Page 5 of Courtney
“You said it.”
“What? We don’t have a lot of options here. And I don’t think we can count on the sobering powers of a single cup of black coffee.”
I rub my hand over my face in frustration. “I told you, I can’t do it.”
"You can't, or you won't?"
“Both.”
"I got it!" Courtney, the bookstore clerk, announces as she returns through the door of the back room.
She's slightly out of breath and a bit dewy on her face like she ran to and from the coffee shop. In one hand, she's holding a large to-go cup from The Story Brew. On the other hand, she's holding a plastic grocery bag. Apparently, she made two stops while she was gone.
I feel the same pang of disappointment I felt this morning after she didn't recognize me when I came in earlier today. Despite recognizing her immediately as the woman from the coffee shop who showered me with two large mocha lattes.
"Here," she hands me the to-go cup. "Have her start drinking that while I make a drink that will help sober her up in no time. It's an old family recipe."
"What's in it?" I ask, stepping forward, but she holds out her hand against my chest to stop me.
Her eyes widen a fraction as she feels my hard-muscular chest beneath my shirt. I know I don’t look it to most people, but I like to work out. It helps clear my mind to help me when I’ve written myself into a corner. All my hard work is often hidden beneath my t-shirts and hoodies. But today, the thin sweater I’m wearing leaves little to the imagination as it fits snuggly on my chest.
I know this isn’t the time to be focusing on this, but I like the way she’s looking at me.
I can feel my cock stir eagerly for more of her touch, if I’m not careful I could really make a fool of myself.
4
MAX
I don't know what she put in that smelly concoction, but whatever it was, it did the trick to sober up Faux Maxine enough to get her to go out and interact with the fans. Many of them are so excited to meet her that they don't seem to notice what's going on. I'm glad because I already feel guilty enough as it is to have someone else playing the part of me for them, but I don't feel comfortable enough, to tell the truth.
I know that Daphne thought that watching my fans interact with Faux Maxine would help jump-start the creative energy I've lacked for the past few months. But surprisingly, it was interacting with Courtney and seeing how she saved the day that sparked an idea for a new character.
"I've got to know the truth," Courtney says, stepping up next to me against the back wall.
"What truth are you talking about?" I ask as a cold dread washes over me that she knows my secret and is looking for confirmation.
She tilts her head in confusion. “I was going to ask what you’ve been scribbling down in that notebook for that last twenty minutes, but something tells me that I may have stumbled into something juicer.”
I close my notebook. “Why don’t you try and guess. I’ll let you know if you get it.”
She smiles brightly like she enjoys a challenge. “Grocery List?”
“Nope.”
“Bucket list?”
I shake my head.
"To-do list?" When I don’t answer, she taps her chin. "Checklist?"
“Not even close. I guess I should have clarified after the first guess it wasn’t any type of list.”
We both laugh and lean against the wall together.
I feel an urge for the first time to tell her what I'm really writing down. I've never wanted to tell anyone my secret. I'm a man who writes in a predominately female genre. My biggest worry is that if my readers knew the truth about who Maxine Devore really was—Max Devers—they wouldn't want to read any more of my books. I've worked too hard to get where I am to lose it all now.
“Maxine seems to be doing better.” I point over at the front of the line.
