Page 14 of The Write Stuff

I slapped my hand to my forehead, feeling like an idiot. “I’m sorry. I can leave.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Bella said, shooting Bree an admonishing look. “You’re not leaving. I just … um … are you okay?”

Wasn’t that a loaded question? “I’ve been better.” I moved to the sink and started the water. I had every intention of splashing cold water on my face in an effort to wake up from this nightmare. Bree stopped me, though.

“You’ll be a mess for the reader event if you do that,” she said. “Just … tell us what’s going on.” She shut off the water.

I had to think about it. What was going on? He was a guy I knew a million years ago. I’d never even interacted with him as an adult. Why was I acting like this?

“Is this the first time you’ve seen him since … the thing?” Bella asked in a kind voice.

“You mean since his mother smacked the crap out of her mother in front of thousands of people?” Bree clarified.

Her response nudged a laugh out of me that I wasn’t expecting. Bree had a reputation for being blunt and saying whatever came to her mind. She didn’t care what other people thought and marched to the beat of her own drum. I appreciated that in a person. Apparently, she lived up to her reputation.

“I haven’t seen him since that day,” I acknowledged. “I saw him before it happened and then … I never even got to say goodbye to him or anything. Eleanor either.” Just thinking about that made me sad.

“Well, then it had to come as a shock to see him,” Bella said pragmatically. “Are you guys enemies? Or were you enemies?”

“No.” I shook my head. “We never fought. He didn’t really like me when we were younger. He thought I was a geek.”

“Did he tell you that?” Bree’s expression darkened. “I don’t like bullies.”

“He never told me that,” I assured her. “I could just always tell. The Klingon thing really irritated him.”

Bree smirked. “I happen to think that’s cool.”

“Me, too,” Bella said enthusiastically. “Who cares what he likes?”

“It’s fine.” Now that I was away from him and could think again, it was fine. Right? It was totally fine. “I’m acting like an idiot. I was just so surprised.”

“I had no idea he was the one who bought Bree’s house,” Bella offered. “She told me it was another author, but I didn’t ask who. I’ve been a little distracted with the baby.”

“It’s fine,” I assured her, sounding like a broken record. “I was just caught off guard. I don’t handle emotional situations well; in case you’re just figuring that out.”

“It’s okay,” Bree assured me. “I’m the same way. You don’t have to talk to him or anything.”

“That would be kind of weird, wouldn’t it?”

Bree shrugged. “I avoided talking to Brody as much as possible when I first met him.”

“You did?” How did that work? They were married now. “Well, I was falling in love with him and didn’t want to admit it. Our situations might not be exactly alike, but it’s okay. You don’t have to spend time with him.”

“But … the reader event.” This was an event that had been organized by multiple publishers. It was a big deal. It was so successful that it was being used as a template in other markets. “I don’t want to ruin it.”

“You won’t.” Bree waved her hand. “The events are set up so you guys don’t have to be anywhere near one another. It will be fine. I promise.”

That was a relief. I didn’t want to cause problems. Huxley was a much bigger author than I was. He would be the one placated if it came to making a choice.

“Just one thing, though,” Bree said, her eyes clear when they locked with mine. “Did you and he ever … you know?”

My mind was a blank. “I know what?”

“You know,” she insisted.

I blinked but didn’t respond.

She let out an exasperated sigh. “You know, bump uglies, make the beast with two backs, grind the corn.”