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“Yeah.”
“I hope you enjoy all of the concerts.” Shadow scribbled something on her paper and handed it back to her. “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
“An artist.”
“Do you like to paint?”
Candice nodded enthusiastically. “I love acrylics.”
“Well, you amaze me already. Keep up the good work.”
The young girl blushed again and left. Riley took a sip of her water. “You’re good with kids.”
“You think so? I haven’t been around children much.”
“You were kind, yet you didn’t talk down to her. I wouldn’t have known you haven’t been around kids if you hadn’t told me.” Riley was surprised at how much she liked Shadow. He carried himself in a way that was hard to describe. He was self-assured yet had a humility about him. It was a mix that was both attractive and admirable. A major pop star like him could easily end up conceited.
Shadow picked up a roll and tore a piece off. “So, you said you used to dabble in novel writing. Do you have any finished work?” He popped the bread in his mouth.
Riley balked. She’d forgotten about that lie. Now what was she going to tell him? “A few,” she said, hoping to be vague about it.
He put down his hand. “A few? Novels, you mean? You have several completed novels that are just sitting at home in a drawer?”
She held in a smile at his wording. Like she would have written them longhand on notebook paper. Maybe she was doing a better job at portraying herself as an old-fashioned pioneer woman than she thought. “No, on my hard drive.”
“Seriously? Have you ever submitted them anywhere?”
Dang, how was she going to get out of this one? Now she’d written several non-existent novels. This lie was growing into something she didn’t like. Maybe it was time to sink it into oblivion. “Like to a publisher?” She snorted. “No, way.”
He gave her a strange look. “Why not?”
“Because they’re no good. I mean, they’re just silly. It’s not anything anyone would be interested in.” There. Now they were just her goofy ramblings. Maybe he would leave it alone now.
“How many novels?”
Ugh. He had to ask that question. Why were they still talking about this? “A few.”
He gave her a flat look. “Three? Four?”
He didn’t look like he was going to give up, so she picked a number out of the air that seemed reasonable. “Five.”
He stared at her like he couldn’t believe she’d written five novels and hadn’t had them published yet. Nice. Maybe next she could tell him she’d won the Nobel Peace Prize last year but hadn’t accepted it because she didn’t think she was worthy of it.
“When’s the last time you worked on them?”
“Did you see this amazing sunset?” She pointed out the window.
Shadow squinted at her a moment before he dusted the breadcrumbs off his hands. “Would you let me read one?”
She didn’t mean to laugh, but it came out as a bark anyway. Shadow Walker, the famous pop star, wanted to read her non-existent novels. The room grew impossibly hot. “Uh...”
Their server stepped up to the table. “Are you ready for the check?”
“Yes!” Riley blurted out. Then she forced a smile. “I mean, I’m done. What about you?”
“No dessert?”
“Nope. I couldn’t eat another bite, I’m so full.” It was time to abort this date. And maybe go back to her room and write five terrible novels.
