Cruel Fortune (Cruel #2)(28)

But I wasn’t back to normal. I was still stuck on this damn novel. The inspiration I’d had while in New York had vanished as soon as it had come. Caroline wanted a full synopsis and to read the pages, but I seriously wasn’t ready for that.

“Oh my god, would you two shut your mouths?” Amy yelled, finally blowing a gasket.

Melanie’s mouth snapped shut. Michael whirled on Amy as if he was going to give her a piece of his mind.

“Don’t even think about it.” Amy pointed her finger at him. “You’re in my gallery, and you can get the hell out if you so much as use the wrong tone with Melanie again.”

Michael schooled his features into disinterest and began to speak to Melanie less erratically. Melanie had come over straight from her last class at Grimke University, Charleston’s resident Southern Ivy, to pick me up to go to dinner at our parents’ tonight. Michael had shown up, unannounced, a few minutes later, and yelling had ensued. I didn’t even know what they’d been arguing about. It felt like everything lately. Ever since he’d dumped her to go to homecoming with her best friend last year, things had never been the same. And only Melanie didn’t see it.

“Now that I have some peace and quiet, I have to get back to work. Are you having any luck writing?” Amy asked me.

I shook my head. “Like, another chapter, but that’s it.”

“Another chapter is better than nothing. Maybe this book will just take longer to write.”

I shrugged. “Maybe.”

My phone dinged in my hand, and I grinned at the picture Lewis had sent over. It was him in a black peacoat, standing in Central Park with the Bethesda Fountain in the background. There was only one line under it.

Miss you.





A grin split my face before I could think better of it. Amy leaned over my shoulder when she saw it.

“Jesus, he is smitten.” Then, she glanced up at me. “And he’s not the only one.”

I laughed and closed out of the picture. “I don’t know if smitten is the word. But he’s something.”

“He’s totally into you.”

“Too bad he’s a thousand miles away.”

“He did ask you to move to New York,” Amy conceded.

“Yeah, I’ll add that to the list of horrible ideas I have.”

“Why would that be a horrible idea besides the fact that you’d be leaving me behind?”

“A hundred percent because you’d be here,” I said with a laugh. Amy nudged me. “I mean, first, money. Second, I don’t even know if I’ll get another book contract. Third, I hardly know anyone there. It would be insanely impulsive.”

“First, you have money. Second, you’re going to get another book contract. Third, you know enough people. And impulsive works for you.”

I waved a hand at her. I couldn’t stop thinking about it, but I always solidly came down on a maybe. There were a million more reasons to stay than to go. But New York called to me, and I couldn’t ignore her siren call.

I was about to respond when my phone started ringing. “Hello?”

“Natalie, it’s Gillian.”

“Hey, Gillian. How are you?”

“Girl, I am out of this world. Do you know what today is?”

“Uh…” I glanced at my phone. “November thirteenth?”

“Wednesday,” she said as if that were more obvious.

“Okay…”

“New York Times released their best-sellers list.”

“Oh my god,” I whispered.

My stomach dropped. I hadn’t known that it came out on Wednesday. Or that I should even be looking for it. I’d hoped, of course. Who wouldn’t hope? But I’d never thought it would be my reality. It was my debut. It was a dream. This just didn’t happen.

“You hit at number three on the hardcover list.”

A buzzing filled my head.

I’d hit. I’d hit. I’d hit.

I didn’t know what to say or think or feel. All of a sudden, I burst into tears. I couldn’t stop it even if I wanted to. I sobbed uncontrollably as emotions jolted through me. As all my dreams seemed to come true at once. My hands were shaking. Distantly, I saw Amy turn to me with concern. Melanie brushing past Michael to find out what was wrong. But I couldn’t process it. Any of it.

“Oh, Natalie! Congratulations! I knew this book would be huge. And, now, you’re a New York Times bestselling author! So well deserved. It’s been such a pleasure bringing this book to life.”

“Thank you, Gillian! I can’t even believe this is real.”

“It is. You’re brilliant. I’m so proud of you.”

I blubbered incoherently a few more minutes before hanging up the phone. I glanced up into the startled faces of my friends.

“What happened?” Melanie gasped. “Is everything all right?”

“I…I hit the New York Times.”

“Oh my god!” Melanie shrieked at the same time as Amy. They jumped up and down and then threw their arms around me as one.

“This is amazing, Nat,” Amy said, squeezing the life out of me.

“I’m so excited!” Melanie cried. “We have to celebrate.”

“Drinks on Natalie,” Michael said with a chuckle.