The Arrangement

I handed another sausage over to Beast. He devoured it noisily, while I reminded myself about something to do with curiosity and cats.

Won’t be home until after dark.

Shit.

I spent a minute chastising my lack of self-control, and another convincing myself that what I was about to do wasn’t really all that bad. After all, I was a part of this too. They were writing a trilogy, and I was providing love, support, and inspiration.

Love? Really?

And just what the hell were they writing about, anyway?

Another two minutes, that’s all I lasted. Then I set my plate on the floor, patted Beast on the head…

… and took my coffee back out into the hallway with me.

Twenty-Six

KAYLEEN

“House meeting.”

They were the first two words ou

t of Chase’s mouth the next morning. The only two words he’d uttered from the breakfast table, that caused the other two to get up. One by one they filed through a painted archway, and into the sunroom. Giving Beast instructions to stay, I grabbed my bowl of cereal and followed.

Everyone sank into one of the polished oaken chairs, me included. Chase looked uncomfortable almost immediately.

“I, uh…” he started, looking me over. “Oh.”

“What?”

“It’s just that… well, this was supposed to be a writer’s meeting.”

“You said house meeting,” I pointed out. “Not writer’s meeting.” Casually, I shoved another spoonful of shredded wheat into my mouth. “I’m part of the house, no?”

“Yes, of course,” he smiled.

“I can leave if you wan--”

“No way,” said Nathan. Even Burke was shaking his head. “She stays.”

I sat quietly as they got down to business, discussing the events of yesterday. Apparently they’d had a meeting with their publisher. Editors too.

From the sound of things, it hadn’t gone the way they’d hoped.

“The continuity issues we can fix,” said Chase. “The other stuff…”

“The other stuff is a matter of preference,” Nathan shot back. “They were suggestions, not rules. One person’s opinion.”

“Three people’s opinions,” said Burke, warily. “Don’t discount that.”

They went on some more, in generalizations rather than specifics. I was afraid to say anything. Afraid to even look up from my bowl, for fear of—

“Kayleen, what do you think?”

I glanced up at Chase. He was considering me thoughtfully.

“About what?”