AllFreeNovel
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I shouldn’t speak so ill of Jason. He really is a good guy. Recently, though, since all the students came back for the semester, he’s been losing his cool more and more. I think I have caught him outside stress smoking more than usual.His poor lungs,I think with a shake of my head.
“Anyway, let’s not talk about work. Have you heard any news back about the samples you sent in?”
I groan and drop my fork on the plate, leaving the last bite for Rachel to take. I won a writing contest over a year ago, which gave me enough money to buy tickets to Paris, where Rachel went for her internship program. Before I graduated, the judges emailed me, asking for more of my work, but I haven’t heard back from them in months and I’m beginning to wonder if they have changed their mind. I’ve been trying to write more, in case they email me for more samples, but I haven’t heard any word. I don’t even know if I should email them. And what would I even say?
“I take it, that’s a no?” Rachel asks with a frown. “That sucks. Have you tried emailing them?”
I shake my head. “Not yet.”
“You should email them.”
“And have them tell me the inevitable?”
“Lucas.” Rachel places a hand on mine, her warmth seeping into my skin. “At least an answer would be better than nothing. And, even if they have decided not to publish your work, you can try elsewhere. There are hundreds of publishers out there.”
“I feel like all I’m doing is waiting around.”
Rachel nods. “I get that, but you’re not. You’re working, writing, staying busy.”
“Then why do I feel so stagnant?” I sigh, not wanting to be this negative, but I simply can’t help myself. “Hunter is playing for the NFL. Most of my friends, who have graduated, have gotten real jobs.” I shrug. “What am I doing?”
“You have a real job.”
“Working at a café is not—”
“It pays, right?”
I make a face. “I guess.”
“Then it’s a real job. You’re doing something, Lucas. You’re doing what you want to do. You’re working toward your goal. These things take time. You can’t just snap your fingers and poof, you’re a famous novelist.”
I chuckle while shaking my head. “No, I can’t. You’re right. I’ll try to stop being a negative Nancy.”
Rachel smiles, her fingers lacing with mine. She pulls me close, so close that my nose is lightly touching hers. “Now, get Steve. We need another one of those delicious cheesecakes.”
***
“Ugh!” Rachel groans as she stomps up the staircase toward our apartment. “I am so full! Why did you let me eat another cheesecake?”
“You’re the one who demanded it,” I say, chuckling as I watch her swivel around, her hand grasping the banister, the other on her stomach. “Should I have talked you out of it?”
Rachel makes a face, looking like she doesn’t know the answer to that question. “No,” she finally says. She’s still scowling at me and I find it absolutely adorable.
I sidle close to her, wrapping my arm around her shoulders and guiding her toward the door. “If it makes you feel any better, you still look absolutely beautiful.”
“I feel so bloated.”
I chuckle while sliding the key into the door and pushing it open. “Well, I can think of a few things that could burn off that last slice of cake.”
“I’m not running,” Rachel announces while stalking inside the apartment and kicking off her shoes. She turns on the light and I wince, blinking back spots as my vision adjusts to the lighting. I expect Alex and Seth to come running out at any moment, but the bedroom doors remain closed, which means they must be out running somewhere. Usually, when Rachel comes home, both men burst out of the room and demand she spend some time with them. I swear, they are like dogs coming to greet their master. At least they’re no longer arguing. It’s like they’ve become friends. I have no clue how that happened, nor do I want to know.
“I tried with Seth,” Rachel continues while putting her purse on the coat rack. “I am not a runner. I’ve decided my legs aren’t long enough.”
I clench my jaw to keep from laughing. Running has nothing to do with someone’s leg length and everything to do with their ability to breathe, but I’m in no mood to discuss sports with Rachel. The whole night, I couldn’t take my eyes off those plump lips of hers. The way she sucked on those raspberries and licked away the cream has me thinking of something completely different. It’s been so long since we’ve been alone together, since everything seemed so perfect between us. I kick the door closed and grab her hand, tugging her toward me.
“I wasn’t thinking about running,” I say lowly.
Rachel’s eyes widen. “Then what were you thinking about?”
