Page 19 of The Write Track
“Don’t shame the victim.” I gave him a dirty glare. “That’s just wrong.”
“I was not shaming the victim.”
“You were too.”
“I was not.” Brody pinned me with a “don’t even go there” look. “I don’t want anything to happen to this woman either. I’m just saying that it sounds like there was something wrong with this guy from the beginning.
“Bree says that Bella was young, in her senior year of college, when he moved in and wowed her with stories of his father andall the money he grew up with,” he continued. “Of course she fell for it. Her mother didn’t make anywhere near that sort of money.”
“I’m pretty sure everything this guy did was purposeful,” I agreed. “It’s not going to hurt me to pretend to be her boyfriend for a few weeks. Even if it’s all summer, I’ll be fine. I don’t want that guy to win.”
“And there’s nothing between the two of you, right?”
“Definitely not.” I was firm on that. Sure, she was adorable, and there was a sweetness to her that touched something inside of me I couldn’t put a name to. But I was not interested in a relationship. I could be a helpful fake boyfriend, but nothing else. “It’s fine,” I assured him. “We’ll chase this guy away, and I’ll be right back to my womanizing ways.”
“Good. I wouldn’t know how to deal with you any other way.”
WE’D ARRANGED A DINNER FORFIVEbefore the event got going. Bella loved the ambiance of the rooftop bar, and when she saw the half-blue, half-pink drink being delivered to somebody else, she clapped.
“I want that,” she said to the server, pointing.
She was so excitable that it gave me a little thrill. I had no idea why. Maybe it was because she had an infectious, joyful nature that I’d never seen before. I liked it, though.
“The Dragon Berry Mojito,” the server said. “It’s one of our most popular drinks.”
“I want that too,” Hayley supplied.
Bree was already nodding. “Make that three.”
“Sure.” The server was smiley, but her energy turned flirty with Brody and me. “How about you guys?”
I winked at her then noticed Bella giving me an odd look and straightened. Why did I care what she thought? “I’ll have the Don Juan.”
Bree snorted, and I gave her a dirty look.
“I’ll have the Velvet Paloma,” Brody said. “Also, we’re part of the author event later. I think we’re ready to order so we can have time to eat before it starts.”
The server brightened even further, her eyes wandering over everybody’s faces, probably trying to decide if she’d ever heard of us. “Absolutely. What will it be?”
The women ordered first, as was polite.
“I’ll have the steak tacos,” Bree started.
“Me too,” Hayley said.
Bella was a little shyer when ordering. “Um… the lobster mac and cheese sounds great.”
I went with the same, and Brody went with a burger and fries. Once it was just the five us, I fixed my attention on Bella for the first time. “So, are you nervous about tonight? Have you done one of these before?”
“I’ve been to two cons,” she replied. “I’m pretty sure the atmosphere here is different, though.”
“Oh, most definitely,” I agreed, bobbing my head. “These are as casual as you want them to be. It’s best to pick a spot and let the readers come to you.”
Her face went momentarily blank. “What if the readers don’t want to talk to me?” She looked genuinely fearful.
“It’s okay,” Bree assured her. “I assumed it would be that way for me, too, the first time I did one of these. Even if a reader doesn’t come specifically for you, people will find their way to you. Don’t be worried if nobody approaches in the first five minutes, though. Sometimes it takes them time to work up to their approach.”
“That makes sense.” Bella rubbed the back of her neck. “You guys are a lot more established than me, though. Very few people know who I am.”
