Page 16 of Long Story Short

We looked at one another.

‘Put it on speakerphone,’ he replied with a heavy sigh, as if realising there was no point in avoiding her. I nodded. I knew he was right.

‘Hi, Hayley,’ I answered.

‘Social media is going crazy. Why the fuck did Jake just tell the world that journalist was right about what she overheard in his panel? And Eva posted online to say Jake acted like he doesn’t care about readers during her interview. She’s going to share the podcast episode soon. What did Jake say to her?’ she ranted down the phone, making us both flinch. ‘How could you let this happen, Freya? You think you could ever be an agent yourself now, after this? Jake will never be able to get another book deal. I knew I shouldn’t have come to my sister’s wedding instead of New York!’

I stared at Jake in panic, my eyes wide. Hayley was furious. I’d never heard her as bad as this. And I had nothing to say to her, no excuse to make. We had fucked it up.

Was my career over before it had even begun?

Jake reached out, took my phone out of my hand and deftly hit the end call button.

11

‘What the hell, Jake?’ I said, staring in horror as he handed my phone back to me. ‘You just hung up on Hayley!’ I wasn’t sure anyone had ever done that before; she was too formidable to even consider it for most people surely.

‘We’ll say it was a bad connection,’ he replied. ‘You really wanted to stand and listen to more of that?’

‘Well, no… but what do we do now?’

‘I don’t know but I appreciate you using “we”.’ Jake shifted his feet. ‘Freya, I’m sorry. I didn’t realise you wanted to be an agent, that this trip… that Hayley considered it some kind of test for you to prove yourself to her.’ He sighed. ‘I told her it was a long shot that we’d be able to get my career back on track. I’ve made people really angry, and now I’ve made it even worse. I’m sorry that will affect you. Hayley really shouldn’t have put it all on you for it to work out.’

‘I think that’s the most you’ve ever said to me,’ I blurted out, shocked by his gracious apology.

‘Maybe you talk enough for us both,’ he replied with a small smirk.

I sighed. ‘I was always told off for being a chatterbox at school, that’s true. And sometimes, I do say inappropriate things…’ I trailed off, thinking how he overheard me telling Liv about my sex life. I wondered if he remembered that. I certainly was never going to ask. ‘I embarrass myself a lot. Particularly in front of you.’

‘This time, it was me who did that,’ he replied ruefully. We actually smiled at one another. ‘What now?’

‘We have the evening party. Maybe we can use that to repair some of the damage, and tomorrow, there’s your reader session… You know what I think, though? I think you need to be honest. And tell everyone why you said those things. I saw your face back in that room,’ I said, looking up at him and returning his piercing gaze. ‘You were nervous to start with. And when Davis Mulberry said what he said, you were angry and hurt. I don’t believe you’d have spent years writing romance novels that have made me swoon if you didn’t enjoy doing it.’ I took a breath, talking so fast that even I needed to pause for a moment. ‘So, why did you say those things about romance?’ I continued as Jake watched me. ‘It can’t have been just to shut Davis up or you would admit that. There is another reason. And you don’t have to tell me, but I think if you don’t share it, then Hayley might be right about you not getting another book deal. And yes, you could self-publish but you’ve turned even your biggest fans against you now so would they even want to read it? The question then is – are you willing to tell the truth?’

Jake sighed. ‘I don’t think I can, Freya.’

Disappointment made my chest sag. ‘Then I think it might all be over.’

And I knew it wouldn’t just be over for him, but for me too. Hayley wasn’t going to keep me on as her assistant after this and no one else would want me working with authors. My dream felt the furthest away it ever had done. ‘Maybe I’ll see you at the party. We might as well drown our sorrows while we’re still here…’ I left him then, walking away and feeling his eyes on my back.

I guessed my original impression of him had been right.

There wasn’t any heart underneath that cool exterior of his after all.

* * *

I sent Hayley an email when I got back to my room to say our call had had a bad connection and I was sorry that I’d failed her. I said I would try to repair things but I knew it was unlikely that was possible. All I could do was hope for a miracle before I had to fly home and face her again. She didn’t reply and I knew that was a sign that she had no faith the damage could be undone. I was in no mood to party but it would be a chance to see what the conference was saying about what happened during the panel and if I was honest, I badly needed some alcohol. So, I got ready for the evening drinks.

After throwing on one of my favourite summer dresses, I considered putting on my sandals but I just felt like being comfortable, so I reached for my cowboy boots and left my hair loose over my shoulders. I walked out of my hotel, went into the conference hotel and edged into the event suite.

It was packed out for the drinks’ night. I had messaged Liv and she told me she was by the floor-to-ceiling windows so I picked up a glass of sparkling wine from a server and went to find her.

‘There you are.’ Liv moved away from the three women she was talking to who I didn’t recognise, and gave me a quick hug. ‘Are you okay?’

‘Not really. Hayley is furious about what happened, and I think she might actually fire me over it.’

Liv grimaced. ‘God, I hope not. Can I do anything?’

I shook my head. ‘Unless Jake works out a way to fix what happened… no one can do anything.’ I looked around the room nervously. ‘I suppose everyone is talking about it?’ I saw her hesitate. ‘I need to know, Liv.’

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