‘You’re coming,’ I said firmly.
‘No, I’m not.’
‘Fallon-’
‘Oliver,’ She spoke in a tone that would scare even myfiercest coach growing up. ‘You don’t need me to go. Do your thing, and then let me know how it goes.’
I sat straight in bed, leaning forward, my elbows resting on my thighs as I gripped the phone.
‘I’m sorry, have I missed something because you were the one that came to me with this idea, and you are the one who’s going to be writing it. You can’tnotbe there.’
I heard her shuffling around.
‘Oliver,’ I tried to ignore how good it sounded hearing her say my name. ‘I can’t,’ she added in a tone so defeated it stunned me.
‘Are you kidding me? Fallon-’ I stopped. Something in my brain clicked, and a laugh almost broke free. I put a hand over my mouth to stifle it, but she still heard it.
‘Are youlaughing?’
If there was a god, he had a twisted sense of humour.
I coughed to cover my mirth, unsuccessfully. ‘Morgenson was your old job, wasn’t it?’
Her deathly silence was all the confirmation I needed.
‘The place that wants to buy the book is the same one you got fired for putting dildos all over your ex’s car.’ I didn’t try to dampen my laugh this time.
‘For your information, I didn’t get fired for doing that. I was already fired. And why do you even want me there if I’m such a joke?’ she snapped.
I sobered instantly. ‘I don’t think you’re a joke.’
She scoffed.
‘I don’t.’I insisted. ‘The irony just got to me for a minute.’
When she didn’t say anything, I took a deep breath. Convincing someone to do something they didn’t want to do in the first place was not something I found myself doing that often.
‘Can you please come?’ I gripped the phone tightly.
I’d only known her for two weeks, yet I could see her scrunching up her nose, eyes closed in contemplation.
Finally, her reply came through gritted teeth. ‘Fine.’
‘Great, I’ll pick you up at eight-thirty.’
‘Nope. I’ll make my own way there.’
I was about to protest, but she hung up before I could voice my refusal.
I stared at the phone, a smile twitching the corners of my lips.
23
FALLON
Confidence. We’d never got along well, but I could fake it for one morning.
Oliver texted me where the meeting was—even though I knew that building like the back of my hand.
