Page 105 of Lovetown, USA
I’ve been poking at this place with my pen since I got here, looking for weak spots and conspiracies. And make no mistake, I’m going to keep poking.
But now, at least, I’m open to the possibility that the grand conspiracy just might be that human beings can actually find someone to love.
Maybe the rest of you already knew this and I’ve just been in Atlanta too long.
We’ll see.
36
Lane
Britt’s face fills thescreen, framed by the messy bun that never really looks messy on her. “Okay, spill,” she says without preamble. “What’s going on with Dr. Handsome?”
I groan. “Seriously? That’s your first question?”
“It’s the only question that matters. You have the readers eating out of the palm of your hand, Lane.” She leans closer. “Including me. So, what’s the deal?”
I hesitate, twisting the edge of the comforter between my fingers. “We’re exclusive, but that’s neither here nor there.”
She claps her hands together and squeals. “Are you insane? That’s here, there, and everywhere. Perfect! Metrics are already through the roof. This will drive the rest of the series. We have to celebrate!”
“No, we don’t.” My stomach knots. “Did you even look at the notes I sent last night? The contracts, the allocations, the paper trail? This is a major story.”
“I read them.” Britt sighs. “Listen. Your story is on point, but I don’t think the readers will care. They want the love story, Lane.”
“But—“
“Look at all the fucking bullshit in the news right now. Readers want a distraction. And your story is not that. It’s more gloom and doom.” She pauses to drink from her pink sparkly Stanley cup. “And it contradicts what you have with Dr. Handsome. What y’all have is real.”
I press my lips together, heat rising in my chest. “This could have been big for me, Britt. Career-saving. My Lazarus moment.”
“Wait, who am I in this story? Am I Jesus?”
“You are definitely not Jesus,” I say, and we both burst into much-needed laughter. “I’m just saying.”
“Well, you can’t do both,” she says gently. “You can’t fall in loveandcall out the scam. You have to choose.”
“Wait. Let’s circle back. In love? How on earth did you getthere?”
Britt makes a face. “Danielle Lane. Listen to yourself. You aresoin love.”
“I am not.” Now my cheeks are burning. “Besides, one has nothing to do with the other. I can put this story out and love Trey in private.”
Fuck.
The words slipped out before I could censor them.
Britt smirks, smug as a cat with cream. “So now that we’ve established that…”
I cover my face with one hand. “I hate you.”
“You adore me. Anyway, it’s your choice. I’ll give you a day. Choose wisely, Lane.” She blows me a kiss before hanging up.
I drop my phone on the nightstand, grumbling under my breath for nobody to hear. I don’t even notice the shower water stopped running. When the door opens, all six feet and four inches of Trey stands there, clad only in a towel, looking like something that fell out of heaven.
My eyes rake over him, my mouth falling open. “I don’t usually compliment men, but damn Trey.”
He winks from the doorway as he rolls deodorant on.
