Page 96 of Fighting Words

If she only knew.

“I just didn’t feel comfortable continuing.”

She studies me. “Was everything okay? I know the setup was a little unconventional.” She cringes after hearing herself. “Okay, scratch that,a lotunconventional. I’ve been in this business for twenty years and I’ve never had to live with an author.”

I smile. “It was fine. We grew close. Lines blurred.” I look down at my lap. “I wanted off the project because I don’t think it would have been possible to maintain a professional relationship going forward.”

With the responding silence, I glance back up to see her jaw has dropped. “Oh.” Then she shakes her head. “I didn’t realize…”

“It didn’t affect our work while I was there,” I tack on quickly.

She chuckles and points down at the printed summary on her desk as if to say,Clearly.

I’m not certain of the rules here. I wonder if I’m going to get reprimanded for admitting the truth to her. I have to imagine the InkWell board would be all too willing to look the other way on something like this considering they’re getting what they’ve longed hoped for: Nathaniel’s third book. I doubt they carehowthey get it so long as I didn’t break any laws.

“Is that why you’ve been a little off?” Joy asks, tilting her head and offering me a sympathetic smile.

I try to retrain my expression. Have I been giving too much away?

“Off?” I ask innocently.

“You’ve seemed a little down since you got back from the trip.” Her eyes become worried. “You still like it here, don’t you? Working at InkWell?”

“Yes, I don’t want to leave or anything.” I pause and then go for it. “Though, I have been wondering how complicated it would be for me to work remotely. I know other editors do it. I understand I’m newer and haven’t put in my time like they—”

She laughs and cuts me off with a wry smile. “Summer, I don’t think you quite realize what you’ve been able to accomplish with Nathaniel. I owe you,big time. So if you want to work remotely, let’s give it a try. That should be no problem so long as your work doesn’t suffer. Do you know where you’d like to go?”

I swallow and nod. “Yes.”

She smiles, slightly suspicious, I’m sure, but she doesn’t press me on it. “Right. Well, let’s keep things like they are for a few weeks. I will need to clear everything with HR, of course. Why don’t we aim to have you switched over by late spring, early summer? Will that work?”

“Yes,” I rush out, a bit unbelieving that it could be this simple. “That would be great.”

I stand and she comes around her desk to give me a side hug. “I really appreciate you tackling this project with Nathaniel. You should read the review he sent about you. It’s glowing.”

I smile, trying hard to conceal my blush. Nate already sent it to me. I’ve read it twice.

He and I haven’t talked on the phone since I left England, but we’ve been in contact by email as much as possible. With the time difference, the cottage’s lack of cell service, my work schedule, andhiswriting schedule, it just hasn’t worked to reach him by phone. I sent him my first email the day after I arrived back in the States, letting him know I got home safely and was settling into life again. I asked him how things were going and tried to keep the tone light even though it felt like I’d made the worst possible decision by coming back here and leaving him behind.

His email was in the same vein.

Summer,

I drove into town to give you a call only to realize it’s 2:00 a.m. your time and you must be dead asleep. Still, selfishly, I tried. Sorry if I woke you.

I’m glad you’re home now, settling in. I’m sure everyone at the InkWell office is glad to have you back.

I’ve been working tirelessly since you left, so much so that my hands are on fire at the end of every day, but I can’t seem to take my foot off the gas. This book is ceaseless and has taken hold of me. I dream about the crew and wake up in a rush to write.

I wish it wasn’t the middle of the night there right now…I want to hear your voice. I’m not ready to go back home. The cottage is too quiet now.Even Cat seems sad without you here.

Hopefully we can talk soon.

I miss you.

Yours,

Nate

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