“Fine. You have a deal.” Kaelee held out a hand to shake. “Hi, I’m Cupcake.”
“Yes!” Cherie pumped her fist in the air. “That was what I wanted to name this little Pekingese pug—is that a Peki-pug?—but my mom said I couldn’t get one because I’m allergic.”
“So I just agreed to you calling me by the name you picked for a dog?”
“I suggested it for my next sibling, too, when she was born, but apparently, they think Cupcake isn’t a ‘person name.’ Ha!” Cherie pulled out her phone. “I’m going to tell them I just had someone introduce herself as Cupcake.”
“You’re impossible. You do realize that, don’t you?” Kaelee stared at her, smiling more than she had since leaving Philly. Cherie was a spot of joy she didn’t want to lose, much like her career and her thing with Greta. Kaeleelikedher life. It was worth trying to keep. “I’m really glad you’re my friend.”
“Glad enough to make me yams and apples this weekend?”
Kaelee pushed the possibility of Greta visiting out of her mind and said, “Definitely.”
25Greta
Greta spent the next weekend being ignored by Kaelee, and her valiant choice to decide she was going to wait until Kaelee was ready was already going horribly. By Monday, she was in her office holding a beautiful copy of Kaelee’s book. The book wouldn’t be on shelves for almost a month yet, and publicity would be doing a limited mailing of the final copies to key influencers and accounts.
Greta put the book on her desk, cleared everything from around it, and took a picture. She emailed it to both Kaelee and Emily with a “Look what arrived!” note.
While she waited for a reply, Greta opened her email, checking for emergencies. There was one from Toni that said, “Want to buy a new book?” She’d attached a document and cc’d Emily.
Greta laughed and replied to both: “Offer letter in my draft folder already.”
“No! Read the damn book first, or I won’t sell it. There will be a quiz,” Toni replied, cc’ing Emily again.
Again, Greta barked a laugh. “Of course there will.”
Ian popped his head into the doorway. “What are you chortling over?”
“Toni sent her book.”
Ian frowned at her. “Did we buy it already? I didn’t see a deal m—”
“No. She sent the manuscript, cc’d Emily, and said I have to read it before offering.” Greta shook her head. Toni Darbyshire was grouchy at the best of times. She’d earned enough on her first two novels and the show that she could actuallycontinueto not sell the book. She certainly didn’t need to sell one with having both a job and royalties. Greta shook her head, but she was still smiling as she said, “She says she’ll quiz me before selling.”
“You know she’ll sell it to you eventually,” Ian pointed out. “No one else would be as devoted to her or her series.”
Greta nodded. “I don’t mind reading first, but yes, I know she’ll sell it to me. I worried in the spring, but… I’ve realized that Toni sees the selling as a formality at this point. She already submitted the book.”
Then Greta’s phone chimed. She and Ian both saw Kaelee’s name on the screen. “I need to get this.”
“So you’re officially seeing her?” Ian wasn’t judgmental; he sounded curious.
“I am.” Greta couldn’t say what “seeing” Kaelee meant, but whatever it was or would evolve into was better thannotseeing her. That much was clear. As Ian left, Greta looked at the message.
Kaelee:Come here this weekend.
Greta:Where? To DC?
Kaelee:yes
Greta:Let me see what I can do.
Kaelee:I needed to think. Sorry I was silent.
Greta:And? Any conclusion?
Kaelee:My apartment is not much more than a closet. I want you here though.
