Page 5 of Love Me Like It's Real
“Don’t I know it!”
“So is it going to be a calm, peaceful day from here on out?” Caspian asks.
I put my cup down and sigh.
“I wish. On my way to school I got a message from a very panicked author because their retailer was asking for proof they have the rights to the images used on their cover, and it’s release day so I had to talk them off the ledge while parked in front of the school, so of course the traffic monitor gave me a talking-to! And you know I’m already at the end of the rope with her.”
“Oh God. No!”
“Yeah. I tried to apologize and explain it was a work emergency but she didn’t care.”
“They rarely ever do. Pfft. Monitors are drunk on power I tell you.”
I chuckle. “I mean, she was just doing her job, but I think I can kiss any line-cutting privileges goodbye. Oh I forgot. She also made a strong suggestion I donate to the school’s arts department. As if I’m Steve Jobs or something. Like, who does she think she is? Christmas presents are still kicking my ass.”
“But you couldn’t skimp on Christmas presents after everything you’d been through. January is hard on everybody.”
I nod and take my laptop out so I can send my panicked author the proof they need and get on with the rest of my work.
“Are you going to work on that romance book at long last?” Caspian gets up and eyes me with a cheeky expression.
“Seriously? Did you not hear the morning I’ve just had? Poppy’s got work to do.”
“You’ll never have time if you don’tmaketime.”
I put my hand up and roll my eyes. “Save it, Caspian. You’re starting to sound like the girls now.”
“Are they also trying to get you to write your romance?”
“Nope. They’re trying to make a real-life romance happen for me.”
Caspian chuckles. “Oh come on. That’s cute. And it keeps them entertained.”
I glare at my friend. “They tried to get me a date with their gym teacher, Caspian! Their gym teacher!”
“And? What’s the problem? Is he hot?”
“It doesn’t matter if he’s hot. He’s their teacher. I’ll have to see him at every PTA meeting for the next God knows how many years. It’s embarrassing.”
Caspian shrugs. “It’s only embarrassing if he’s not sexy.”
“I beg to differ.”
“Don’t beg to differ. Go beg the teacher and get some.”
I gasp. “Caspian! You cheeky whore.”
“Who? Me? How dare you sir?” Caspian asks but then winks at me and proceeds to go back to the counter so he can serve a customer who’s walked in.
While Caspian stays busy with other patrons, I deal with the work emergency and mock up my next client’s cover and send it off to her before I go on a hunt for a new identical scrunchie for Arya. We might have made a deal but I know what she’s like and she’ll most likely throw a tantrum about it in a week and I’m not about to negotiate more tears for favors.
It’s hours and several coffees later when I’m calm enough to open my word document.
Untitled Romance by Felix Springare the only words on it. The only words I’ve managed to add over the past few months.
It’s not for lack of ideas. I’ve got plenty and if I didn’t, all the covers I make and books I read give me enough inspiration.
It’s just…I can’t seem to write any of them down. No matter which idea I pick, as soon as I type Chapter 1 I lose steam and hope. How can I write about love when love has stabbed me in the back and the front a hundred times over?
