Page 25 of A Storybook Wedding

He gives me a sidelong glance. “You good?” he asks.

“Oh, yeah,” I say, swinging my hand to wave away his comment but failing to realize that this hand holds the wine in it. My fancy juice almost spills. “Whoa,” I say, taking another sip.

“How’s your semester going?” he asks.

“Oh my God, so good. Dillon Norway is life. I finished a whole manuscript already.”

“Wait. What? Really?”

“Yes! I started it at the end of the summer.”

“How long is it?”

“Seventy-six thousand words.”

“Wow,” he says. “Good for you. That’s a huge accomplishment. Was this the same story we looked at in workshop?”

“Nope,” I say. “It’s a new one.”

“That’s awesome, CJ. I’m proud of you.”

“Ugh,” I groan. “I can’t get you to reconsider about this nickname, huh?”

He beams, teeth and all, and it makes him look very young.

“I think you need one too then.” I take a sip of my wine and smirk at him while I consider my options. “From this moment forward, I shall call you Pen.” I giggle. “Get it? Because of your award?”

“I get it,” he says. “And sure. Call me whatever you want. I’m just glad to see a familiar face here.” He lowers his voice and leans in toward my ear. “I hate these things.”

The scent of clean man fresh out of the shower fills my nose. “Ooh. You smell good,” I reply.

“Excuse me?” Now it’s his turn to smirk.

Shit! “Sorry. That was an inside-my-head thought.”

“I think this drink might be messing up your filter.”

“Well, if we’re telling secrets, I’ll have you know that this is my first time drinking wine.”

“Really? How old are you?”

“I turn thirty on New Year’s Day,” I say.

“Not much of a drinker then, I’m guessing.”

I shake my head.

“Well, maybe you’d like to come with me and go grab a cup of coffee. We can sober you up a little bit before you head home.”

“I am here to immerse myself in the literary scene,” I declare.

“Yes. I can see that,” he says. He looks amused.

“This is serious business,” I add.

“Oh, I know. But us literary folks are really into our coffee.”

“Why do you want me to leave? Am I embarrassing you?”

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