She stares at me for a moment, waiting for me to elaborate, but I don’t. She seems to accept that this is something I don’t want to talk about because she changes the subject.
“I write. Well, I want to write. I haven’t actually published anything apart from the work that I do for Composition, but I hope to complete or even start a novel one day.”
“Composition? The magazine?”
She nods. “Mmhmm.”
“Wow. That’s impressive. What about the novel? What genre will you write?”
“Thriller. I already have the first one basically worked out in my head. I just can’t translate it to the keys. As soon as I sit down in front of my laptop, the whole thing just kind of falls apart.” She mimes typing on the table in front of her.
“Is that a writer’s block thing?”
“Uhh, no. That’s a lack of talent thing.”
I get the feeling that this woman lacks nothing. I don’t know why she can’t get her book started but it isn’t due to a lack of talent. “Doubtful, Miss Webb. Very doubtful. I know you’re one hell of a bartender, and I can just imagine that you’re an even better writer.”
“Ha! I got that job because Jax and Marshall do the hiring.”
“They’re very clever men. If you won them over, it’ because you’re exceptional, and they could sense it.”
“I got the job because I know how to play to my strengths. I dazzled them with fantastic wit and incredible tits. Wits and tits. They’ve never let me down.”
My laugh is loud and full. She’s not wrong about the wits or the tits. Especially, those tits.
She looks at me and smiles in that heart stopping way of hers, and I know without a doubt that she is something special. Even her scent is appealing to me. Cinnamon and sugar. Just sitting this close to her, I feel halfway drunk on that scent and the proximity of her body. She’s exactly what I need right now. Thoughts of Abe have consumed me every second of every day since it happened. Until I met this girl, that is. I don’t know what it is about her.Maybe it’s everything.
Abe would’ve liked her.
Chapter 9
Vaughn
Elijah jumps at the invitation to stay after dinner and play Uno. His phone rings twice while we play, and each time he silences it without checking to see who’s calling. He has it on silent now, so I wouldn’t even know it is still ringing if the vibration wasn’t so loud.
Eli takes a beating in six hands of Uno, so he’s more than willing to throw in the towel when I suggest we watch a movie. What’s odd is that I sit on the loveseat, and he sits on the couch. His chosen distance surprises me.Did he contract a contagious disease in the last three minutes?He hasn’t been vague about his interest in me, but he passed on the opportunity to sit next to me.What is that about?I catch him looking at me all throughout the movie, just as I have since we first met, and just like then, he doesn’t look away or get embarrassed. He doesn’t care. It’s me who breaks eye contact each time.Is that why he sits so far away? So he doesn’t have to crane his neck to look at me?
“Tell me about the novel.”
His words come out of nowhere and surprise me.
“Huh?”
“The book you’re writing. The one you can’t translate to the keys. Start at the beginning.”
He wants me to tell him my story?I’ve never shared it with anyone. No one has ever asked, though.Is it a secret? Don’t I hope to publish it someday? So, no. Not a secret. Maybe talking about it can break something loose and get the creative juices flowing. Maybe even put a dent in this block I have.
“Okay, so it’s a story about a thirty-year-old woman who-”
“No. Read it to me. The way it’s written in your head.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Chapter 1. Matilda wakes to the eerie sound of a chainsaw. Her first thought is that the vampire pygmies have learned to use tools. Like that.”
My giggle makes him smile.
“Matilda? Vampire pygmies?” My giggling continues. “First of all, Matilda is only the name of the leading lady when she’s an adorable, misunderstood, magical child.”
