Page 49 of The Write Place

“Definitely wine,” I agree. We make our way to the kitchen, Daniel pausing to say hi to a few people he recognizes as we pass. He pours each of us a very full glass of red wine. “So, who are all these people?” I ask.

“Mostly other writers. Her editor and agent are in there somewhere. Joey is a physics professor in the city, so some of them are probably her colleagues.”

“They weren’t at the reading?”

“Some were, but most probably weren’t. Patricia and Joey will use any excuse to throw a party, and Joey never goes to the readings. Patricia claims it makes her too nervous knowing Joey is there watching her, but I secretly think she says that because Joey hates the whole literary publishing scene, so she gives her the out.”

“They seem like complete opposites,” I observe.

“They are, in a lot of ways, but I think that’s why they love each other so much. Being with someone too closely related to the writing world is… difficult.” The whole apartment is dimly lit, but I could swear Daniel’s expression saddens. It dawns on me that he might be talking about us.

“Like a novelist and an English teacher?” I play with the cuff of my sweater.

He shakes his head slowly. “Not at all like that.”

I want to ask more, but Patricia comes in at that point, and the whole place erupts in applause. She takes a gracious bow.

“Someone get me a glass of wine!” she yells, and everyone laughs before returning to their various conversations. Daniel winks at me, then pours another glass and brings it over to her. He quickly gets pulled into a conversation with a group of people surrounding Patricia, and I stand awkwardly, half in the kitchen, sipping my wine and people-watching.

Eventually, Joey notices me and comes to my side. She refills my glass almost to the brim, and I drink some quickly so as not to spill it.

“These writer-types can talk for hours,” she complains, waving toward the living room. Daniel’s smile is genuine and warm, unlike when I usually see him talking to groups of people. He looks at ease here.

“I’m very bad at small talk,” I admit, drinking more of my wine.

“Same. People are always surprised by that because I work with students, but I always say talking to students is completely different from talking to other people.”

“It is!” I exclaim, grateful that someone understands. “I don’t know why, but it is.”

Daniel glances at us, his smile somehow becoming warmer and more genuine before he turns back to laugh at something someone said.

Joey lets out a low whistle. “That boy’s got it bad.”

“Got it… oh.” I realize too late what she’s saying. “No, we’re just friends. He’s shadowing me.”

“Honey, I’ve known Danny for a long time. Long enough to still be calling him Danny like he’s a child, and I haven’t seen him smile like that in years. Not since he met Alison, that’s for sure.”

“Alison?” I ask, trying not to sound too eager for information.

“His ex. That woman broke him in a lot of ways. Always making him feel like he wasn’t worth the gum on her shoe, and like he wasn’t as smart as she was because he didn’t finish college. She was using him to climb her way up the ladder, if you know what I mean.”

Some pieces of Daniel’s puzzle click firmly together. “I take it she was his editor?” I’m fishing, but I’m too curious to feel ashamed.

“Uh,” her eyes flick quickly to Daniel, who is still engrossed in conversation, then back to me. “Yes, but he should probably tell you the rest of it. I will say, though, when we heard he finally broke it off with her, we were ecstatic. Asked him if he wanted us to throw him a party, but I don’t think he was ready to celebrate quite yet. Said something about ‘not everything needs a party’ or some nonsense.”

Alison, I repeat to myself, and it dawns on me suddenly that Daniel has not only never told me she was his editor, he’s also never mentioned her name. He meets my eyes again and looks a little worried. Joey chuckles.

“He’s probably scared to death I’m telling you too much right now, and I probably am.” She slaps herself lightly on the wrist. “Bad Joey. He’s so private, that one, but he deserves someone who is going to actually give a shit about him. I saw you all talking over here earlier. He looks at you like you’re the sun.”

I shake my head. “He’s going back to New York in a week.”

“Is he?” She sounds unconvinced. “That’s too bad. Patty was thrilled to hear he was out here for a time. Thought maybe he’d like the area and stay for a while. She’s been trying to get him to move to Chicago for years.”

I finish off my wine before Daniel finally breaks away from the group. Joey refills my glass before I can object.

“Should I be worried about what you two are talking about?” Daniel asks, but his tone is teasing.

“Just spilling all of your life’s secrets.” Joey is also teasing, but by Daniel’s wary expression, he knows she’s only half kidding. She refills his glass, also to the brim. “I’m going to go make a few rounds. Have fun, you two!”