Page 71 of Scandalous Secrets

“He can be a moron sometimes though,” she said, lightening the mood.

I laughed. Yes, he could.

“I didn’t really bring you to lunch to talk about my brother,” said Erica. “I actually brought you here because the paper I write for has an opening for a creative storyteller, and I thought of you.”

I looked at her wide-eyed. I had never written for a paper before. At least, not since high school. That didn’t count.

“Are you serious?” I asked, blinking a few times.

“Of course. Now, it doesn’t pay much. It’s noNew York Times.And it’s only part-time…”

“But I haven’t written in a while,” I said warily, pushing the fries around on my plate.

“Oh, stop. You said you’ve written novels. That right there is enough for them to really consider you. I can put a word in, too. You’d be a shoo-in.”

“I don’t know…”

She sat back in her chair, leaning back and looking at me.

“I didn’t mean to overstep,” she said apologetically.

“No, no. You didn’t. I’m flattered, really. Writing hadn’t been so kind to me a little while back, so I stopped. I can’t seem to find my way back to it.” I sighed.

“Ahh,” she said knowingly. “I’ve had those days, too. An article going to press that I wasn’t confident in. A bad review on my writing. Comments online. Wondering if the paper is ever going to get up off the ground and get the traction it deserves. It’s defeating. But at the end of the day, I love what I do. I think you do, too. Maybe you’ll find your way back to it.”

“Maybe.” I nodded.

“Promise me you’ll think about it? Maybe this will be just what you need to dip your toe back in.”

“I promise,” I assured her with a smile.

It could be a good opportunity. If only I could find that same boost of confidence I had after yesterday’s meeting.

Chapter 32

Troy

Ispent the hour pacing my office, missing my own lunch break, while I stewed in the fact that my sister and Monica were together. I couldn’t believe Erica had showed up here unannounced without saying so much as a hello to me before inviting her new best friend to lunch. Weeks ago, I would have been thrilled by their friendship, seeing as my sister never liked anyone I had ever been involved with. Now, it just pissed me off.

Mostly, it made me jealous. I was jealous that she got to spend time with Monica when that was the one thing I wanted. Yes, I saw her nearly every single day, but it wasn’t the same. Monica was obligated to be here. It was her job. And since she’d ended things, that was how she treated it. That was how she treated me.

It was driving me crazy not being able to touch her. To talk to her. To reach her. She was so distant and annoyingly professional, but with Erica, she was smiling and laughing at my expense. Seeing her lips curve up at the ends and hearing her raspy laugh just made me miss her more. I hadn’t seen or heard those things in weeks, but it felt like years.

As I paced, I wondered what they were talking about. My stomach dropped at the thought of them discussing me. My sister would pull something like this just to annoy me. I felt anger rise in me, which was probably unwarranted, but I couldn’t help it. I kept glancing at my watch, counting the minutes that had passed and calculating the minutes of when Monica would be back.

Of course, Monica arrived back at the office right on time. I sat back in my chair and watched as she and Erica walked past my office windows to where her desk was. I wondered why my sister was still here. I had a business to run. I was about to go and tell her that when she pushed open my door without so much as a knock.

“Come in. Make yourself comfortable,” I said sarcastically.

“Don’t mind if I do,” she said, closing the door behind her and taking a seat across from me.

“I take it you enjoyed lunch?”

“Very much so.”

“Next time, I would appreciate a heads up.”

“For what? Taking my friend to lunch?”

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