Free Unlucky In Love by Carmen DeSousa Page A

so
jumpy.”
    Seth leaned on the window frame and nodded
toward the laptop. “Maybe it’s what you’re writing. That looks like
a pretty intense scene.”
    “Oh!” I slammed down the lid and glared at
him. “You’re not supposed to spy on people.”
    He flashed a bright white smile. “Sorry. You
were just so absorbed … I was curious.” He frowned. “How come you
didn’t tell me you were a writer?”
    I rubbed my hands over my eyes, surprised
that he hadn’t asked me why I had used his name for my male
protagonist. “I’m not a writer. I mean … I’ve never written
anything before. I’m just … rambling.”
    “Looks good to me —”
    “Hey!” Eric’s voice broke off whatever Seth
was going to say. I looked up to see my son walking toward the
driver’s door of my Tacoma. He lifted his chin at Seth. “What’s
up?”
    Seth stepped away from the window. “Not
much, dude. Just talking with your mom.”
    I stared up at Seth through the window. “You
two know each other?”
    Seth shook his head. “Nah … Guess your son
just wants to know who’s talking to his mom. Can’t say that I blame
him. Maybe I’ll see you at the library tomorrow?”
    I nodded, thankful he didn’t mention my
writing. “Sure.” I hadn’t made time for the library, but … since
he’d asked …
    Eric threw the shifter into reverse and Seth
hopped further away so Eric wouldn’t run over him.
    I waved goodbye, then whipped around to
glare at Eric. “Why are you being rude?”
    “Who’s that guy? I thought you didn’t have a
date at the library.”
    I licked my lips. “Not that I have to
explain myself, but I didn’t have a date at the library. I’ve just
run into Seth a couple of times.”
    “Hmm …” was all Eric said as he tore off
down the street. At the first light, he turned to me. “Just be
careful, Mom.”
    I resisted rolling my eyes. “Okay, Eric, but
he’s a lawyer. Not many cold-blooded killing lawyers out
there.”
    Eric laughed. “Maybe there are … we just
never hear about them because they know how to circumvent the
law.”
    I tapped the shoulder of my baby who was no
longer a little boy. “Thank you, Eric. I’m careful, I assure you. I
have no intention of going home with — or bringing home — some
homicidal rapist.”
     
    ***
     
    The next day I shoved my makeup bag in my
attaché case instead of fixing myself up in the morning. I’d
decided that I’d go to the library after I dropped Eric off at
school, and then before lunch, I’d prepare to see Seth.
    The writing was coming along great. After
seeing Seth the previous day, I’d gone back into the PG13 sex
scenes I’d written and raced them up a bit. The scenes weren’t
something I’d be embarrassed if Aunt Heidi read them, but I might
blush if Eric got a hold of the story. Not that I wouldn’t tell
Eric about my writing, but I’d have to come up with a pseudonym
when I published so his friends and my ex wouldn’t see them.
    At eleven-thirty, I freshened myself up and
then splurged on a cup of coffee and a snack from the eatery
located inside the library.
    At twelve o’clock on the dot, I repositioned
myself in the fiction area, the section Seth always seemed to like.
Only this time, I kept all four legs of the chair on the floor, and
I made a point of glancing up at the door often.
    A few minutes after twelve, Seth strolled
inside, flashing a huge smile. “Hey …” he called as he approached,
looks like I can’t sneak up on you today.”
    “ Nope, ” I said, pushing
out the chair across from me with my foot. “I’m on high guard
against snoopers.”
    Seth dropped his briefcase on the table and
then just stared at me. “So, tell me about the book you’re
writing.”
    I shook my head quickly as I bit down on my
lip. “No. Uh-uh. It’s too embarrassing. It’s my first try at
writing.”
    He laughed. “No, it’s not. You write every
day when you write your reviews.”
    “That’s different. I’m just sharing