Page 70 of Austen Persuaded

My brows were scrunched together in confusion. “Are you going to write a book?”

“I am!” Viviana said, a brilliant smile lighting her face. “I have, actually.”

“Viv, that is amazing! I can’t wait to read it. I didn’t even know you were interested in writing. I mean, I knew you were writing for the feminist magazine now, which by the way is awesome, but writing a novel? That’s just … wow. I can’t imagine the diligence that would take. So when can I read it?”

“Well …” She looked at Jack. “I was just talking to Jack about how I probably need some beta readers. I’ve gone through a few drafts myself, and Jack’s read it, but he’s so far from impartial it’s laughable.” At my questioning look, I added, “The book is loosely based on our own love story. It’s Austen-inspired.”

As the two of them stared at each other for an awkward length of time, I cleared my throat and forced out the words. “Of course. Austen.”

“Well, you know Vivi,” Jack said, smiling as he tore his eyes away from her.

“Would you like me to beta read?” I heard myself asking. “In a totally non-professional capacity, of course. I would not be your futureagent. I imagine that would be a conflict of interest or something, at least at my early career stage, but I’d love to help you out as a friend.”

“You would?” Viviana’s eyes lit up. “Oh, that would be so, so great if you did.”

I laughed. “I mean, I can’t promise that my feedback is worth anything anyway, but I’d love to read it.”

“I’m going to send it right now,” Viviana said, pulling out her phone and typing away on the screen.

“Oh,” I said, surprised at her haste. “OK, sure.”

“Vivi’s just a bit eager for readers,” Jack said with a laugh. “So, Annie, are you still working at the bookstore and dance school too, or did you quit to make time for the agent role?”

“I’m doing all three. I just came from ballet before this, actually. I almost had to cancel because my ankle was killing me, but some ice and a wrap fixed it. I’m only hobbling now.”

“All three?” Jack’s eyes were wide. “Wow, you must have … zero time.”

“I did scale back on the dance classes, and the bookstore events happen only whenever I decide to do them, so I can plan them at a relatively slow pace. But yeah, I’m pretty busy,” I conceded. “I like it … or maybe I need it, right now. I was sort of in a dark place a month ago, and becoming busy really helped, you know? I’ll probably have to scale back eventually, but for now, it works for me.”

Jack nodded, sympathy in his clear blue eyes. “I’m glad it’s helping.” And then he added softly, “And I hope the darkness has passed.”

I smiled. “Mostly, yeah. It sounds crazy, but finding myself in this new job is … well, it’s everything.”

“It doesn’t sound crazy at all,” Jack said.

“I only caught the tail end of that,” Viviana chimed in as she set her phone down, “but it doesn’t sound crazy to me either. I’m so much happier after finding a new job, exploring new options.” She rose from her seat and sank down next to Annie’s seat to embrace her. “Oh, Annie, I’m so happy we’re both so muchhappier now!”

I hugged her back. I was probably happier, it was true. Not as happy as Viviana, who’d found her true love. But that was OK. Not everyone could have that, and that was fine.

It wasfine.

When Viviana had returned to her place next to Jack, her face lit up. “Annie, you should come over tonight and watch rom-coms. You haven’t come over for takeout and wine for, like, forever!”

“That sounds fun,” I lied. Watching a rom-com as a third wheel with these lovebirds? No, thank you! “But Rainn and Raf have been complaining that they never get to hang out with me anymore, so I promised I’d be around tonight.”

Viviana frowned. “But they’re your roommates. Surely they see you a lot more than we do—”

Jack put his arm around her shoulders and smiled. “We’ll take a raincheck. Annie, it’s been really fun catching up. We should do it more often.”

Viviana extricated herself from his embrace and went around to hug me again instead. “For sure. I missed you, girl.”

My eyes filled with tears, inexplicably, and I hugged Viviana tighter as I tried to covertly wipe my eyes. “Same.”

A gentle tug on my hand came before the faint, feminine voice. “Annie … hey, girl.”

“Ms. York, wake up,” came a deeper voice. Firm, commanding, but sexy. It was the one that haunted my dreams, waking and asleep.

A giggle from the other voice. “Annie! We kind of need you to wake up now,” she said, louder this time.

---