Page 23 of Not in My Book

“You’re going to bruise.”

“So, I’ll bruise,” she said. Her velvet voice surrounded me in the conference room; it was nearly suffocating. She commanded attention from everyone she met, even if she didn’t know it. She was often larger than life, fearless.

It was annoying. And admirable.

“How’s your portion of the presentation coming?” I asked casually.

She lifted a shoulder, acting like my words were of no consequence to her. “Just as you would expect. I heard yours was all cold hard facts.” She frowned, as if the idea brought a bad taste to her mouth.

“Oh really? Where’d you hear that?”

“You know how much the break room likes to gossip.” A grin spread across her face. Hope flickered in my chest at the thought that she’d asked about me. “I’m sure everyone will like my portion better. Mine appeals to the emotions a bit more. It’s happier.”

“Unrealistic,” I corrected.

“To you, there’s no difference.”

I resisted the urge to smile. I was always doing that around her, terrified of what would happen if I let someone in again. I tapped my fingers on the glass conference table, leaving smudges, deciding it was better to push her away.

“It’s time to wake up, Maxine. You’re in the real world now with real stakes, one of them being your career. Don’t come crying to me when you’re knocked on your ass by reality. I won’t help you up.”

—Excerpt fromUntitledby Rosie Maxwell and Aiden Huntington

CHAPTER SEVEN

Safe to say, I was shaking my leg under the table during the next class. I hadn’t even known it annoyed Aiden before or that I did it that often, but I wasn’t about to stop now.

He glared at me from across the table.

“Knock it off,” he mouthed.

“Pay attention,” I mouthed back.

Our classmates were still giving out their comments on our latest chapters. It felt like everyone was edging around the truth until finally someone spoke up.

“I like what you guys have done, but this isn’t an enemies to lovers. This is just enemies so far,” Tyler said. Out of the corner of my eye, Ida nodded in agreement. I frowned. That was intentional. I mean, if the enemies became lovers too soon, then no one cared.

“It’s obvious Max and Hunter hate each other, and you’re doing a good job ofhintingtoward some feeling, but there’s no progress. There’s nemesis chemistry, but it’s not translating into any sort of romantic plotline, and without that, all the yearning feels a little stalkerish.”

From the front of the room, Ida gave me a pointed look as if to say,See?I snuck a glance at Aiden, but he was unfazed. I rolled my eyes. He probably wasn’t even listening. I bet he was doing his taxes in his head.

“I agree,” Ida said.

“I think I speak for both of us when I say we’re trying to just build tension at this point,” I rushed out.

“Sure.” Ida tossed her head from side to side like she was considering it. “But the tension needs to come to fruition at some point. It’s obvious there aresomesort of feelings there, but they’re walking in circles around each other. Remember—you’re writing a love story. I need there to bedefinitiveromantic moments between the two of them, not just thoughts in their heads.” She paused. “I have a proposal for you two.”

“Another?” Aiden muttered. He held his pen carefully above the lines of his black notebook, preparing for whatever she was about to say.

“You two need to get to know each other better so these characters can really experience the romance they’ll eventually have. Try a little roleplay.”

I started coughing in surprise, and Aiden finally looked up from his notebook.

“Go on a date—as Max and Hunter—this weekend,” Ida said. “Then go home and write about it. Pretend you’re the characters, and let the romance build in your book.”

Aiden frowned. “Is this a suggestion, or are you telling us?”

“If anyone else asks, I’m suggesting. But since you’re asking, I’m telling.”

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