That was what she’d wanted before Tasha, with Tasha, and now that she was healing, Greta’s desire for true love had returned. She’d let Tasha’s cheating make her forget her own dreams and hopes, but now that her heart was recovering, she could move on. Despite how it ended, there had been good times with Tasha. The possibility of forever had not turned into reality for them, but maybe this time, maybe this woman could be different.
I could love Kaelee.
That was the truth that terrified Greta more than anything else. The industry obstacles could be manageable for both of them if this were real, but Greta couldn’t stand the public humiliation of putting herself out there, letting her colleagues see that she was in this place emotionally, if Kaelee didn’t even want the same thing—and she had said repeatedly that she didn’t. Her actions said otherwise, but her words mattered, too.
Being the only one trying to move forward wasn’t the path to making a relationship work. Greta had already learned that lesson. She’d had her heart broken as much by hope as by Tasha’s actions.
Kaelee is a friend. We are friends who text and don’t get naked. That’s all this can be.
That was the only option, no matter how much Greta wished they could be more. She couldn’t move forward with her own life or in being a good friend to Kaelee without cutting this hope ofmoreout of her heart. First, she’d need to tell Emily about the mistakes with her author, explain it to Kaelee, and then… try to date again, try to find someone who was emotionally available.
Resolved, and reeling from her far too raw conversation with Toni, Greta was vaguely mortified that she was in this situation. Toni wasn’t herfriend,not really. If anything she was Kaelee’s friend, and Greta had violated Toni’s trust by putting her in the awkward situation of keeping a secret from her agent. Aside from how raginglyunprofessional it all was, Greta had failed at being a friend to Kaelee—or maybe she had just been an overbearing friend. She wasn’t entirely sure if her choice to call Toni that night was an overreaction or not. People died of alcohol poisoning, not to mention Kaelee’s absurd idea of crawling into the bathtub when she was barely awake.
Of course, none of that made today’s luncheon any less dreadful.
“Are we acquiring something new?” Ian asked, looking at the last-minute meeting with Emily on the schedule.
“We will be when Toni finishes her book,” Greta said, not lying but not really capable of admitting why she was meeting with Emily. “This isn’t about Toni.”
“Hmmm. Well, I like the second Carpenter book. I know your taste well enough to know you do, too.” Ian tapped his pen on his cheek absently as he pondered. “Are we talking numbers on one or both? I can get th—”
“Ian.” She met his gaze and smiled. “Emily and I are just having lunch. She’s delivered not one but two excellent books to me. With the early reviews, store buy-ins, and general buzz, I’m expecting Kaelee to be the second bestselling author whose books Emily has sold to me. So we’re having lunch.”
Ian gave her a look before saying, “I can tell when you’re nervous, boss. Wait.” He lowered his voice. “Is this a lunch date or a lunchdate?”
“No!” Greta’s face burned with awkward embarrassment, which probably didn’t make her denial sound very convincing.
“I wouldn’t have clocked her as your type, but…” Ian shrugged. “Whatever. Go be social. I’ll see you at two for the note swap on the batch of pitches I flagged.”
Greta plucked her oversized sunglasses off the corner of her desk, wound a fuchsia scarf around her neck, and grabbed her coat. Then she set out to meet the agent for two of her most promising authors to make a confession that could cause more drama in her life than anything since her breakup with Tasha. At least that was semiprivate. Anything Emily decided here would be far from that.
Greta opted not to bring up the call from Toni, but she paused in the lobby and sent a text to Kaelee.
Greta:Talking to E today.
Kaelee:You don’t have to.
Greta:I do. She needs to know. Also Toni will tell her. Better to come from me.
Kaelee:I can call her…
Greta smiled. She wasn’t sure which “her” Kaelee had meant, but it could have been both or either. Kaelee was as protective a friend as Greta had ever had.
Greta:If you want to for YOU, fine. I will still talk to Emily, and I talked to Toni.
There was not much to say now. She and Kaelee had a past, a recent past but still, that was all over. They were friends now. The fact that Greta treasured each text—even silly memes and links to articles—was just friendly fondness. Ithadto be, for both their careers.
And the frequency needs to decrease. A lot.
I can’t try dating anyone else if my heart is tied up with Kaelee.
Greta ducked her head against the sharp November wind and set out to meet her judge and jury. Emily was loyal, reasonable, and savvy. That gave Greta a reason to hope that they could figure out the best plan of action together. The priority was making sure that Kaelee, who was at the start of a promising career, would be looked after, protected, and feel secure.
First, though, Greta would throw herself on Emily’s mercy.
19Kaelee
THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING
