Page 207 of Speechless
“Of course.”
Now, for the next bit. I took a breath and glanced over at Theo sitting next to me, out of frame. He squeezed my hand, pushing encouragement through our bond. “Edgar, there’s something else I want to talk to you about.”
The two lazy days we had since the heat were everything I’d ever wanted. Just enjoying each other, playing with Cinder, and whatever else Iwantedto do. The thought of going back to work and editing other people’s articles made me sick to my stomach. I loved writing, and I loved chasing down a story. I didn’t like doing it for other people.
“What’s up?”
I cleared my throat. “I’ll always be honored that you picked me to step up into the features editor role after Tracy died. It’s a huge vote of confidence, and having that job helped me find my pack, for which I can never thank you enough. But…” I shook my head. “God, I fucking hate it.”
Edgar burst out laughing. So hard that it made me laugh, too.
“I hate all the admin stuff, and I’m not good at it. I barely feel like I’ve dug us out of the hole Tracy left, and that’s not going to get better.I’m happier as a writer. If you don’t want me to stay at the magazine as only a writer, I understand, but I can’t return to that role.”
I watched him wipe tears from his eyes from laughing. “Fuck, you got me with that one.” He continued to laugh through the words. “You and I are in agreement. You’re talented, Trinity. One hell of a writer, and I should have trusted you on this, but I’d already been planning to talk about downsizing your scope.”
Lifting my arms in victory, we burst into laughter again.
“I’ll happily keep you on as a writer if that’s what you want. Or, if you want to be more freelance, that’s fine too. I have a feeling after this article goes out that you’ll be in demand at much bigger publications than this one.”
“Thanks, Edgar. I honestly don’t know. It might take some time to figure out.”
“Do what you need to. Now get out of here. I’ll get the piece ready for release. It’s going to blow the doors off this place.”
“And maybe make room for some new kind of content?” I asked, giving him a look.
Edgar rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah.”
The video call ended abruptly. That was Edgar for you. It wasn’t rude, it was just him.
“That wentwaybetter than I thought.” I collapsed onto Theo’s shoulder.
He started to purr. “I knew you could do it.”
“It’s such a relief. My desk doesn’t have to be a graveyard of sticky notes anymore. And I won’t forget things people have told me that I forgot to write down. I can let my brain do its thing and focus hard on what’s in front of me.”
Gently shifting me upright, Theo stood and stretched before pulling me up with him. “All that is true. And, for the record, you don’t have to work at all if you don’t want to. We have more than enough money.”
I made a face. “The five of you really want to find out what it looks like when I have nothing to do and becomebored? Because I promise, you don’t want that.”
He fought it, but broke into a smile anyway. “Brooks might want to see that.”
“And everyone callsmethe masochist.”
Smacking me lightly on the ass, he pushed me toward the hallway. “Go get dressed. We’re leaving in thirty minutes.”
“Do we have to?”
Aiden appeared in the doorway to the kitchen, a half-eaten apple in one hand. “If we don’t, your father is going to buy climbing equipment and scale the walls of this building.”
My heat had taken four days, and we’d rested for two. Today was a week since everything happened. Fear clawed up my throat when I thought about it, but I had an appointment with a therapist early nextweek. Not the same one Brooks was seeing, but a colleague who came highly recommended.
“Yeah, let’s spare Liz from that particular visual.”
Cinder slept in an upside-down ball on my bed. An adorable littlechirpcame out when I scratched her belly. “And to think you could be living on the street right now. Instead, you’re practically a princess. You picked the right car to hide in.”
She stretched, yawned, and went back to sleep, proving my point.
Stop procrastinating, Rin.
