Page 14 of Text Appeal

“My lease is for three months. Then we’ll see.”

He nods and smothers a yawn. “Shit. Sorry. Long day.”

“How about we both give the situation a little more thought and talk later?” I start walking toward the front door, and he follows. “Oh. I do have one stipulation in regard to our possible agreement.”

He turns and frowns back at me from the hallway. “What?”

“We tell people we met tonight due to the phone number nonsense, and it was love at first sight.”

“It was what?”

“You heard me.”

“Love at first sight,” he says with much disdain. “Are you serious?”

“Yes. I won’t have Grandma Martha and her squad thinking I lied about not knowing you. It’s not happening. I refuse to cede the moral high ground to your ex.”

The expression on his face asks what the fuck in several languages. “But you’re willing to lie from now on?”

“That’s different.”

“Right.” He blinks tiredly and heads for the stairs. “Love at first sight. Like anyone is going to believe that.”

“Not with that attitude they won’t. Good night, Connor.”

His parting grunt echoes up the stairs. And people say romance is dead.

Ava: I keep thinking about how you asked me what’s so great about Connor.

Ava: I know him on a cellular level. There’re no hidden nasties waiting around the corner.

Me: I can see how that would appeal. People are rarely who they say they are.

Ava: This is my point.

Me: But safety is still a shit excuse. Do you love him and want the same things as him?

Thanks to work, I don’t get to the grocery store until late Tuesday. The words aren’t flowing, which is annoying as fuck. Guess I am temporarily blocked due to the upheaval of the move or something. So many recent upsets and changes in my life. Butthere were plenty of marketing and admin type jobs to be done. Most of which I had been putting off for pretty much forever.

People think being a writer is easy. And it is if you want to be broke. The truth is romance readers are smart. They know what they want. Add this to the fact that the market is flooded, and you have a challenging career. It’s not just about knowing how to craft a book these days. Or coming up with great story ideas. You’re also running a business, with all that entails. So getting out and having a change of scenery at the end of the workday is very welcome.

The grocery store is bright, clean, and orderly. Though new places can be a lot. Just getting used to where things are and making sense of the selections and such. With my mind overwhelmed, it takes me a while to notice the weirdness. A young white man watching me in fruit and vegetables. A lady with a teenager in tow staring at me in cold goods. A person in the bakery area doing a double take as I help myself to both cookies and brownies. However, it is the outright judginess of the older couple in the alcohol aisle that really does it. Like I am not a woman with needs!

While I was prepared to attract a certain degree of attention as a stranger in a small town, this is excessive. What are the chances it’s due to the damn hometown sweethearts?

Even the dude at the checkout looks askance at my selections before saying, “Have a nice night, Riley. Tell Connor I said hi.”

I smile and mutter thanks and move right along. The sky is covered in clouds when I walk outside. Getting my groceries delivered will be the way to go in the future. I just wantedto have a look around the store to check out the local food and drink choices.

Luckily the elevator in my new apartment building is now working. A relief, since cardio sucks.

“Riley,” yells a voice from behind. It’s followed by the sound of heavy footsteps. “Wait up.”

I turn to find Connor hot on my heels. “Hi.”

“Can I help?”

“I’ve got it. Thanks.”

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