepped aside so you could find better? This is me by the way, officially interested in your characters.” He smirks at me.

I look at the overhead clock and am thrilled to see the hour hand strike nine. My obligation officially fulfilled. I’ll text the girls later. Let them enjoy the party. I, however, need sleep…and sweatpants.

“The dedication isn’t to any guy.” My relationship with Joel was the key to unlocking the big picture. The lesson I needed to learn to finish my story. After my first love—my first real heartbreak—I saw it as clear as day. So much of love is about forgiveness.

Forgiveness is the real survival guide to love.

“Who then?” Ted’s tone is hushed as he studies the emotion on my face.

“My parents.” I sent them a copy ofPretend With Meand a note. I doubt they’ll read either, but I was brave enough to do it. I wish I could’ve called Joel from the post office. It was his idea and he was right…my parents should at least know who they are missing out on. “Anyways, I’m going to sneak out of here. If my friends see me leave, they’ll feel obligated to follow me and I want them to enjoy themselves and the party. I will see you and Tessa for breakfast tomorrow, yes?”

“Sure,” Ted says with a reaffirming nod. “Rest up, Addie. Tomorrow’s breakfast is a planning meeting about the next best seller you’re writing me. I plan on staying a very rich man because of you.”

I roll my eyes. Can a girl get one day of peace? “Insatiable, Ted. You are insatiable.”

“And now you’re stuck with me.”

Yeah, yeah.I sneak out the back of the building and into the crisp Colorado air. I touch my pink plastic button and can’t help but smile as I start my long walk home.

I did it. I proved Ted wrong. I proved myself wrong. We’re finally here at the finish line of an impossible task but somehow, I did it. Somehow, I survived.

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