Page 5 of Is This for Real?
“He just got promoted,” I say.
Rory nods. “Forever, until I get kicked out. Still in IT?”
“It’s called tech now.” Jamie covers Willow’s hand with his own.
Willow says, “So, Jamie tells me you’re a writer? How cool. What have you published?”
“Nothing yet,” I say. “I’m in the rejection stage.”
Rory’s hand is on the table. I reach out and hold it, curling my fingers over his. I glance at him to make sure he’s okay with my touch. His hand is warm. His skin is still tan from the summer, though mine is already fading. He smiles mischievously at me.Uh-oh. Trouble.
“Is there an acceptance stage?” Jamie asks. Willow sips her coffee with both hands, as if warming them up.
“I hope so,” I say. “After the rewrite stage.”
Rory looks down, smiling; he’s got this half-smile when he’s amused. It’s like he’s trying to hide the smile, but he can’t.
“Well, you seem to be taking it very well,” Jamie says.
“Oh, I’m used to rejection.” And then, realizing what I’ve said, I flush.
Jamie looks down. Willow shifts closer to Jamie. I can feel my blush extending to my neck. I drink some water in the hope that it will bring the heat down.
“Aren’t we all?” Rory says.
I raise my eyebrow at Rory.Please.Who would reject Rory? He gives his innocent look back at me.
“I guess Stephen King was initially rejected,” Jamie says.
“It must be tough,” Willow says. “Is there a point where you stop trying?”
“No,” I say, firmly. I’ve had this conversation so many times. And some famous author who was rejected over thirty times is always mentioned.
“She only gets better with the feedback. Penelope’s taking the marathon viewpoint,” Rory says, pulling his hand back to add sugar and milk to his coffee.
“Yeah, Rory convinced me to take the long view.” I had wanted to be published by thirty, so I had decided at twenty-eight to give myself two years to write full time. Now I’m almost at the end of my second year, with no agent in sight, but I could wallpaper my bathroom with rejections.
Willow asks, “But how do you support yourself?”
“I’m making some money with my Etsy store. My dollhouse blog was just ranked in the top twenty of dollhouse blogs.”
“The posts are really good. You should check it out and sign up for them,” Rory says. “Just google Penelope’s dollhouses.”
No, they shouldn’t.In my blog storyline, Piper, a doll with curly, brown hair like mine, was dating Julian, a doll with blond curls like Jamie. But then Julian abruptly broke up with her. Followers are still upset.Many of them took that breakup quite personally and shared their own personal stories of how they’ve been dumped. I definitely tapped into something; I think, in part, because the breakup was so unexpected. But once Jamie told me he wasn’t interested in me, I lost all desire to play with his doll avatar. And I used those feelings to write the opening chapter ofFake Dating Folly, where the protagonist, Piper, learns that her boyfriend, who dumped her a year ago, is now engaged.
“Can you monetize the blog?” Jamie drums his fingers.
“My blog increases sales on my Etsy and eBay stores.” But that’s not why I blog. Or at least, that’s not why I began blogging. I just liked making scenes of perfect lives in miniature. Initially. Until Piper was dumped. Which is when my followers suddenly increased.
I continue, “In four months, I’ll get a job with a paycheck.”
I fold my arms over my chest. We don’t need to discuss my finances over brunch. I inherited some money when my parents died. The trick is not to spend.Too much.
“Two years is too short. Two years into advertising and I still didn’t know anything.” Rory puts his hand back over mine on the table. “Penelope’s writing is solid, funny.”
Stop looking at Rory like a mooing cow just because he believes in you. Maybe I feel like this because I’ve met him after I’ve just written a really funny scene and I am euphoric from the experience. Like I’ve fallen in love. He teases me that no man can live up to my book heroes.
I jerk my gaze away.
