Page 94 of Best Frenemies

She sits on the stage in one of the chairs I set up just minutes ago. I’ve seen her in interviews and on TV, but she’s even more beautiful in person. She’s also very pregnant—which I didn’t know—and her German shepherd service dog lies by her feet. He’s dressed in a Batman costume and has a vest on his back that’s labeled with “Service Dog” and “Do not pet me, please.”

“Hi, Brooke. I’m Katy Dayton. I want to thank you for coming in today to talk to our students,” I greet and realize I’m talkingwaytoo fast. I’m also pretty sure I’m sweating at this point. My pits certainly feel a little damp beneath my dress. “Do you…” I pause and force myself to slow the heck down. “Have everything you need?”

“Hi, Katy. It’s really nice to meet you,” she says with a smile that doesn’t seem too terrified by my most likely frazzled introduction. “This is my buddy, Benji,” she adds, scratching her dog between the ears. “And I think I have everything? I hope?” Her laugh is downright adorable. “I’ve been told I’m just supposed to talk about my career as a writer and answer any questions the kids might have…?”

In this moment, it’s more than apparent that I didn’t do my job as the planner of this event. My speakers should feel confident in what’s expected of them. Not completely uncertain about what the heck they’re supposed to do.

Way to really drop the ball.

“Yes,” I say and nod three times too many. “This is all very relaxed. No pressure. Any insight into your career and the path you took to get there will be beneficial for our students. Also, they’d probably love to hear about Benji’s role in your life too.”

Brooke smiles. “I can definitely do that.”

“I really love your books, by the way,” I blurt out, and she offers an awkward little giggle. “Sorry. You probably hear that all the time, but it’s the truth. I’m a big fan of yours.”

“Oh, I’ll never get tired of hearing people tell me they like me,” she comments with a wink. “It’s appreciated, and any future compliments you have for me, do not hesitate to send them my way.”

I can’t do anything but smile at how relatable she is. It’s wild. This woman is an incredibly successful writer, and yet, talking to her feels like talking to an old friend.

“Also, directions to the nearest bathroom would be nice to have too,” she adds and rubs at her rounded belly. “Seven months pregnant and my bladder tends to give very little notice. I certainly don’t want to scare the kids by peeing on the stage.”

The mere sight of her pregnant belly and the affectionate way she rubs her hand over it gives me the strangest emotional jolt. It’s like I could cry at how beautiful she looks right now. It’s a wildly weird response to have toward someone I barely know, and I swallow past the ball in my throat to give her quick instructions on the closest bathroom.

Thankfully, there’s one just off the left of the stage.

Once I feel like she’s pretty well prepared, I move to my next speaker who sits beside Brooke, the anesthesiologist that Sammy Baker helped me book.

Though, she didn’t tell me he’s good-looking enough to play a hot doc onGrey’s Anatomy. Honestly, if this were an auditorium full of high school kids, the girls would probably have a hell of a time concentrating on anything but him.

“Dr. Philips?” I ask and hold out my hand to shake his.

“That’s me,” he says with a smile. “But please, you can call me Noah.”

“It’s really nice to meet you, Noah. I’m Katy Dayton.”

He nods. “Nice to meet you too, Katy.”

“Thank you for coming in to talk to our students. Do you have any questions for me?”

“Nah.” He shakes his head and offers a handsome but slightly self-deprecating smile. “I was listening in on your conversation with Brooke, so I think I’m good. No reason to make you give the speech twice.”

Brooke cackles. “Oh, so I’m not the only one eavesdropping because my sister signed us up to do this but gave us very little information on what to do?” she teases.

“Definitely not,” Noah responds with a big smile.

Instantly, I feel like the worst planner ever. “I’m really sorry you guys feel like you’re being put on the spot without any instructions. That’s probably my fault. I hope—”

“No,” Brooke cuts me off with a reassuring smile. She reaches out to squeeze my hand gently. “You have to understand that Noah and I have jobs that keep us pretty introverted. I mean, I’m a writer—definitely a reclusive career—and all of Noah’s patients can’t speak because they’re sedated. We’re both happy to be here. Just feeling like fish out of water because it’s not our normal gig to speak in front of a lot of people.”

“Definitely happy to be here,” Noah agrees. “And I feel like I know what to do, Katy. I’ll talk about how I became a doctor and give the kids some funny stories on what it’s like being an anesthesiologist.”

“Are you guys sure you’re good?”

“Positive,” Noah states and Brooke nods.

“We got this so good, Katy, we’re going to convince every one of these kids to become writers and doctors at the same time. Watch out, world, there’s about to be an oversaturation in two career markets.”

If there’s one thing I’m certain of, it’s that Brooke Baker is just as funny in person as her characters are in her books.

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