Page 77 of The Midnight Book Club
“A little.I was just walking around Richmond Park.”
“What, the whole thing?”
“Most of it, yeah.”
“That’s a good long walk,” Oliver laughed, impressed.
“It is—it was.I’m sort of a walker.I like going out and hearing bits of conversation, doing some people watching—anything I can use for my writing.”
It wasn’t a secret that she liked going for walks, but the words had tumbled out of her mouth like a confession, and she looked down at her coffee to recover.
“Lately, I’ve become a bit of a walker myself.It’s a good way to explore the city.Somehow there are still corners I’ve missed after living here for years.”
“Exactly,” Aurelia said eagerly, grateful he hadn’t made fun of her ‘I’m a walker’ declaration.“Were you out walking too?”
“No, I live a few streets over,” he said, gesturing behind him.“This is my usual coffee spot.”
They experienced one of their old, stilted pauses before he asked, “You wanted to chat?”
“Yes, I’m glad I ran into you.Literally, as it happens.”She gave a quick laugh, still unsure of herself.“I wanted to say I’m sorry for being… off the other night.I wasn’t really feeling like myself.”
“That’s alright.”
His tone was neutral, giving nothing away.
“I didn’t write much this weekend, but I’m hoping to dive back in tonight.I should have some new chapters for you by the end of the week.”
“Have you thought any more about a love interest?”
Aurelia’s eyes widened, misunderstanding for a moment and thinking he was asking about their own nonexistent relationship before she realized he was, of course, talking about her book.
“Oh, no.Well, I have thought about it, quite a lot, but… I can’t do it.I actually agree with you—that it might be an interesting story with that added in—but I just don’t think that’s what he would want.”
“Not whathewould want… Do you meanVronsky?”
“I know, it sounds strange,” she said, wrinkling her nose in acknowledgment of her apparent madness.“But I don’t know how else to explain it.”
“I do think it would be better with a love interest, but I’ve said that already.”
“You have.Is that it, then?”she asked.“Am I out of luck having you publish my book?”
He sat back, considering.
“No, let’s keep at it.I’d like to see what happens and how it will hang together without this love interest that Vronsky doesn’t want.”
His tone was teasing, but not unkind, and Aurelia’s face broke into a smile.That smile quickly faded as Oliver stood up from the table.She wasn’t ready to end their conversation just yet and she fumbled for something else to say.
“Um… When should I get you the next draft?”
“Whenever it’s ready.You can drop it at my office.”
She felt dismissed and was annoyed until she remembered that her odd behavior on Friday might still require some smoothing over.Oliver gave a smile and nod as he turned for the door.
“What about lunch?”she blurted.He stopped and turned around slowly, looking puzzled.
“Now?It’s nearly four.”
“No, sorry, I meant once you’ve read over the next draft.Should we meet for lunch to go over your edits?”
