Page 42 of Rewrite the Rules

“You sound so dismissive! And…andnarrow-minded! There is a real story in there, of a journey through love and loss. There are well-thought-out characters. Beautiful word choice and metaphors that would make Robert Frost jealous. There is tension, conflict, resolution. The characters change and evolve. By every standard definition, it sounds like a freaking book to me!”

Joel eyes me with cautious concern, like I’m a mama bear and he just pet my cub. “You’ve read this in its entirety?”

“Several times. Your point?”

“I took you for more of a sophisticated reader.”

Tink tink.That sound is Joel’s shovel hitting the hard molten core of the earth. And yet somehow…he’s still digging.

“Sophisticated?” My hands ball up at my sides. My fingers slick against my palms that are beginning to bead with hot rageful sweat.

The teasing smile Joel’s worn on and off through this entire conversation finally begins to dissipate. He must be able to feel the fury radiating from my skin. “Why are you getting so worked up?”

“Forget it.”

“No seriously. Why does it bother you what I think of this book?”

“Because I wrote the fucking thing! It’s my book!”

Tink, tink, tink.Oooh, just kidding. It was my shovel…my hole. Will someone send down an elevator to get me out of this pit, please? Now would be great.

It’s like word vomit. The words are out before I can stop them. I press both hands over my mouth before anything else spills out. Well, this is great. Just great. I should go ahead and tell him that I’m a virgin now, too.

“You wrote…I um, don’t…what? You’re Tessa Rayne?”

I made my bed, so I guess I’ll slither up under the covers now. Omitting an explanation might be worse than honesty at this point. Joel might be thinking I am a hopeless fangirl who is considering the stalking and kidnapping of a beloved best-selling romance author.

I exhale deeply as my eyes rest on my bare toes. “I’m a ghostwriter. Tessa’s name is on the front, but I wrote every single word. That book that you just called ‘porn on a page’ is my most successful work, ever. So,thank you, for your heartfelt critique after reading one page of my ‘not a real’ book.”

Joel blinks at me. “You wrote this whole book?”

“Please don’t announce that to the world,” I clamor as I gather my bag and slip on my flats. “I signed a contract and if my name gets out, I’m in breach.”

“Adler, don’t go.”

The peaks and valley of this whole evening spent with Joel catch up to me in a hurry and I feel the heavy weight on my shoulders. The push and pull with him is wearing me thin. False hope is dragging me down. I’m his puppet, or his puppy. Either way, it’s clear that I’m an object of entertainment. Joel is a seductive dancing flame and I need a break from playing with fire.

“I’ll see you at the office in a week, Joel. Goodnight.”

My heavy steps in the hallway of the thirty-third floor echo. My legs feel heavy and I slow my pace.

Please follow me.

I hold my breath until the elevator dings and opens. I turn around one more time to see nothing but a darkened empty corridor.

fifteen

Joel

Beeeeep!

The electronic lock on my front door warns me of company and I’m startled awake from my nap. I’m not used to anyone having keys to my home besides me. I’ve adopted my best friend as a roommate and I now no longer have the luxury of total privacy at home. I peel myself off the couch and rub my dry eyes before putting my glasses on.

“Honey! I’m home!” A loud bellow sounds from the foyer.

Cody kicks off his Nikes. He slips out of the strap around his shoulder and dumps his duffel bag on the ground. The bag of Doritos he’s holding falls to the floor. A few crumbs topple out. And now I remember why I never roomed with Cody in college. He is a slob and borderline hoarder. My poor housekeepers are going to hate his guts now that he lives here.

“Hey man, welcome back.” I collect Cody’s shoes and line them neatly against the wall.

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