Page 34 of Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies

“I have?”

“Remember when you were complaining about those TikTok books?”

“‘Complaining’ is a strong word.”

“Uh-huh.”

I make a hurry-up motion with my hand. “And?”

“That’s her.”

“She’s the one blowing up on TikTok?”

“One of them.”

“How did she get on this tour?”

Harper’s mouth turns down. “You’re not going to like it.”

“Tell me.”

“She’s here for juice.”

“For what?”

Harper pushes her glasses back up. “You know, hype. She’s big in Italy.”

I feel a pout forming. “I’m big in Italy.”

“Not like this. She’s already in her tenth printing.”

That’s a lot. “When did her book come out?”

“Two months ago.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah, wow.”

The waiter brings my spritz, the large glass glistening in the sun as condensation beads on the side. I give it a twirl with my finger, then gulp half of it down. I know I should be careful, but it’s so hot, and too many things have happened today.

I deserve this. This, and one more maybe.

“I hear she’s super ambitious,” Harper says, reaching for her drink. It’s a vodka and soda, and she’s taking small sips, making it last. She even drinks better than I do, but this, for once, is something I can’t envy.

“Nothing wrong with that.”

“Yeah, but…”

“Just tell me.”

“I read her book on the plane. The plot is basically When in Rome. The man is different than Connor, and it’s set on the Amalfi Coast, but everything else is the same. Even the twist.”

“She stole my twist? And no one else has noticed this?”

Harper shrugs. “A few online reviewers, but your book came out ten years ago. It’s a different audience. People who don’t…”

“Read me.”

---