Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 65913 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 330(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65913 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 330(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Except . . .
What now? Do I suggest we make plans for a second time? To “make it up to him”? Is that how flings work? Ugh. My lack of experience is catching up to me. I have no clue what to say, and I don’t want to say the wrong thing. Don’t want to mess up our work relationship or this new situationship. I’ll have to let this simmer overnight.
* * *
Veronica: By the way, thanks for being cool about my Wonder Womaning you with my column.
* * *
Milo: I should be the one thanking you, Diana Prince. Also, Veronica? I’m about to conk out. I’ll see you tomorrow, but before I crash, did you have a good night?
* * *
Oh. My. God. My chest flutters from one simple question.
* * *
Veronica: I had a great night.
* * *
Milo: Good. Me too.
* * *
I feel somewhat better, though I’m not sure I’m any closer to knowing if he’s up for a hot summer fling or if tonight was one time only.
I’ll find out tomorrow morning though. But at least he knows Wonder Woman’s secret identity.
Like I needed any more reasons to find Milo Dawson so damn attractive.
19
Paper Airplanes
Veronica
* * *
I wake early the next day to prep for the job hunt, drinking a chai at the kitchen table as I review my résumé. Then, I put the finishing touches on a killer cover letter that I’ll tailor for each publishing house.
I send it to my sister, along with a note: Can you take a look at this and let me know what to tweak?
Her reply comes shockingly early. Yes. Also, I’m at Big Cup, writing with TJ! Stop by on your way to work. We have news!
That sounds promising. And a little distracting in a good way. A quick visit with my sister and her friend might take my mind off the jumping bean feeling inside me. Seeing Milo this morning will be weird, and I need an injection of normal to start the day.
After I finish getting ready for work, I cross Seventh Avenue, then pop into my sister’s favorite coffee shop. Hazel waves from a table, windmilling her arms like there’s a chance I’d miss her.
I sail over and give TJ a kiss on his scratchy cheek, then hug my sister. I flop onto the extra chair, feeling warm and fuzzy to see the pair, more so than usual. “How’s Meet Cute Again coming along?” I ask, since the two writing besties finally decided to co-write a book.
“Great since, shockingly, Hazel writes neurotic characters really well,” TJ deadpans.
“Pot. Kettle,” Hazel says to TJ.
He lifts his coffee cup in acknowledgment, takes a drink, then turns to me. “But I think it’s safe to say our book is going better than the time she tried to co-write with Axel Huxley.”
I snort-laugh. “Maybe because she doesn’t want to bang you, TJ.”
Hazel kicks me under the table. “I did not want to bang Axel,” she hisses.
As he sets his cup down, TJ fake coughs, muttering under his breath, “You did.”
I mime reining in a wild horse. “You wanted to ride him like a mustang, Hazel. Admit it.”
TJ lifts a hand to high-five me. “With no need for a saddle.”
I smack back and smack talk my sister some more. “Hazel wanted it bareback with her enemy.”
She huffs, flicking her red hair off her shoulder dramatically. “And to think I invited you here to help you, Veronica. Why do I want to help you again?”
“Because you love me,” I say, batting my eyelashes.
“Anyway,” Hazel says, then gestures to her writing partner, “TJ has good news and I wanted you to hear it from him.”
Ooh, another injection. Shoot me up with more sunshine. “This sounds fun,” I say to TJ.
“Last night, I had dinner with my editor, Amy. From Brooks & Bailey. She happened to mention they’re about to post an opening later this week for a young adult editor. She’s not handling the hiring, but if you want to reach out to Tiffany, you can tell her Amy Summers sent you by way of TJ Hardman,” he says with a pleased smile.
Gah. I love my people. “Teen books would be so fun. You’re the best,” I say, bursting with excitement. “It’s official.”
“And you're like the little sister I never had,” he says.
Hazel clears her throat. “And I’m your work wife, so wouldn’t that make Veronica your sister-in-law?”
He points his thumb at Hazel. “This is why she’s in charge of details in our books,” he says, then he turns the conversation back around. “And one more thing. Amelia—she’s a friend of my boyfriend—is a huge fan of your column and wants to get in touch with you about some kind of business opportunity. She’s in a band called Ten-Speed Rabbit, so maybe that’s the connection?” He shrugs.