Page 34 of Not on the Same Page

“No, I’m here. I had no idea.” I chew on my lip again. “But…I’m still not interested in young adult titles.” I am interested in this young adult title, and I do apparently have a connection with someone who might also want to take a look⁠—

Oh, shit. Is that why Imani was so upset? Did she see me talking to Casey and think I lied? Well, if that’s the case, there’s no way I can represent her now. She’ll never trust me.

“I’m not going to look at it until you take at least a week to think about it,” Isabella says. “And you shouldn’t let anyone else have it in that time either. Seriously, consider it. It would make Suzanna happy, and I could tell from your email that you thought it was really good.”

It is really good. Better than good. Imani’s book could easily be a lead title for Casey and a huge deal for me. But that doesn’t change anything that happened this weekend. It can’t.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to take on a different genre,” I say distractedly.

“Okay, I can tell you’re chewing on something in that brain of yours, so I’m going to let you go. Promise me you’ll think about it. There’s no harm in that.”

“Fine.” I’m lying, but I need to get her off the phone so I can start processing the things she’s told me.

“Good. Have a safe flight home tomorrow. Call me when you land?”

“Sure,” I say before hanging up. And immediately when I do, another call comes in, this time from my aunt.

“Oh, fuck no,” I mutter to myself as I shove my phone into my bag without answering. Now that I know what she wants, she can wait until I’m back in Chicago, in the comfort of my own home. Not that I know what I’m going to say to her. I’m no closer to deciding what to do about my mom than I was yesterday.

Rubbing my temples as I wait for my ride, I groan internally. This weekend gave me a lot more than I bargained for.

And yet somehow, above all, I wish Casey were here to help me forget it all for a little while.

12

CASEY

“You need Trina.” Ryan looks pointedly at me over his glasses from where he sits on the other side of my desk.

I cough into my hand, trying to hide my surprise. I had just finished telling him about the first ten chapters of Imani’s manuscript—a fantastic start to what I believe will be a gripping series, perfect for young readers. I read it on the plane ride home, then again after lunch with my brother. I try not to work on Sundays, but I emailed her for the rest of the manuscript and spent the night poring over those pages as well. Like she said, she’s still working on the ending, but I have some ideas depending on where she wants the rest of the series to go.

“What I need are details,” I try to course correct. “I know Imani is planning a series, but I need an outline. Number of books, overarching plot and themes, character arcs⁠—”

“That’s true, but you also need Trina,” he says again, more forcefully this time. “Or, rather, Imani needs Trina.”

“You of all people should know that I can sign her without an agent.”

Ryan shakes his head. “And you of all people should know that just because you can doesn’t mean you should. She’s good, right?”

“Really good.”

“Bestseller good?”

“Potentially.”

Ryan scoffs at that. “You’ve got an eye for this, and you have the marketing power to make it so. That’s why Anastasios offered you this role. If you think she’s going to be a bestseller, she’ll be a bestseller.”

There’s a little bit of luck involved, but for the most part he’s right, and I know where he’s going. That doesn’t mean I have to like it.

“Trina has the experience you’re looking for,” Ryan continues. “Hell, she started her career with Scarlett and dealt with whatever that mess was pretty flawlessly.”

“Flawlessly is a strong word.” After that whole pen name debacle, she had a few very unprofessional words to say to me in private. All I could see the whole time she was flailing her hands and trying to keep her voice down while practically yelling at me was the gorgeous way her cheeks flushed and the fire flashing in her eyes. And then we did a few things that were also very unprofessional.

So, no. Flawlessly is not the word I’d use to describe her handling of the situation. Her handling of me, on the other hand⁠—

“It takes a good agent with a lot of experience to manage lead titles.” Ryan thankfully stops that train of thought before it can leave the station. “It’s not just money—it’s everything that comes before and after release. Scheduling, promotion, interviews… If you want to set this author up for long-term success, she’s going to need a good agent.”

I do want Imani to have long-term success, whether she signs with me or not. Especially as a Black writer—and a young one at that.