Page 17 of Not in My Book

I could picture the wrinkle between his eyebrows that always formed whenever he was pissed. I wondered if I’d made him mad enough to make the vein pop out from the side of his neck. The last time I’d done that was last semester when I said one of his main characters was whiny and had a superiority complex.

Rosie:hunter is a really common name. you need to get over yourself a little bit, i’m saying that as a friend

Aiden:Rewrite it.

I rolled my eyes and pulled my laptop up in front of me. The chapter was due at midnight so everyone had time to read it by tomorrow. I had already played my joke on him. It’d be easier for both of us ifI just started something we could actually work with. My eyes snagged on a few of the lines, and I couldn’t help but reread the pages. I hesitated as my finger hovered over the backspace. Itwaspretty good. Honestly, I didn’t know if I could write something better. Even if it was just a joke, I’d put a lot of thought into this chapter.

Rosie:be honest…what would you think about it if the character wasn’t named hunter?

The three bubbles did their little dance again—up and down, up and down, for the next few minutes. I continued to shovel handfuls of plantain chips in my mouth, anticipating his harsh words.

Aiden:I’d say it was near perfect.

I straightened, rereading the words. An involuntary smile flitted across my face. His approval was rare and I hated how much I valued his opinion.

Rosie:then we should keep it!!!! no one’s going to know it’s you

Aiden:Everyone will know. Just change the name.

I snorted. If we were keeping it, we were keeping all of it. I heard Alexa open the front door and kick her shoes off, each thumping against the floor.

Rosie:sorry, can’t. i’m too attached. let me know when you finish our next chapter!!!:-)

I put my phone on silent and slid off my small bed. I found Alexa in our tiny kitchen, pulling off the tie from her Hideout uniform.

“Hey, how was work?”

She gave me a murderous glare. “Trabaja los fines de semana.”

“My brain hurts, English please,” I begged.

She tsked. “Si nuncas practicas tu español, nunca aprenderás.”

When she discovered I wasn’t fluent in Spanish, Alexa had made it her personal mission to teach me. Coming from a mixed household, I’d mostly spoken English growing up. It wasn’t until I moved toNew York and tried to share my heritage with others that I felt any less Peruvian for being mixed. It was like other Peruvians thought I wasn’t as in tune with my culture just because I couldn’t conjugate in the preterit instinctually or had to really focus when listening in on conversations in Spanish. But I wore red on Peruvian Independence Day and cooked lomo saltado when I missed home (okay, I asked Alexa to, but still).

“I know, I know.” I waved her off. “I’ve been writing for the past few hours, my brain is mush.”

She sighed, relenting. “I want you to work weekends.”

“No way.” I shook my head.

“Benji is so terrible at the bar! They mess up every drink anyone orders, and they spend the whole time flirting with their partner!”

“I can’t,” I said apologetically.

“But why?” she whined, stomping her foot.

“Because,” I dragged out. “The weekends are my only time to write. And y’all make the weekend shifts sound like absolute hell. If I can avoid them, I’m going to.”

“But if you start working weekends, you’ll have more money to go home in time for Thanksgivingandtake more classes.” Alexa grabbed a mug from the cupboard and shoved the kettle under the faucet. Each of her moves were sharp, as if she were just as mad at the objects in her hand as she was at Benji. She slammed the kettle on the stove, turning up the flame for it to boil. “Tips are way better on weekends.”

“You couldn’t pay me enough.” When the kettle started to whistle, she poured water in her mug, dunking a tea bag in and out.

She pouted, lifting her mug to her lips. “How was your day? Were you able to start that chapter?”

I laughed lightly. “Yeah, eventually. Funny thing—I actually ran into Aiden at a Think near campus today.” Alexa’s eyes widened, but I stopped her before she could make a crude comment. “Nothing happened. He was fine, then out of nowhere started being a dick.”

“Maybe the raw sexual tension was getting to him.” Alexa wiggled her eyebrows. “Did you at least end up finishing your chapter?”

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