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I pick up my computer and hold it close to my chest. "Nothing."
"Oh, my freaking god," a stunned Alba repeats.
"Jesus Christ, Alba. Will you stop saying that and just tell us what's going on," Bella demands.
"There's nothing to tell," I try again.
"Hmm," Glory hums. "I think there is."
Alba grabs onto my arms with both hands. "You're Ellise Brooks?"
"What?!" Leah jumps.
A confused Mila asks, "Who is Ellise Brooks?"
Leah rushes me. "Shut up. Is it true?" Then she looks at Alba who then looks back at her. Together they say, "Oh my God!"
I close my eyes and count to five. This cannot be happening.
"Is anyone else lost?" Emerson chimes in.
There's a chorus of “yeah” from Glory, Sofia, Mila, Bella, and Grace. Alba ignores everyone. "Ember, how could you not tell us? This is huge." She turns to Leah, who is still staring at me dumbfounded.
"Stop looking at me like that." I bump her with my shoulder.
"Ellise Brooks."
I bite my bottom lip. "Look, it's not a big deal."
Alba snaps, "Not a big deal! Are you crazy? This is the biggest deal?"
"Alba, calm down."
She blinks at me. "Ember, I just found out you are Ellise Brooks, and you are telling ME to calm down?"
"Enough!" Glory throws her hands up. "Now I think I speak for the rest of us when I say, what the hell is going on and who the hell is Ellise Brooks?"
Alba side-eyes me and nods toward the six women who are currently looking very confused and very curious.
Sighing, I plop down on the couch, throw my head back and close my eyes to let out an exasperated sigh. "I'm Ellise Brooks."
"Come again? I thought your name was Ember?" Glory asks, still confused.
"It is. My full name is Bailey Ember Rhoads, but that's beside the point. My pen name is Ellise Brooks."
Sofia questions, "Pen name for what?" while Bella gasps and looks at Alba. Alba smiles and nods. Now I know Bella is not into books like her sister, but lord knows Alba has talked her ear off about the subject enough over the years for her to understand what we're talking about when we say pen name.
"I swear to all that is holy; if you bitches don't stop with all the weird lingo and knowing looks, I'm going to lose my shit," Glory huffs.
Alba looks over at me and bounces on her toes like a giddy child. "Can I tell them?"
I huff out a laugh. "By all means. Though I don't think it's a big deal."
"Whatever. It's a huge deal, and you know it." She waves me off and returns to our group, still awaiting answers.
"Ember is Ellise Brooks, a romance author. They’re thesame person!" Alba practically squeals.
Glory looks at me, then at Alba, then back to me. "Is this for real?"
