Page 91 of We Met Like This
“I only have fourteen more minutes with you?”
You have all the time you want, I almost said. “You better make them good,” is what I actually said.
His eyes darted to my lips and my stomach fluttered. But instead of doing anything, he took another drink of his iced coffee. “Tell me about the query.”
“Last-man-on-Earth-in-a-sea-of-women type of story. I read the first five pages of the manuscript that were included with the email. Not a compelling start, and since I’m not in love with the premise to begin with, I’ll pass.”
“So what do you do, then? Tell her no, thanks?”
“Basically. That’s the hardest part of the job. But just because her story wasn’t for me, doesn’t mean someone else won’t love it.”
“Is this how you soften rejection at the end of bad dates as well? Tell them someone else will love their less-than-lovable qualities?”
I laughed, then put on my best end-of-date voice. “Just because you’re not for me doesn’t mean someone else’s standards aren’t lower.”
“Maybe someone else will have no feelings or self-esteem and love you so very much,” he added to my pretend conversation.
“No, but really. Everyone has different tastes. In booksandmen.”
“Speaking of, is your taste that book you had me read? Cash.”
“Who’s Cash?”
“The love interest in the book I borrowed.”
“Oh, I have no idea. I remember liking the book, but I don’t remember what Cash is like. I like all different kinds of book heroes.” I tried to remember the specifics when suddenly it occurred to me that Cash was a bad boy. He was thecuss at random strangers and animals but who was secretly hurting insidetype of guy. “No. Some heroes are fun to read about but in reality they’d be dicks. Cash would make a terrible boyfriend.”
“So you’re telling me I shouldn’t develop pyromania?” he asked. “On the side.”
“No…” My heart pounded against my ribs, trying to beat out of my chest. “You’re just right.”
“We are very different.”
“You and Cash? I know.”
“No, you and me.”
My heart seemed to fall to my feet. Was he trying to break things off with me just when I’d discovered my feelings forhim? “Is this about Rob?” I blurted. “Are you worried there’s still something between us? I promise I am completely over him. That stupid fire emoji next to his name proves how little I pull his number up on my phone. I forgot it was there. And I deleted that picture from my Insta.”
He nodded slowly. “That’s good.”
“I don’t want you to worry about him.”
“I don’t,” he said.
“Then what? Is it my sister?”
His brows shot down as if confused.
“I know it seems like she’s a big deal, but she keeps us out of her small corner of fame. She’s never put me on her channel. Never even asked to. It’s very much a separate world from us. You would never be put on the internet. I know you hate that thought.”
His eyes went to the countdown on my phone. Four minutes. Why had I started that stupid countdown? I would leave my clothes in the dryer forever for this man.
“I like you,” I said. “I know I haven’t done a good job of showing it, but I do.”
He picked up my hand, brought my fingers to his lips, and rested them there for several moments. His lips were soft and his breath was warm. “My mom thinks you’re pretty, by the way. I showed her some pictures when I took her to dinner yesterday.”
“You were talking about me?” I asked, hope returning to my soul.
