Page 70 of Kill Your Darlings

My heart sank.I’d been so absorbed in work I’d actually forgotten the looming disaster for a few minutes.

“God.”I rested my head on the back of the sofa, blinked up, watched the shadows from the ocean flickering on the pristine white ceiling.My cell phone went off.I gave a disbelieving laugh.There really was no rest for the wicked.

I picked up my cell, peered at the caller.Lila.

I swore softly and tried to infuse warmth into my voice as I answered.

“Hi, Lila.”

There was a pause and she said, “I didn’t expect you to answer.”

“Why?”

“Well, you never do.”

That was utter bullshit but I let it go.

She said, “Nobody’s seen you today.I thought perhaps you were making another pilgrimage.”

Wow.

Something had happened to Lila in the years since we’d worked together.Though never what one would call a smooth operator, she hadn’t been openly rude or deliberately unkind.In my opinion, this was not the behavior of someone confident of their position or happy in their work.Which was interesting.And not particularly encouraging.

I said mildly, “I don’t have anything officially scheduled until two.I thought I’d catch up on some work.”

“Vaughn and I were hoping the three of us could have lunch.”

I glanced at the clock notification tray on my laptop.Eleven-thirty.Nothing like waiting until the last moment.I wondered what had triggered this sudden need to break bread with me.My conversation with Millie the evening before?It was hard to picture Vaughn being outraged on Millie’s behalf.

I said apologetically, “I appreciate the invitation.The thing is, I had to leave the banquet early last night because of a migraine.I’m still a bit under the weather.”

Which was one-hundred-percent true.

“A migraine?”Lila sounded disbelieving.But then she said thoughtfully, “Is that what happened?Come to think of it, you did used to get migraines.Frankfurt 2016.I remember.You were a mess.”

Thank you for noticing?

I said, “As much as I’d like to meet with you and Vaughn, I don’t think I’m up to it.”

“Oh.”She seemed to brighten.“Are you not going to do the Backstory interview this afternoon?I can take your slot if necessary.I’ve certainly done enough of these in my time.”

I said, “That’s very kind.I think if I take it easy this morning, I should be okay.”

“Are you sure?You want to be at your best.You’re representing W&W now.”

Not really.The whole point of the Backstory interview series was to highlight the work and careers of individual editors.Very few editors spent their entire careers at one publishing house.I was no exception.

I said, “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“I can never tell if you’re being sarcastic.”

I said honestly, “I don’t have the energy for sarcasm.”

She said, “I’ll tell Vaughn you can’t make lunch.Maybe he’ll want to reschedule.I’ll let you know.”She added grudgingly, “I’m sorry you’re unwell.”

“Thank you, Lila.I’ll talk to you later.”I didn’t wait for her reply.I clicked off.

When I finished answering emails, I jotted down a few notes for the Dove sisters.