Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Two of our speakers are already here, but I’ve yet to speak with either of them about what they’re going to say and what types of questions we’ll be taking from our students.
This has to be the least prepared you’ve ever been.
With students beginning to file into the auditorium in class-sized groups, I’m obviously going to have to save the berating myself for later. I hurriedly head over to where all three speakers stand.
This should be a total fangirl moment for me right now as I prepare myself to meet my favorite author Brooke Baker, but I’m too busy internally freaking out over my lack of organization to even give in to the urge to talk about her books and how much I love them.
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 talking way too 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 on Grey’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.