Page 25 of Hot Mess Wedding

Paige: Don’t start or then I’ll cry.

Me: Are y’all even in the same room?

Cassia: No. Your evil brothers won't let us do anything fun anymore. I've been on the couch for days. I'm getting shelf ass!

Paige: They are ridiculous.

Paige: You’re a rock star, Cleary. I wish you’d told us, but I get it. I love this for you. You were totally meant to be a writer.

Cassia: I completely agree.

Me: I love you guys!

Now I know that it’s time for me to come clean with my besties too. We’ve shared so much and this week we’re supposed to be tackling our fears. It occurs to me with alarming clarity that me claiming my author self is the fear I should have been working on all along.

Me: I have a confession.

Me: I’ve been lying to y’all and I’m so sorry.

Peyton: What do you mean, lying?

Mandy: You know you can tell us anything. You never have to say sorry to us! We’re your people!

Me: You know that book we read a few months ago for book club? The one by the new author?

Gem: The mafia one or the green lizard aliens with two ?????

Tabitha: I’m not going to lie. I loved the green lizard aliens.

Peyton: Wait! it could have been the band of assassins one.

Me: That’s the one.

Devyn: Oh yeah, that one was so hot!

Gem: Holy crap on a cracker, that book was hawt!

Me: Yeah, well, that’s me.

Cordy: Wait, I’m late to the convo. Stupid mountains. What’s you?

Me: I mean that’s me, that’s my book.

Tabitha: What’s your book? I’m so confused. Actually, I’m still hungover and I can’t make sense of any of this convo.

Gem: OMG! You finally did it!

Mandy: What did she do?

Cordy: What is happening?

Tabitha: I’m dying. I swear. I’m never drinking again.

Me: I wrote that book. And the other two in the series.

Me: I am Anita Dix.

Tabitha: Holy cow that’s so awesome. I’ll be excited for you once the room stops spinning.