Page 24 of More than Paper

I chuckle. “Do you think I can’t read?”

“I don’t think I know any men who read books.”

“You’re not making me think any higher of these guys in Chicago.”

“You seriously read indie authors?”

“All the time. I love finding a good undiscovered author. It’s like rooting for the underdog.”

“Hmm.”

“You should do it.”

She doesn’t respond to that. “What kind of books do you read?”

“Thrillers mostly. Some Urban Fantasy.Fifty Shadeswas pretty good though.”

“You readFifty Shades?” she cries out.

“Yep. But I read it before it got famous.”

She gapes.

She’s so cute when she gets surprised.

“You know she self-published it first, right?

“Yes, but...”

“But what?”

“That’s a one-off thing. Most people who self-publish never even sell two hundred and fifty copies of their book.”

“That may be true, but I know plenty of indie authors who have huge cult-like followings.”

“Really?”

“You should publish your books.”

She gapes.

“You should.”

She doesn’t say anything.

“So, do you like editing?”

“It’s okay. The company I work for is eh. But it’s not exactly a thriving job market for editors who need benefit packages. Anyway, enough about me. What is your family like?”

“My mom and dad have been married forever and are getting close to retirement. I have four sisters.”

“Four?”

I nod. “Yep. They are all older and liked to emasculate me as a child.”

“Emasculate you?”

“Yep. I had to play dress-up, dolls, everything except what I wanted to. I can dress and undress a Barbie doll in record time.”

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