Page 28 of The Write Off

I can’t laugh at something I don’t find funny, and I’ve never been able to act like I care about something I don’t. With Stuart, I don’t have to.

“I just want to keep your fanbase happy.”

“Sometimes people don’t want to read something that will make them happy; just something that will make them feel.”

The heavy manuscript drops back to the table with a thunk. “Someone’s feeling very philosophical this morning.”

“And someone else seems even more uptight than usual.” He pauses for a moment when Florence returns with hot coffee. “What’s wrong, Logan? Stop me when I guess it. You’re having difficulty sleeping? Suffering from gastrointestinal discomfort? Are you sexually frustrated?”

I choke on the fresh coffee I’m attempting to swallow, coughing and sputtering as it burns my esophagus on its way back up. I watch Florence and Stuart exchange a knowing look as though they’ve discovered the root of my problem.

“Who is she?” he asks, finally moving his newspaper to the side and giving me his full attention.

“She isn’t…there isn’t anyone…I’m not…” I feel my protests would hold more weight if I weren’t coughing my lungs up while struggling for air.

“How long has it been since you and Viper broke up?”

“Her name was Piper.”

“She dumped you two weeks after your brother died. Viper suits her better. Now, that was well over a year ago, if I’m not mistaken. She must have done a number on you.”

“Hardly.” While it’s true Piper could have waited for the dust to settle after Eric’s untimely death, she didn’t break my heart when she packed her things and left. If anything, her presence was one less thing to worry about. I was already working sixty-hour weeks. Throw in the fact that I was doing everything I could to support Shannon and the kids, I didn’t have time for anything else.

Our three-year courtship was mostly built on convenience. We were introduced by our mothers at a charity dinner. She was completing her residency in obstetrics, working long hours and often on call. We had little in common aside from coming from medical families and having hectic work schedules. We saw one another when we were both free and didn’t get upset at how infrequent that was.

One mutually beneficial perk of being in a relationship was that our parents stopped attempting to set us up with other romantic partners. We lulled them into a placid state where they felt their children were on the path to marriage and children. They didn’t care if we were happy, just that we were settled.

“You haven’t met anyone since?” Stuart’s question brings me back to the present.

“No, I haven’t. But I also haven’t been looking.” I haven’t had the time, nor the inclination. If Piper taught me anything it’s that I don’t want to be with someone for the sake of being in a relationship. The next time I date someone it will be because I want to.

I’m not sure why, but the memory of Rilla laughing at the bar pops into my head from out of nowhere.

“Well, maybe it’s time you used those eyes for something other than reading books. Speaking of which, how are you and that new writer getting along? You appear to still be in one piece, so that’s promising.”

Sometimes the man can read my mind.

The last time I met Stuart for coffee, things were not going well with Rilla. I’d spent the better part of our meeting venting my frustrations to him, much to his apparent delight. “Excellent, actually. We got off to a rocky start, but I think we’ve worked through it. The revisions for her first novel are pretty much complete. She’s one of the most talented writers I’ve ever worked with. I know that you’re not a fan of fantasy novels, but the world she’s built, the characters she’s created, and the story she’s telling? It’s brilliant. She’s brilliant. You’d love her.”

I drink my coffee, thinking about how happy she’d looked after our meeting with Bryce last week. Well, after the Bryce part of the meeting. She’s sent me some updates on her revisions as well as several memes, most of which I did not understand.

“Well, that is a surprising turn of events.”

“You’re telling me.” I check my watch and see that it’s almost noon. I hadn’t planned on eating lunch here, but I’m starting to get hungry. I pick up one of the menus Florence left for us and start to look it over.

“So you like her?”

“I do.” I’m only half paying attention to him, distracted by my increasing hunger.

“Is she around your age?”

“No, she’s in her mid-twenties.” I wonder what the daily lunch special is today.

“Pretty?”

“Beautiful.”

“Single?”

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