Though, I don’t bother pulling her out from under that muscle head. My body and my stupid fucking brain might think it has some claim on her, but I know better. I settle into the booth and the bartender brings over another whiskey. I scroll through a few of my emails on my phone, glancing over at Rosie as she laughs, smiles, and purrs over a man I wish were me.
Atrocious. I scoff to myself, downing the whiskey, and just a little bit of pride sparks in my chest. Sure, he had touched her, but Iknowthat she thought about me. It wasmyname on her lips when she came, and it’s taking the adult in me not to parade around like an overgrown toddler with a participation award at that fact alone.
I sit there for another twenty minutes, my attention moving between keeping a discreet eye on Rosie and working through more of my emails. It isn’t until Rosie makes a move for the entrance that I go to the bar, close out the tab, and follow her out.
I manage to get through the security and out to the fresh air just in time to watch her climb into an Uber—alone, thank fuck. My body finally relaxes as I heave a breath, my head dropping, my chin hitting my chest. So incredibly disappointed with myself.
Who the fuck am I? I don’t dothis.
Rosie fucking Garcia had broken my brain.
A reluctant smirk creeps its way to my face at the thought. I can feel the corners of my lips tipping up as I shake my head at myself and order an Uber.
She fucking owns me. And Iloveit.
CHAPTER 8
the stupid sexed-up golden retriever
Rosie
“It’s like a coming-of-age but only beginning in the midst of adulthood. It has a profound story about self-discovery and heavily addresses the self-hatred and indecision we all deal with as adults in the real world.” I scan the board room. I am doing it,finallypitching Jessie’s book. I’m no longer worried or nervous about it; I know this is going to hit. “The story goes through the man remembering all the things he loved about being alive. He reconnects with family and friends, he expands his business, and starts living for himself again. The added bonus is that he finds his heart song in another person and forms a connection deeper than what he thought he’d ever find.”
“It sounds a bit fantastical. A little ridiculous.”Fuck you, Dick-bag Daniel.
“That’s funny, I didn’t realize you’d read the story,” I bite back through a smile.
“I don’t need to. A grumpy man falls in love with a sunshine girl. It’s overdone and frankly, boring.”
“Chris?” I turn to look at the only man who is actually able to comment right now, and he fiddles with a few papers, refusing to meet my eyes. I roll my shoulders back, resting my hands on the table and leaning closer to him, forcing him to meet my eyes.
“What percent of our sales did the romance genre take last quarter, Chris?”
“Sixty-three.”
“Fab. And how many of the titles came from my past pitches?”
Chris avoids me with a scrunch between his eyebrows and mumbles something. I feel Daniel shift down the table, but I don’t let my stare stop from burning through Chris.
“Sorry, sir, I missed that?”
“Fifteen.”
“Right. Fifteen titles I have put forward have helped increase this company’s sales and are the dominant genre in the market.” I let my scrutiny fall to Daniel. “And your two titles are grossing where?” I tilt my head but give him a look he might confuse with sincerity.
“Whatever.” He throws his hands back while he leans into his chair.
“As I was saying?—”
“This is the same author as that other manuscript?Fragments of Me?” Chris interrupts.
“It is.”
“That’s enough, then. Thank you, Rosie,” Chris dismisses me and gestures for me to take a seat.
I fist my hands by my side. “Sir?—”
“I’ve heard enough. I reviewed the query and the synopsis, and I agree with you. The title would be a great addition. I plan to provide an offer. I have three other people I have to clear this with first.” I grunt quietly under my breath, furious I wasn’t even able to deliver my closing line, the line I spent the better partof the last three weeks manipulating to be the sole reason he said yes. But instead, he just looks defeated rather than excited to take on the title. It’s as though I could have said,Here, a romance, want it?and he would have just said,Sure.
