Page 6 of The One Where They Fall in Love

“Well maybe you shouldn’t be staking out strangers’ apartments all night,” Lucy says, raising her eyebrows as if to say, “Duh!”

“Well, a normal human would think:Huh, this woman has been keeping my dog company all night, and she saidshe can hear me through the floorboards, maybe I should be quiet.” I deepen my voice, imitating Oliver. “But no, not him. This jerk gets on a freaking treadmill at 7 a.m. after being out all night. Who lives like that?”

“You may be thinking about this stranger’s sleep habits a bit too much,” Lucy says, a wary look on her face.

“Only because his sleep habits are affecting mine. And youknowhow I feel about sleep.”

“I know, I know,” Lucy replies quickly, nodding. A beat passes between us, and although I’m fully ready to continue ranting about the inconsiderate oaf that lives upstairs, Lucy changes the subject. “Hey, what happened with that guy? James? You haven’t mentioned him lately.”

“Oh, he’s been gone for weeks. Keep up,” Liam says. Lucy narrows her eyes at him.

“It’s true,” I say.

“Why? I liked him,” Lucy whines.

“You never met him,” Liam deadpans.

“Hey you, be quiet over there!” Lucy scolds.

“I kept forgetting he existed, so I figured it was best to let him go.” I shrug. It’s the truth, and I genuinely feel nothing about it.

“Aw, Elle—”

“Don’tawwme,” I reply with an eye roll. “I’m not torn up about it. He was just soblah. All of them are.” Lucy grimaces, but she doesn’t press the issue. After all these years, she’s learned not to argue with me about my love life.

“Well, I have another bone to pick with you.”

“I never understood that expression. Why would anyone pick bones?” I make a mental note to Google it later.

“Don’t try and deflect,” Lucy says, eyeing me.

“What?” I ask, trying to remain innocent.

“Oh, I don’t know… Maybe you forgot that even though I live in Bumblefuck, Nowhere—”

“Rude,” Liam interjects.

“I still check my email,” Lucy continues. “And I still receive weekly PubLunch newsletters that update me on the goings on of the publishing industry.”

Busted.

“I was going to tell you. It just happened the other day,” I start, but Lucy raises her brows at me. “I’ve had a lot going on.”

“Assaulting people in hallways and such,” Liam mumbles.

Lucy and I ignore him. “Elle, I’m so happy for you,” she says, and the genuine pride in her voice makes me inwardly cringe.

“Thanks,” I say, feigning a smile.

“You’re… happy about this, right?” Lucy asks warily.

“Of course. I’m excited. Moving up the ladder.” Lucy doesn’t say anything, just watches me, and I can tell she’s not convinced. I speak before she has a chance to, practically stumbling over my words in my haste to get them out. “I need to plan tonight’s class. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, ’kay?”

“Okay,” Lucy agrees, clearly noting that I don’t want to talk about my promotion and respecting it. I love her for that. “And oh, before I forget, I’m coming to the city next week for a meeting in the office—and Ruby’s new book launch.”

“Ruby’s book launch? You think that’s a good idea?” I say with a skeptical look. Lucy and Heartwarming’s most popular author aren’t on the best of terms after Lucy’s stint in Hudson Hollow resulted inLucywriting a book forHeartwarming, not Ruby, as intended. Even though it all worked out and Ruby started another series for the imprint, they haven’t been in a room together since.

“Anne wants me to go to try to smooth things over so maybe Ruby will write a blurb for my book.”