Page 29 of We Thought We Knew It All
“I’m not sure.” It was honest at least.
She laughed and shuffled through papers around the register, plucking a business card out of the mess. “This is the real estate company that rents this place.” She pulled a second card out of her purse. “I own a printing and design company. If you do decide to go for it, I’ll give you a deal on menus, flyers, and the like. I’d like to see this place succeed.”
I looked down at her card then back up at her and smiled. “Nice to meet you, Ana. I’m California.”
“What a cool name.” She laughed. “I’m assuming you have a gimmick in mind?”
“I just might.”
* * *
By the timeI got home, I was late for my meeting with Nicole. Ignoring her phone call, I powered up my computer and pulled up the video chat. Her irritated expression filled my screen seconds later.
“Oh, you know you love me,” I said.
Her face softened. “Whatever Callie.” Nicole was just what you’d expect a trust fund L.A. woman to be like and I loved her for it. She was the one true friend I’d made in all my years out there, no matter how much we disagreed on business matters. In a way, I think it was because she reminded me of Morgan.
“A and P is offering more than Hendrick’s at the moment,” she said.
“That’s because my father’s offer isn’t exactly serious. His acquisitions department wantedEmmaand he let them try. If he thought for a moment that I’d sell the rights, he’d outbid everyone. There’s no way he’d let anyone else make that movie and there’s no way I’d let anyone but him.”
“Then sell to him.”
I sighed.
“Tell me, Cal, why is it exactly that you’re so against this?”
“I don’t know if I can explain it.”
“Try.”
I pursed my lips together, clicking my tongue. “I don’t know, okay. Every time someone mentions this story being on screen, I freak out a little. Eventually, I know that I will agree. I’m just not ready.”
I slapped my hand over my mouth, unable to believe I just told her that. Nicole might be a friend, but she was also a businesswoman. Now that I’d said I was going to sell, the vultures would start swooping in even lower.
A satisfied smile spread across her face. “I knew you’d see it our way eventually.”
“Our way?”
“Dylan stopped by the office yesterday.”
The usual longing or sadness at the mention of his name didn’t come. This time it was anger. How dare he come anywhere near my book? It was my family’s story. He could go screw himself.
And I said exactly that to Nicole.
She squished her face, looking at me with the disapproval she never even tried to hide. “This does involve him, Callie.”
“Emmais mine,” I growled.
“Not according to the courts.” Her defense of him added to my fury.
“Nicole, you find a way to get him to bug off, or I won’t even show you the new book that’s nearly finished.” If you could call five chapters finished. “I have a feeling I’d have my pick of agents.”
She jerked back as if I’d slapped her, but I didn’t give her the chance to respond before slamming the lid of my computer closed. Realistically, I knew there was nothing she could do, but she talked about him as if she was okay with that fact.
The rumble of a bus coming down the street sounded outside, so I put my computer away, stowed my anger, and went from Callie to mom as I opened the door and waited for Jackson to come running.
* * *
