Justin glanced over his brother’s shoulder to the big snow plow.It took him a second to recall what he had done that morning.He wasn’t usually this distracted.It was all Felicity’s fault.After all of this time, how did he still let her get to him?
It probably didn’t help that he wasn’t dating anyone.After getting dumped at the altar, he just wasn’t in the mood to jump back on the dating apps again.He was fine on his own.
Seeing his brother standing there, as though expecting an answer, Justin said, “I’ve been working on it, but I haven’t taken it out for a test drive yet.”
Ding.
It was an alert on his phone.He pulled it from his back pocket.A notice on the screen let him know it was an email he’d been anxiously awaiting.
It was from one of the literary agents he’d contacted.After a string of rejections for his finished manuscript, he wondered if this was at last the break he’d been waiting for.
As Justin’s finger hovered over the screen of his phone, Michael asked, “Something I should know?”
Definitely not.Justin glanced up at his brother.“No.”
Michael arched a brow.“Fine.Get on it.We need that plow back on the road.It’s supposed to snow the rest of the day.”
Justin grunted his agreement.After his brother moved on, Justin pulled up his email.His chest tightened as anticipation stirred within him.He wanted to believe that his book was as good as he thought it was—even if it was the first one he’d written.He’d used some online beta readers, and they had given him some good feedback.
His finger hovered over the link to the emailed response from one of his top choices for an agent.He hesitated.The breath caught in his lungs.Then he pressed down on the link, and the email opened up.
Dear Justin,
Thank you for giving us a chance to read your manuscript.
At this time, we have determined that it isn’t the right fit…
Blah.Blah.Blah.He stopped reading.It was a form letter.They hadn’t even taken the time to give him any personalized feedback.
He’d read enough rejection letters to know there wouldn’t be anything helpful.He closed the app and stuffed the phone back into his pocket.This wasn’t his day.
He’d had a run-in with the only woman who’d broken his heart.When his wedding to Nadia Wiley was called off at the last minute, he knew it should have bothered him more than it did.And then he realized that Nadia calling off the engagement had been the right thing.
He didn’t love her—not the way you should love someone who you’re about to pledge the rest of your life to.But they were good friends.He’d told himself that would be enough.He was wrong.
But when he’d been with Felicity, he had been head-over-heels in love with her.He would have walked through fire for her.And that still wasn’t enough for her.His back teeth ground together as he recalled that painful time in his life.
He shoved those unwanted thoughts to the back of his mind as he moved to grab the jug of windshield wiper fluid.The problem with this job was that when he was working on the engine or adjusting this or that on a truck, his mind had time to wander.And today his thoughts kept returning to Felicity.
He should be thinking about writing his next fantasy book.His writing was a secret indulgence he hadn’t shared with his family.He didn’t want to appear like a failure again if he was never able to get any of his work published.
Getting back to work, he filled the wiper fluid.It wasn’t surprising that it took the full jug.The roads were a sloppy mess with all of the snow coming down.
He wiped off his hands and climbed into the driver’s seat when his phone rang.He pulled it out of his pocket and checked the caller ID.It was from Jingle Bell Books.
He pressed the phone to his ear.“Hello.”
“Hi, Justin.It’s Connie at Jingle Bell Books.I wanted to let you know the book you ordered has come in.”
“That’s great.I’m at work and won’t be able to make it before you close.”
“No problem.I’ll hold it behind the counter.You can stop by whenever you have a chance.”
“I will.Thanks.”
At last, his day was looking up.It was an action/fantasy book in a series he’d been following.This was book ten…No.Wait.It was book eleven.They released two books a year.One in the summer and one at Christmastime.He couldn’t wait to pick it up and read it.If one day he could be half as good as that author, he would be very happy.
Justin started the plow and listened to the engine.He had a really good ear for sounding out problems.He didn’t hear anything that would be a problem.
