The remainder of us glanced at each other for two seconds. And then everyone started to laugh.
Still not Tally though.
Judging her expression, she seemed as worried by the whole thing as I was.
But there’s no way she was thinking what I was thinking.
Because I was thinking that if Austen and I couldn’t figure out a way to placate our readers, we were in big trouble.
“Well.” Ford rubbed his hands together. “It looks like Ibetter start reading thisSpy vs Sighbook.” His brow lifted and he grinned. “Does Peyton read it?”
“Yes,” Lemon said. “But if she finds out you do, she’ll stop.”
Ford deflated, a scowl replacing the smile.
Lemon’s head tilted. “Ilove you, Fo-shiz.”
He blew out his lips in forlorn resignation.
nine
ASHTON
He felt that he must go, must leave that place at once.
— LEO TOLSTOY
Now that my last class of the day was over, I could get down to the business of writingthechapter with Austen. She’d made a firm promise last night that we would get Jack and Raven together today.
I unlocked my office door and walked to my desk. My bag hit the ground with a thunk and I didn’t even bother to sit. Just bent over my chair and wiggled the mouse on my computer screen, excited to see the rough draft of her chapter waiting in my inbox.
Empty.
A low growl purred in my throat. I clicked on our chat screen.
Austentacious119: Sorry, Leggs, I’m struggling. But it will be written tonight! I promise to work on it all evening if need be.
I stood, hands propped on my hips, and let my head fall back in frustration.
“Knock, knock,” a quiet voice said. Tally. Even if I wouldn’t have recognized her soft, melodic voice anywhere, I’d still know it was her because she always announced herself in some way before walking in.
I looked over and gave her an all-business smile. I’d gotten pretty good at faking my emotions around her. Did I feel all business? Heck no. Not with the most beautiful woman I’d ever known standing there, her big doe eyes watching me nervously.
Her hair was super straight today, making it even longer than normal, hitting an inch or two above her waist. She had on a silky green button-up blouse with puffed sleeves, a pair of tight jeans, and ankle boots which only made her gorgeously long legs appear even longer. Her leather messenger bag which housed her laptop was slung over her shoulder crossbody style. That bag had been a graduation gift from the entire Dupree family. Mom had collected donations and given it to her the day she received her Bachelor of Arts in Writing. Tally clutched the strap for dear life. Man, she was gorgeous.
I gripped the top of the chair forcing myself to stay put.
She stood in the doorway, hesitating. “Is it okay if I come in?”
I winced at the question. She’d never asked permission before. But this was the first time she’d come to my office since the day I pawned her off on Professor Gibson. It felt like a decade ago.
“Of course.” I waved her in.
She stepped inside and, surprisingly, closed the door. Tally was a door-wide-open kind of person. Something about being in confined spaces made her uncomfortable. So, if she was okay being in here alone with me, I felt a little honored and a lot nervous.
This must be important.
I pulled up an extra seat and waved for her to take my cushy office chair.
