Page 51 of Hit the Ground
“I’m writing a middle grade fantasy series. I’m working on the final book now. Then…well, I don’t know. I suppose I’ll actually have to let people read it.”
Jesse waved his fork at me. “I’ve already volunteered as tribute. I mean, I’m the target audience, right?”
I snorted. “You are. You’ve let me pick your brain so much, if this thing ever gets published, you’re going in the credits.”
He twisted his mouth as he considered this. “That’d be cool, but only if I get to be the first reader.”
“Jess,” Caleb grumbled, “lay off.”
“It’s all right. I don’t mind,” I assured him. To Jesse, I added, “I’m not sure if I’ll ever let anyone read it, but if I do, you’ll be at the top of the list.”
“Not just a book, a whole series.” Caleb’s dad, Lock, shook his head like he was amazed. “That’s a big deal, Alice. I hope you know that.”
“Right?” Cormac shook his head like his father had. “Along with Remi, you’re the second author I’ve met.”
I laughed softly. Remington Town had spent over a decade as a conflict photographer and documented his experience in a book. There was no comparison.
“I’m not an author,” I argued.
Lock’s brow crinkled. “Have you written multiple books?”
Biting my lip, I nodded.
“Then you’re an author.” He pinned his chocolate eyes on me, and I felt like I was seeing Caleb in the future. “If you won’t be proud of yourself, we’ll handle it.”
Jesse puffed his chest. “Yep. I’m the proudest here since I helped. Did you guys know I helped Charlie with his book too? He needed a robotics expert, so I stepped in.”
“Remind me who Charlie is,” Remi said as he handed his son another roll.
“The guy who loiters at Sugar Rush,” Caleb said flatly. “Taking up a table so other customers can’t sit.”
Elena tsked at her son. “I’m sure Phoebe doesn’t mind.”
Hannah speared a green bean with her fork. “If she minded, she’d sic me on him, and I’d get rid of him. I’m not saying I haven’t had to tell Charlie to skedaddle at closing time, but he’s harmless.”
I risked a glance at Caleb. His jaw was tight, eyes focused on his plate. He’d barely said a word since I’d arrived. I was becoming more and more convinced I was making him uncomfortable.
“Anyway,” I said quickly, trying to end the attention on me, “for now, writing is a hobby. The library is my real job.”
Lily waved her hand dismissively. “Sometimes the things we think are hobbies end up being the most important work we do.”
Hannah nudged her husband. “When Alice is ready, you’ll introduce her to your agent, right?”
Remi nodded then turned to me. “If that’s what you want, I’d be glad to make the connection. My agent might not be the right fit for you, but she has a lot of contacts.”
“That’s…” I didn’t quite know how to respond, so I said, “Thank you, guys. That would be incredible.”
“It’s no trouble,” Remi replied.
It might not have been any trouble, but it was a big deal to me. A kindness I would have never asked for and hadn’t been expecting. I guessed that was just the Kellys.
Dinner wound down with the clinking of forks against empty plates and Hannah telling a wild story about one of her farrier clients. She mostly took care of horses, but one of her clients owned goats who thought they were lap dogs. On her last visit, she thought one of them was snuggling with her and ended up with a hole in the seat of her jeans from the sneaky little goat’s teeth.
“That’s what I get for trusting a goat,” she said. “I know better.”
I laughed so hard, I snorted. “I’m sorry, but if you’d told me when I was living in San Francisco five years ago I’d one day be sitting on a ranch, listening to a story about ornery goats, I never would have believed it.”
Hannah grinned at me, her lively eyes twinkling. “Aren’t you glad you moved here?”
