AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Worry creases Ollie’s brows as he steps closer to her. “Are you sure it’s just a bug? You’ve seemed off lately. Is there something else going on?”
I…I found out something today,” she confesses, her voice barely above a whisper. “But I’m not ready to talk about it just yet.”
A wave of concern washes over me as I try to decipher the meaning behind her words. I want to respect her privacy, but I also want to offer support.
“Take all the time you need, Susan,” I assure her, placing a hand on her shoulder. “We’re here for you, no matter what.”
She offers a weak smile, appreciating the understanding. “Thank you, Artie,” she murmurs. “I just need some space right now.”
Before I can say anything, Ed walks up to her, placing a comforting hand on her other shoulder. “It’s okay, Susan. Take your time.”
In response, Susan clutches her stomach as she walks upstairs. “I’ll be up here working on my book. I need to send it to my developmental editor by next week. It’s a strict deadline.”
“We’ll bring you poutine,” I call out from behind.
“Poutine, seriously?” Ollie says.
“I’m kind of off my game today,” I say.
“Artie, you overestimate yourself.” Ollie smirks. “When have you ever been with someone as hot as Susan? She’s way above your league.”
Ollie is just teasing, but it smarts my skin.
“Ollie, that’s uncalled for,” Ed says, turning to me. “Everything okay with you?”
“First of all, all three of us look the same,” I remind Ollie, glaring at him before turning to Ed. “I’m fine. Just worried about Susan.” I feel like, of the three of us, I’m the most receptive to the emotions she’s experiencing.
Ed scratches his head, his brows furrowing in thought. “Actually, I overheard her talking to her agent earlier,” he reveals, his tone tinged with empathy. “She seemed frustrated, like she was discussing some edits or revisions for her work. Maybe that’s what’s bothering her.”
I nod, absorbing the information.
It makes sense that Susan, being the talented writer she is, might be going through a challenging phase in her creative process. But deep down, I sense there might be more to it than just professional concerns.
Ollie chimes in, his expression mirroring our concern. “That could be it,” he agrees, his voice gentle and understanding. “Being an artist, especially when it comes to your creative work, can be emotionally challenging. I’m sure you can relate, Artie. You’re artistically inclined yourself.”
“Hmmm.” I nod distractedly even though I’ve personally never experienced anything like that. But then again, I was never a contracted writer.
“Or maybe,” Ollie says, “she’s just on her period. Girls do get a little crazy when that happens.”
Ollie’s suggestion catches me off guard, and I furrow my brows in thought. “You think it could be that time of the month?” I ask. It hadn’t crossed my mind before, but it could explain Susan’s mood and unease.
Ed leans back against the kitchen counter, his expression thoughtful. “It’s a possibility,” he replies, his tone considerate. “Sometimes hormonal changes can affect emotions and make things feel a little off. I remember how cranky Fiona used to get whenever she got hers.” He looks out into the distance. This is the first time in a long while that he’s acknowledged her willingly.
He clears his throat as if realizing what he just said. “I mean—”
“You don’t have to explain anything,” I say softly. “I get what you mean.”
He nods. I know Fiona is a dicey subject for him. But it’s good that he’s talking about her rather than keeping it to himself. It’s just another good thing that has happened since Susan’s arrival.
“I have an idea,” Ollie pipes up. “Susan says she can’t go out to dinner. What if we bring the date to the house instead?”
“What do you have in mind, Ollie?” I ask, leaning forward slightly, intrigued.
A warm smile spreads across Ollie’s face as he shares his idea. “Well, how about we surprise Susan with something nice? Maybe we can prepare a comforting dinner for her, something she really enjoys. We can create a cozy atmosphere, light some candles, and just let her know that we’re here for her.”
Ed’s eyes light up with enthusiasm, and he nods in agreement. “That’s a great idea. We can have the date here instead. Everything else remains the same. What do you say, Artie?”
“Sounds like a great plan,” I say. “Do you want me to go upstairs and check on Susan? Let her know what’s going on?”
