Page 43 of Bending The Rules

“Yes.”

“No,” I said, firmly. “I can’t think of a worse possible idea. That’s areallyfucking bad idea.”

Anthony put a hand to his chest. “Well excuse me, then. Care to offer a better suggestion?”

“Yeah, finding a different publisher. Or publishing independently.”

He shrugged. “You actually have the audience to publish independently and do well, but Justin… to be perfectly honest with you, you don’t want those problems. You want to have input, and I get that. But if you publish it yourself, it’sallup to you. Book tours, signings, finding an editor, a graphic designer, all of that. And you pay for all of it too. I’m telling you – Scattered Seeds is going to be your best option, for what you want to do.”

I let out a deep sigh, then leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest. “I’m not going to try to get around Toni. That’s some sneaky shit that would ruin any chance of a business relationship.”

And our friendship.

“That’s perfectly fine. You don’t have to. But when I submit a pitch, and talk to them on your behalf, it reallywouldn’tbe through Toni. That’s not sneaky, it’s just following the proper chain of command.”

“And I get that. I do. But we’re not talking about me with anybody, until I talk about this with her. Okay?”

Anthony nodded. “You’re the boss here, Justin. But I do at least need a synopsis, some chapters, something, so that I can start working on a pitch. Again, I can’t sell a book I know nothing about.”

“I’ll get it to you,” I agreed. “Soon.”

“Today, please. So that we can be ready. And you know as well as I do how fast these trends are born and die. Whatever this book is about, don’t take so long to talk to Toni that by the time we’re ready to publish, the industry has moved on to… I don’t know, memoirs from racist kindergarteners, or something.”

“I know.”

“Talk to her,” he insisted. “Soon.”

I nodded, but didn’t respond. He was right, obviously, but that didn’t make it an easier pill to swallow. For the next phase of my career, I needed a certain type of publisher. It was just my luck that the company who had what I needed was Toni’s.

How could I even approach her about something like this?

“Hey, I know we had a verbal agreement that you would publish the book I ended up giving to Lion Literary, the company who screwed you over and threatened to ruin your career. But… we’re cool now, right? Think we can work together again?”

The shit didn’t even sound right in my head, so I couldn’t imagine it sounding like music to Toni’s ears. I didn’t even know if we were okay likethatyet.

But… I guessed I would soon find out.

- & -

“Your ass is in trouble.”

That was how Jason greeted me at my father’s door, laughing between his words. I’d gotten Cat to keep Bri even though it wasn’t her week, so that I could rush over in response to the terse “Get your ass over here.” my father had left on my voicemail.

“What the hell is going on?” I asked Joseph, who was seated at the kitchen table, looking just as lost as I felt.

He shrugged. “I don’t know. Jason called me over here, saying he was going to need my help to keep Pops off of you.”

I frowned. “Forwhat?” I looked up at Jason, who had a silly look on his face, but only shook his head. He wiped off the smirk as soon as we heard my father’s footsteps on the stairs, and a few moments later, he appeared at the door.

He looked right at me, pointed a thick finger in my direction, and said, “Boy, I’m gonna kill you,” before he lunged at me.

To kill me, presumably.

Jason and Joseph were too fast, catching him before he could reach where I still sat, stunned. “What is going on??” I asked, standing to approach my father. “What the hell didIdo?”

“You told that woman to propose to me?” My father asked, scowling as he shook my brothers off. “I oughta go upside your head for that stupid shit!”

I tipped my head to the side. “Are you talking about Imara? I didn’ttellher to propose to you, hell no. I didn’t even know she was going through with it! She told you I said that?”

---