I don’t hear footsteps right away, and I know he hesitated before walking off to talk to Nina. When I look back up, something whispers across the surface of my skin, leaving behind thorns too sharp to ignore.
My vision drops to the floor, and I cross my arms before slumping back in my chair. Jealously was an emotion I reserved for when Milo ran to his dad instead of me. When it came to my relationship with Colt, my body didn’t overheat with anger when a woman stopped to admire him.
“Why are you staring at Mr. C and Ryan’s mom?”
Julia’s sweet voice cascades around my ears and soothes the burning across my chest. I squeeze my eyes shut, hoping that the fact that Nina is a mom will calm me down. But when I open my eyes, her long fingernails are grazing his sweater sleeve from across the room, and I force myself to focus on the one interaction I can control.
“Oh, sorry, Julia. I didn’t see you there. What can I help you with?” I ask, completely ignoring her question.
Her lips press into a thin line, and she glances over at Nina and Henry before her gaze settles back on me. She takes one more calculated analysis of my face before deciding to drop the subject. “I wanted to thank you for recommending theTwilightmovies. I spent the entire weekend binging them, and I’m obsessed with Edward!”
Excitement radiates off her in contagious waves and it douses the feelings burning a hole in my stomach. She sets theTwilightnovel she checked out on the counter and pushes it toward me to return.
I laugh, shaking my head. “I knew you’d loved them. I also had a sneaky suspicion you’d be Team Edward.”
My suspicion was fueled by the connection I felt with Julia after meeting her the first night of their writing workshop. Ever since then, I began to notice her whenever she’d come into the library, and it seemed like she was in here a lot. What was she hiding from?
“Edward fromTwilight?” a deep voice asks. Both of our heads snap to Henry, casually leaning against the counter. My eyes search for Nina and rejoice when they come up empty.
Still, my mind churned with nerves and was dying to know if her obvious flirting was a direct result of a vibe Henry gave off. Maybe our heated glances and almost kisses weren’t something reserved for the two of us. I press a hand to my core, keeping the pain inside.
“You read them?” she questions, raising her brow.
“Yes.” He laughs, folding his arms. “Why is that so unbelievable?”
Julia crosses her arms to match Henry’s stance. An unexpected smile takes over my mouth when I see a defiant side peeking through, and I welcome the distraction. I pegged her as shy, but I should know better. Kids like Julia will shine bright for anyone willing to pay attention.
“I just figured you’re an English professor, so you’d hate Twilight for being, you know, too cheesy or something.”
Henry chuckles, the sound comforting and disarming. “Cheesy doesn’t mean bad.”
Julia’s arms drop, her curiosity piqued. “So, you actually like it?”
I’ve seen Henry’s bookshelves, and I knew it wasn’t crazy that he’d like a romance about vampires.
“I did.” Henry nods. “It’s engaging and it clearly resonated with its intended audience. The author taps into the universal themes of love, identity, and belonging. They’re the kinds of things that literature has beenexploring for years. The kind of things that inspire great writing.”
Julia beams, clearly satisfied with his answer. “So, that only leaves one more question. Team Edward or Team Jacob?”
Unexpectantly, Henry glances at me, his amber eyes gleaming with amusement. “What do you think, Emma? Should I answer honestly or keep the suspense alive?”
I shift my weight in my chair, suddenly uncomfortable under his watchful eye. My jaw tightens, already stiff from the mask that covers my face. “Suspense is overrated.” I swallow, forcing all emotion from my tone.
Henry’s eyes hover on mine, his own lips forming an unreadable straight line. He looks back at Julia, and his face bounces back into a pool of warmth and comfort. “Edward. He’s flawed, sure, but like every great romance, there’s something compelling about his undying loyalty. He’s willing to defy everything—his family, his instincts, even himself—for Bella.”
A big smile peppers across Julia’s face. “What about you, Emma?”
I copy Henry and keep the rollercoaster of emotions behind my eyes in check. “Oh, I don’t know,” I deflect, busying myself with tidying up the small desk area around me.
I look up and I can tell Julia isn’t letting me off easy. Her eyes narrow. “Come on. Mr. C gave his answer and now it’s your turn.”
I let out a long sigh and attempt to look anywhere but Henry’s face. “Fine. I guess I’d say Edward. But—” I hold up a finger before Julia can respond. “—only because his connection with Bella makes more sense within the context of the story. Jacob is still a great guy, but I’ve always felt like he was a much better friend than a love interest.”
Julia nods enthusiastically, clearly pleased with myanswer. “See! I knew you’d get it. Well, Mr. C, I’m going to go get set up before the workshop starts.”
“Great. See you in a few minutes, Julia.” I expect Henry to follow her, but he lingers at my desk. “Is everything okay?” he asks, turning toward me.
Yes. No. I don’t know. I have no right to be annoyed with Henry. For all I know, his conversation with Nina was nothing more than an involved parent trying to make sure her kid was doing well in the workshop. But my feelings were a complicated thing, just like I knew they would if I let them out of their cage.
