Page 150 of Story of My Life
“What adjustments, Zoey? I can’t write another Spring Gate book. It makes me physically ill to think about going back to that series when it doesn’t even belong to me anymore.”
“That’s not our only course of action. First of all, readers are already showing their interest in this story, so they’d be stupid to reject it. And if the publisherisstupid and theydoreject your manuscript, we can get you out of your contract and find another publisher. Maybe one who doesn’t rub elbows with Fuckface McFuckington.”
“That could take months. And who in their right mind is going to want me? My last book was basically a flop, and I haven’t produced anything in two years.”
She reached over and squished my face in her hands. “You’re spiraling. Stop it. Nothing bad has happened. You’re writing, and your readers are paying attention. These are good things.”
I pulled my face free. “I need to go attack some weeds.”
“That’s the spirit. Go stab the crap out of some landscaping. You’ll feel better.”
My phone screen lit up at my elbow. Momzilla. “This day just keeps getting better and better,” I said, hitting Ignore.
“Maybe take some wine along for the dirt stabbing,” Zoey suggested. “Remember, you’re living a fantasy.”
“Shut up.”
“You shut up.”
My fantasy suddenly felt like a nightmare.
I skippedthe wine and went straight to the weed murdering. The front yard was actually starting to take shape. The legitimate plants in the areas I’d already cleared were enjoying not being choked out and seemed to be blooming in excess. Maybe that was all they needed, a little room to grow.
The roofers were gone for the day and the drywallers packed it in shortly after. Right on the dot at 5:00 p.m., the Bishops marched outside.
I looked up from the prickly weed I was massacring with a hand shovel and watched the parade of handsome.
“Lookin’ good out here,” Gage called with a wink.
“That’s just what I was thinking,” I said, swiping an arm over my brow.
“Got dirt on your face,” Cam said with his trademark frown.
Levi just nodded and stared at me, his eyes intense.
“You closing up the store tonight?” Gage asked Cam.
“Yeah. Gonna grab a shower first,” he said before turning toward me. “We found where Bertha was getting in. There’s a broken window in the attic. We boarded it up, so you’ll have to feed her outside tonight.”
I shaded my eyes from the summer sun. “Are you sure you outsmarted her?”
“Trust me, your raccoon problem is over.”
“Care to put money on that?” I was flirting with him, but it was innocuous enough that I didn’t think anyone else would notice.
He grunted in response and glanced down at his phone. “See you tomorrow,” Cam said, without looking up from the device.
My phone pinged in my back pocket and I did my best to hide my smile. Cam and I didn’t see each other on nights that he closed the general store, but we did enjoy some racy texting.
“Forgot my keys inside,” Levi said, hooking his thumb toward the house as his brothers headed for their vehicles.
I waved goodbye and went back to attacking the weed of stabbage. “Come. On. You. Spiky. Son of a bitch!” My efforts were finally rewarded when the ground released the root, and I fell backward on my ass.
I lay there in the dirt and flowers and closed my eyes. If the universe wanted to humble me with a dirt bath, so be it.
I was just wondering how long it would take for my body to decompose when something strong and damp nudged my ankle.
Oink.
