Chapter 4

I grab my bag and head for the door.

Mason doesn’t move.

I stop right in front of him.

“Move.”

He looks over at Gray.

Seriously?

I look at Gray too.

“Tell him to move.”

Gray rubs a hand over his face.

“Lena, just give me ten minutes.”

“I don’t have ten minutes.”

Claire laughs.

“Right. The picture books.”

I turn toward her.

“My launch starts in forty minutes.”

She checks her watch like she’s doing me a favor.

“Oh, wow. Then I guess the NFL can wait.”

“Claire, shut up.”

Her eyebrows go up.

“Touchy.”

I reach for the door handle.

Mason puts an arm across the doorway.

Not touching me.

Just blocking it.

I stare at him.

“You cannot be serious.”

“Just hear Gray out.”

“I already did.”

One of the college guys leans against the wall.

“Lena, come on. It’s one book event.”

I look at him.

“It’s my first launch.”

“Okay.”

He shrugs.

“The book still exists tomorrow.”

Claire laughs.

“Exactly.”

I look at her.

She smiles back.

“What? Am I wrong?”

“Yes.”

“Sure.”

She glances at my bag.

“I’m just saying, Gray loses on national television, and somehow the emergency here is story time.”

My face gets hot.

“It’s not story time.”

“Sorry.”

She puts a hand over her chest.

“Author event.”

Mason actually laughs.

I look at all of them.

“This is funny to you?”

Nobody answers.

Gray steps closer.

“Lena, nobody’s saying your work is a joke.”

I look straight at Claire.

“She is.”

Claire shrugs.

“I mean, if the shoe fits.”

“Claire.”

Gray finally sounds annoyed.

She looks at him.

“What? You want me to pretend drawing cartoon animals is the same as carrying an NFL team?”

I laugh once.

“There it is.”

She smiles.

“There what is?”

“What you actually think of me.”

Claire doesn’t even hesitate.

“I think Gray gives you a very comfortable life.”

My stomach drops.

She keeps going.

“You live here. You don’t worry about rent. You set your own schedule. You get to sit around and draw all day.”

“I work.”

“Okay.”

That little smile again.

“You work.”

One of the guys mutters, “It’s not like she needs the money anyway.”

I look at him.

Claire points at him.

“See? He said it, not me.”

“You agree with him.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to.”

Gray says, “Can we please stop doing this?”

I look at him.

“Then let me leave.”

He pauses.

That’s all it takes.

Claire notices too.

She tilts her head.

“Wow.”

I turn to her.

“What now?”

“Nothing. I just think it’s interesting.”

“What is?”

“Last night you were ready to marry him.”

She looks at the ring box still in my hand.

“And today you can’t give him ten minutes because you need to go sign books for preschoolers.”

I take a step toward her.

“Get out of my way.”

She doesn’t move.

Neither does Mason.

My phone buzzes.

My editor.

Where are you? We’re starting soon.

My chest tightens.

I shove the phone back into my bag.

“I’m done asking.”

I push past Mason.

He grabs my arm.

Not hard.

Hard enough.

I yank it back.

“Don’t touch me.”

Gray steps forward.

“Mason, let her go.”

Finally.

I pull the door open.

Claire calls after me.

“Hope the bunnies are worth it, Lena.”

I turn around.

She’s smiling.

Gray isn’t.

I look at him.

“You wanted to know why I’m leaving?”

I point at all of them.

“This.”

Then I slam the door behind me and run for the elevator.