“I guess he sold his next book. Big time deal. Like a three million dollar advance or something.”
Emotions rushed through me and I swallowed hard. He’d finishedDown in Flames. He’dsoldit. And for a huge advance, which would only be given if they’d loved the book and thought it would be a huge best seller.
Pride and elation ping-ponged in my heart. I’d known it the moment I’d started reading it. To know that the publishing world saw it too… My throat barely worked as I said, “Is that so? Good for him.”
Jane gave me a sidelong glance and a snort, both of which I ignored. Did she know? Why else would she even mention it?
“You know, I finally bought and read Montrose’s big, supposed masterpiece,” she said.
“You did?” I asked genuinely surprised. “What did you think?”
She shrugged. “Meh.”
“Meh?” I was shocked. I knew Jane and I had different tastes in…well, everything (except wanting to sleep with Billy, we’d once shared that), but how couldFollynot have affected her? How could—
“I mean, I kept waiting for the gangsters to show up. There wasn’t even one gangster.”
Oh, my God. I stopped in my tracks. Jane had to be smarter than that. “Jane, the gangster is a metaphor. It’s supposed to symbolize Aidan’s—”
“Ha. Got ya,” Jane said, nudging me and continuing to walk on while I stared after her. “I got the metaphor, Syd, I’m not an idiot.” I started walking again, catching up to her. “And yeah, I can see what all the fuss is about. Is this new one as good?”
“I don’t know,” I honestly said. “I read about three quarters of it before I…we—” I realized what I had just admitted. I stopped again, and this time Jane stopped with me. She didn’t say a single word, gave no sign of knowing that I had read Billy Montrose’s newest book. But if she’d been fishing, I’d taken the bait.
There was such a look of understanding from Jane, and just a little sympathy too. I stopped trying to figure out how Jane Winters knew everything. Sighing, I said, “Yeah, I think it probably is as good. Maybe even better. But, I didn’t get to finish it.”
She only nodded. “Well, sounds like you’ll get to right around Christmastime. Hey, I already know what to get you.” A little chuckle, then she slung an arm around me, squeezed and we continued walking.
“Very funny,” I said, but I knew I’d be the first one at the bookstore the dayDown in Flamesdropped.
* * *
When I gotout of class I checked my phone like I always did and almost dropped it in shock as I saw a text from Billy.
Do you have some time this afternoon? I have one last piece of the project I need your help with.
Had he found another box? Had I messed something up? He’d texted a half hour ago, so I wasn’t sure if he’d see my response right away, but I told him I could work this evening if he’d just leave it on his desk.
Can’t with this one. I need to explain it in person. I’m in my office all afternoon. Can you make it?
God, just when it wasn’t completely devastating to think about him. To see him again. In his office where we’d spent so many hours. But, I had been paid to complete this project for him, and I was eternally grateful for that opportunity.I’ll be there shortly. I’m nearby.
Because of the money I’d earned as a literary assistant, I would be able to spend the summer here, and even take a few classes, so I could stay in the dorms. Mrs. Otterbein had said she could use me and I’d probably get nearly forty hours a week at the admin building for the whole summer.
When we’d been in New York last weekend, I went to see my brothers in Queens and to let my mother know that I wouldn’t be home for the summer. It hadn’t gone well with her, but it did look like she had stepped up—or perhaps my grandmother had stepped in—and Duncan and Liam were being taken care of. It had been great to see my little redheaded leprechauns and I’d brought them both Bribury sweatshirts. They’d cried when I’d left and then I’d cried the whole way back to Manhattan, but I knew I wasn’t the only big sister out there who went off to college.
As I walked down the hallway in Snyder Hall, I was happy to realize that I hadn’t even once thought about going back to the dorm to change into my more…Bribury clothes.
But yes, I did run a hand through my hair and put on some lip gloss before I knocked on his office door. I waited to hear a “come in,” but instead the door almost instantly opened, as if Billy had been right there waiting for me.
It had been so hard to see him a few weeks ago when I’d come to tell him how I felt. This time…yeah, it was still excruciating, even if I had gotten myself kind of back on track emotionally since then.
“Hi,” I said.
“Hey.” He stepped back and I entered the office and had an overwhelming sense of déjà vu. Boxes were everywhere.
“Did you find another set of notes?” I asked as I moved into the room and he shut the door behind me. I heard the quiet snick of the lock and wondered how many times that sound had made my skin start to heat and my pulse race.
“No. These aren’t notes. This is the stuff from my office. I’m packing it all up.”
