Page 84 of Austen Persuaded

But when I replayed the scene later that evening at the barre, Rafael pinpointed what was really on my mind.

“That’s great, Annie … but it’s like, how can you be happy about that, when your colleague and work bestie seems to be dating your ex, who you obviously still have feelings for?”

“What?” I turned toward him, nearly slipping as we dipped into grand plies from second. “Notobvious. I’m not …” When we started the next sequence, I restarted, “I mean, it would be hard for anyone to watch. You just don’t date your ex’s friends. Or your friend’s exes. But I haven’t really known Sofia long enough to hold her to that.”

“But you have knownhimlong enough,” Rafael said with a side eye. He frowned. “Are you sure there’s something going on though? Maybe they’re just friends. Even if there’s a flirtatious vibe, it doesn’t mean anything is happening. Or will happen.”

“You haven’t seen them together,” I grumbled, turning to face the barre for calf exercises.

“Fair,” Rafael said, biting his lip. “Anyway, they sound like a nightmare together. You do have my sympathy, girl. But I feel like he’s trying to give you opportunities, Annie. He may be inadvertently helping you out. My girl’s going to be an agent! You know I’ve already planned to take you on a celebratory shopping spree after you get the promotion. Among other things.”

I smiled wryly. “I wish I could be so confident. I hope you’re right.”

And I hope he’s right about Kylan and Sofia maybe not actually being a thing.

“Speaking of work stuff, I forgot to tell you: I need someone to cover my class next Saturday. I’m hosting the first book signing at Bookshop, with one of Sofia’s newest authors actually. Can you cover it?”

Rafael grinned. “I’ll do you one better. I’ll get someone else to cover the class, and then I’ll come to the bookstore to support you in case you’re a basket case.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. “You always know just what I need.”

“I’m glad you’re finally acknowledging that,” Rafael said, his lips twisting into a sly grin. “I also think what you need is to try some wedding cake flavors with me tomorrow during your lunch break.”

“Oh, I think Rainn would be so much better for that, Raf. He can eat a house—”

“But his taste isn’t as discerning,” he pouted. “I needyou, Annie. Just, uh, don’t plan any important meetings in the afternoon, just in case we are unable to recover from the cake coma.” Rafael grinned at me, and I giggled, almost toppling over from my passé position.

On the Saturday morning of the book signing event, I stood with hands on my hips in front of the couch, where Rafael was sprawled out with a thick blanket, several pillows and heating pads, and numerous OTC meds and medicinal teas on the end table. “Rafael, you can’t be serious. No one—”

“Shhh,” he whispered, wincing as he removed the eye mask to look at me through squinty, bloodshot eyes. “I have a splitting headache.”

I sighed, lowering my voice. “No one gets this sick from eating a little cake. I think … you went out drinking, didn’t you?”

“A little cake, Annie? A little?” he asked, his eyebrows rising.

“OK, it was a lot,” I conceded. “But still—”

“I don’t do overindulgences well. You know this about me.”

I was silent for a long moment. Should I feel sorry for him? I did know that overindulgence tended to be harder for him than the average person … but he also tended to exaggerate. A lot.

“Annie!” His eyes flew open again. “I just remembered the book event. Crap, I’m sorry. I didn’t think.”

I sighed, sitting next to him. “It’s OK. It’s not like I’ve been available a ton to help you with the wedding stuff either. Who am I to be asking you for favors?”

“Oh, it’s not like that, Annie,” Rafael said, his tone regretful. “Iwantedto come, if only to observe the two idiots you work with who are supposedly hooking up. And maybe threaten him or something.”

“And to support me professionally?”

“And that.”

I grinned. “It’s OK. I’ll survive. I’ll just—”

“Wait, what about Rainn?” Rafael interrupted as our roommate sauntered into the room. “Did you ask him to come?”

“I didn’t, actually,” I said thoughtfully. “It’s not the worst idea—”

“Come to what?” Rainn said, his usual easygoing smile in place.

---