Page 155 of Smoke and Fire
As usual, she had a huge smile.
“Hey again! Just wanted to shoot you a quick update. Got bored at the trailer so I came to the lake to put my feet in the water. My mom does it with the ocean, so it feels like home. Anyway, I finished the fifth book just a few minutes ago. Loved it. How do you come up with these ideas?”
She threw a happily exasperated hand in the air.
“I’ve never been into romance novels, but you’ve swept me away. I’ve already started the sixth and activated my local Lizbeth to discuss. Don’t worry—I’m acting like an avid fan. I won’t tell her I’m working for Jess.”
I leaned back and set my spine against a tree. Already the video was halfway done. She pixelated again as the phone tried to catch up. Seconds later, her voice cleared and her usual bright face filled the screen.
“Emails are steady and fine. I’m still not able to answer a ton, but I’ve been building a notebook of your past answers so I can mimic those. I still sign it off as my name and tell people that I work for you so they don’t think it’s you responding. I’d hate for anyone to feel lied to. Some people have written back. Your readers are really quite kind.”
Awesome.
Better than I could have ever hoped for, at any rate. The emails weren’t stacking up in a horrible manner now, which massively decreased pressure.
“Anyway.” She sighed. I imagined her gaze trailed out behind the phone. A crinkle appeared at the top of her nose, between her eyes. I wanted to reach over and smooth it away with my thumb. Then kiss those lips she kept worrying with her teeth.
“Any updates on your side of the fire?” she asked. “Good news, I hope? Like you’re going to snuff this sucker out and get a long break?”
She cracked up. I smiled in response, unable to help myself.
“Someone came into the coffee shop yesterday and said it was 4% contained. What the heck does that mean and how can it be only 4%?”
She trilled another laugh. I loved it when she made herself laugh.
“Be safe out there. Take care of yourself, Bastian. I’ve got things under control here.”
The video ended with another smile, and my stomach lurched.
To make sure I didn’t miss anything, I watched it again. To build my courage to respond, I watched it a third time. Then, to avoid the inevitable awkwardness of trying to figure out what to say, I watched it a fourth time.
Finally, I swept aside my crippling analysis and forced myself to respond.
Bastian:Great update. Thanks for all the hard work.
The text sent, and I immediately hung my head.Thanks for all the hard work.Could I get any more lame?
Unlikely.
My phone chirped with her almost-instant reply.
Dahlia:It’s not really that hard. The hardest part is putting the books down to answer the emails.
Bastian:Oh yeah? What’s your favorite so far?
A question. That was good. That was engaging her and would keep her responding. When my knuckles turned white from gripping the phone while I waited for her reply, I forced myself to relax.
This wasn’ta first date, or anything.
Dahlia:Is ‘all of the above’ an option?
Bastian:Sure.
Dahlia:Then I choose that one. You’re really talented, Bastian. I mean Jess. ;)
GIF
I chuckled at a GIF of a kitten appearing to laugh, then fall off a table. Happiness in the middle of the woods after an exhausting day would only draw questions from the other guys. Questions I didn’t care to answer right now.
