Page 6 of The Write Track
“See? Jealous.” She looked far too gleeful.
“I haven’t seen Brody in days. We were supposed to have lunch yesterday, a ‘welcome to the neighborhood’ celebration. Do you know what he did?”
Her answer was perfunctory. “Yes, he postponed the lunch because he was sick.”
“Fake sick. That cough wasn’t anywhere near real.”
“Maybe it was the beginning of the sniffles, and he didn’t want to put you at risk.”
“I could hear Bree giggling when he was faking his cough. They were in bed, and the only sick thing happening at thathouse involved whatever under-the-cover games they enjoy playing.”
Hayley rolled her eyes. “They’re happy. Why can’t you just let them be happy?”
“Because I find them boring now.” I made a sniffing noise. “Let’s talk about something else.”
“Sure.” She bobbed her head. “What do you want to talk about?”
“Did you hear that the author events were such a hit last year that they’re expanding the program?”
Genuine surprise washed over her features. “I did not hear that. Tell me more.”
“Well, it’s going to be another joint event, with multiple publishers working together.” I was so grateful to have a topic that didn’t revolve around our best friends getting married that I embraced it. “In addition to hopping around from bar to bar—with increased security, mind you—there’s going to be one big location event too.”
She sent me a significant look. The security issue had never been a consideration until a crazed fan of Brody’s decided to wipe Bree off the map the previous summer. Luckily, the fan hadn’t succeeded. She was such a mess, odds had been low that she would have. There’d been another guy harassing Bree at the events, too, though, and the publishers all agreed that little problem had to be nipped in the bud.
“What’s the new event?”
“Well, that’s just it. I don’t think you’re going to like it.”
“Try me.”
“It’s a monthlong retreat at a campground.”
“Wait…” Her eyebrows moved toward one another. “I didn’t agree to go somewhere for a full month.”
“Yes, well, I just got the notification last night. I’m betting you’ll be getting the breakdown today or tomorrow.”
“But… no. That sounds like zero fun.”
She was acting as if I’d done it to her. “Now you know how I feel when talk of a certain wedding pops up.”
“That’s just you being a baby because you’re afraid that Brody’s turn to domesticity means that you’ll be forced to do the same before you’re ready,” she fired back. “I don’t like camping.”
“I don’t think it’s camping. It’s cabins.”
“How is that different?”
“Well, for one thing, camping involves tents.”
“Not always.” Hayley slumped in her chair. “Why are you ruining my day?”
“Better your day than mine.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
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