Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 111165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 556(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 556(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
“Sorry,” he mumbles.
And of course the moment is ruined.
As many moments have been so far.
If I was a betting man I’d wager that the gods have something against the two of us being together.
Jane is completely smashed.
She’s got her arm hooked around Naomi’s and is holding her champagne glass high in the air, as if she’s making an announcement or a toast, but she’s not saying anything. She’s just holding it. Her arm must be getting tired.
My book launch party is in full swing, heading towards winding down. After Marina and I arrived at JFK, we took a cab to the Dream Hotel in midtown where the publishers are putting me up, just around the corner (in Manhattan terms) from their office. I thought they’d put me in something stuffy or corporate but I guess they thought a hipster Instagram poet deserves a hipster hotel.
Marina already got herself a room there once she learned where I was staying and I completely buggered it all up by not asking her to share the room with me. I didn’t even have to phrase it in a complicated way, I could have just said “hey, to save money why not just stay with me in my room. I have two beds.” Even though I have a king, but we could have sorted that out after she committed herself.
And, naturally, Jane and Naomi also decided to stay in the hotel too. I guess it’s a good thing that Marina isn’t sharing a room with them because I have a feeling if I try and steal her away later, they’ll put a stop to it. I’ve never really been sure if Naomi likes me or not, she’s so bloody prickly. And Jane, well I love her but she’s warned me many a time about “never laying a finger on Marina.”
But as far as I can tell, Jane doesn’t suspect a thing between us. Not that there is anything to suspect, though I’m sure she wouldn’t appreciate our fake dating thing that eventually led to real making out that might eventually lead to…
I try not to get carried away with that thought. I’ve bucked against it all night, tried desperately to stay in the moment instead of the what ifs.
It’s been a hell of a night too, one I won’t soon forget. First I went to the publisher’s office, alone, and met with Abigail and the rest of the team. I have to admit, it was extremely fulfilling to be lead around those offices on the Avenue of Americas, seeing all the books of all the authors I admire on shelves, feel the energy of the rooms.
After that (and after signing about a hundred ARC paperbacks they’ll give away as promotion), I headed back to the hotel for dinner with Marina, Jane and Naomi. Then we headed over to this art gallery for the launch.
It’s all so surreal still. I’ve met some bloggers and readers as well as journalists and other people in the publishing industry, plus most of the team behind the book. People are constantly coming up to me, wanting a selfie, wanting to shake my hand, wanting to meet the man behind the words.
And yet the most surreal part of the night is that Marina has been with me every step of the way, always by my side. I’m not sure if she’s noticed it or not but every time I introduced her I did so as “This is Marina,” and I would put my hand at the small of her back. I didn’t mention her being my friend.
Naomi yawns and looks around her. “I hate to be a party pooper but this party is starting to poop.”
“That was mad eloquent,” I tell her raising my champagne glass and finishing the rest.
Jane finally lowers her arm. “Naomi is right,” she grumbles. “I’ve been trying to get another drink for fucking ever.”
“That’s what you were doing?” I ask.
“There’s a cool bar by the hotel,” Marina says, staring down at her phone and using Yelp as she always does to find the best of everything. “Right next door.” She looks to me and the effect is extra devastating. I’m not sure if it’s the amount of alcohol I’ve had or what but her lips are extra pouty and smooth, her lipstick having worn off long ago and leaving a faint pink stain behind.
It makes me think about other parts of her, wet and pink.
I inhale deeply through my nose, trying to move past it and failing. This isn’t the best place to get a raging hard-on.
“Laz?” Jane says and I tear my eyes away from Marina over to her. “Is it rude if we go?”
I let out a sigh of relief and shake my head. “I don’t think so. Most people are leaving now and everyone else left behind seems pretty goosed.”