Page 10 of The Nicest Thing
She nodded."Interesting.Why are you thinking about him?"
Because he's the answer to all my problems.
And the reason I couldn't sleep last night.
"Because he made me an offer I don't think I can refuse," I said with a sigh.
"What was the offer?"
"It's nothing really."
"Rose, tell me."
"Ana," Derek said, looking over at us.His thick, black-framed glasses were perched on the bridge of his nose as he worked on a customer.The man's back tattoo of a lion would take a few more visits, but it was looking good so far.Derek was Ana's older brother, and his tone was kind yet firm."We've been through this.You can't just go around, demanding that people tell you things.You sound like an interrogator."
Ana rolled her eyes."You're the only one who thinks that."
"Actually," Angelo, her other brother, said, "he's not."
Ana frowned.
"What?You know you can be intense."
"And pushy," Carlos put in.He was my youngest cousin, so he basically got away with everything."Nosy too.Though to be fair, I think you have to be at least a little nosy to survive."
"You have to be curious," Derek corrected."There's a difference.Being nosy usually leads to trouble.But staying curious is a must."
I nodded with a grin."I love that, D.You sound like Ted Lasso."
"Ted Who?"
Angelo shook his head."That's tragic."
"It really is," Carlos agreed.
"I'm going to write down my username and password so you can watch the show," I said.
Derek waved me off."No need, Rose.I'll just get my daughter to show me."
"You sure?"
"Is a rabbit fluffy?"
Seeing my face, he smiled.
"I'll look it up.Don't worry."He shook his head."Can't believe you waste money on all those streaming services."
"I only have two," I said.
"That's a couple too many if you ask me."
I didn't say it, but if things kept going the way they were, I'd have to cancel those subscriptions.Probably need to cut out TV all together.At this rate, I might even end up having to sell my car—or my laptop. I shivered at the thought of not being able to write and publish my stories anymore.
But there were more important things.
Like family.
The little voice in my head said,But how will you pay for your grandmother's care if you can't sell your books?
