AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What’sup with the mystery manuscript?”
I look up from my eleventh draft of the book blurb forLove Among the Lemons, and breathe a sigh of relief Cameron’s not asking about that disaster.
Not that I have much to report on the sexy Ryder Night manuscript, either. It’s just that I can still buy time on that one.
I smile brightly to convince him I have everything under control.
Which, of course, I don’t.
“Good news about that, Cam. I found an email address in the back of it. Of course, I immediately reached out.”
He perks up. “And?”
I knew he was going to ask that.
“I’m waiting to hear back. I’m sure it won’t be long.”
Big lie.
Who the hell knows if ‘Ryder Night’ even exists. Actually, with a namethatobviously made up, I doubt they do. But I’ve got to hang onto hope, just like I’ve got to hang onto my job.
“Well, we’ll see,” he says, his lack of confidence knocking me down a peg. “If whoever wrote it made it that hard to track them down, I’m not gonna hold my breath that this is someone just waiting for their magical words to be discovered.”
He has a point. If someone sends an anonymous manuscript like this, it’s a safe bet they never want to be found. But on the other hand, why send it at all?
And why was it stuffed in the back of my desk, never having been opened?
I have so many questions.
I look at Ralph who, while popping a couple jelly beans, listens with great interest. Just what I want, a pain-in-the-ass coworker to witness my downfall, up close and personal. Talk about taking things from simple humiliation to abject degradation. All while stress-eating candy.
Can’t a girl have some goddamn privacy?
I turn back toLemons.
“Say, Amalia, when are you heading over to the signing?” Cameron asks, glancing at his watch.
“Huh? What signing?”
He rolls his eyes. “You’re supposed to set up Levi’s book signing. The big one happening tonight. At the bookstore? Uptown?” He looks at me like I’m a total idiot.
Maybe I am, because I have no idea what he is talking about. I have plans to go to the gym this evening. There’s an advanced kick-boxing class I want to see if I can keep up with. I need the workout, desperately.
Cameron sees the confusion written across my face. “We discussed it at last week’s team meeting. Remember?”
I scroll through my calendar app and see nothing. But he’s right. He did mention something about a signing for his new literary golden boy, and I do remember him telling me I was tasked with going early to get everything ready.
Guess the commitment never made it to my calendar because I was in denial about the ridiculousness of it. First of all, why do I have to set shit up for anybody, much less that Levi Maverick, and second, I have other work to do, like finishing theLemonsblurb.
But I want to save my job, so I hop to my feet, shut down my computer, and grab my purse from its hiding place in the span of about three seconds.
I slap my hand to my forehead for dramatic flourish. “Oh my gosh, Cam, you are totally right. I spaced! I’ll head over there right now.”
Annoyed, he nods. “You better move it. Thank goodness I happened by and reminded you.”
As I rush for the elevator I look back over my shoulder. “Don’t worry, Cam. It will be awesome.”
The minute I get my ass in a cab heading uptown, I open my DoorDash and InstaCart apps and started ordering all kinds of shit. Wine, beer, small bites, and everything else needed for your typical book signing.
