Page 10 of Bending The Rules

I nodded. “Yes, well… I believe in taking good care of my authors. I mean, the store believes. In that. In taking care of the authors.”

“I got you. How many people are we expecting?”

“When I last checked the registration, it was at 312 people, between the morning and evening sessions. We’re charging a five dollar registration fee, just to make sure they’re serious, but they get a five dollar coupon to the store when they register, so it’s essentially free.”

“That’s a good idea.”

“Thank you. So,” I said, “Um… about that signage. I’m thinking maybe a nice blue? It would look good with all of the covers from the series, and it looks good against your skin. I think it would make a nice backdrop.”

“I’ll defer to your expertise. You’re good at this.”

Our food was delivered before I could embarrass myself over the compliment. While we ate, we discussed promotional event pricing for the books, space arrangement, and other logistics we needed to figure out.

I found out after the meal that Justin had already made arrangements to pay, knowing that I would have argued with him over the check. I bit my tongue to keep from arguing with him over whether or not I would have argued, and stood to gather my bags.

Outside, there was another short moment of awkwardness before Justin stepped in front me.

“Hey… thank you, for doing this for me. Facilitating and all,” he said, then ran his tongue over his lips.

I shrugged. “It’s nothing. My parents adore you, and we can barely keep your books in stock at the store, they get snapped up so fast. Hosting a signing for you is a no-brainer. You’ve done great. Built a name for yourself. Everybody around here is proud of you.”

“Everybody?”

Shit.

There were those pesky-ass butterflies again, and their friend – the lump in my throat. Did he think I wasn’t proud of him? He’d recently been profiled inRead That or Nah?,a black literary magazine, and the interview had been conducted by the man we both referred to as “The Blueprint” – Mr. Eric Jerome Dickey, who’d made it clear that even he was a fan. Justin had racked up several bestseller titles, had been on the cover ofSugar&Spicemagazine, had talked to friggin’ Oprah. According to my research, the movie adaptation of his first project – which also happened to be the first thing published through Scattered Seeds – would start filming early next year.

“Of course, Justin.”

Instead of a verbal response, he just nodded. A few seconds later, his arms were around me, pulling me into a hug that felt so much like home it brought tears to my eyes. I eased away from him, not meeting his eyes as I turned in the direction of the hotel.

“So, I’ll get back with you in a few days about the signage, and see what you have for the giveaway. Okay?”

“Okay.”

I didn’t say goodbye.

I hurried down the street, trying to make it to the hotel before my ability not to burst into tears dissolved. I’d already cried so much over Justin that I didn’t want to give in. I didn’twantto still be hurt. I didn’twantto still be pissed.

But here we were.

All I wanted to do, was get the damn signing done, help my parents move, and get the store back in order. I’d mentally prepared for this. I’d talked and thought my way through this so many times. But now that I was here, now that I actually had to be around him, and see his face, now that he wasn’t out of sight out of mind, now that I had to feel the full effects of just how much I missed him…

I realized it was going to be harder than I thought.

Three.

“You’re killing me here, Justin. Killing me.”

I laughed, running a hand over my face as I looked away from my computer screen, and at the phone, which was on speaker. “I’d apologize , but…”

“You’re not sorry. Youdounderstand what my job is, right?”

“I do, but you’re going to tell me again anyway.”

“Damn right,” Anthony shot back. “At the core, my presence in your world is for the sole purpose of getting you a contract. Lion Literary isofferingyou a contract. Get this – without a book in hand. They don’t even care what your next book is about, they just know they want it. The offer they made is nice, Justin. Very nice. And yet you aren’t interested , for some unknown reason—”

“The reasons aren’t unknown.”

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