I shake my head. “It’s not the book. I should like it. I’m just… I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“I’m sure tomorrow’s title will be better. Have you picked one yet?”
“Living in the Moment, Even if the Moment Sucks,” I tell her.
“What? Jane, you’re torturing yourself.” She throws her hands in the air. “That’s the book Bryan posted about. Why are you doing this?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. I kind of hope that if we’re still reading the same books, there might be a chance…” I trail off.
“You still haven’t reached out to him? If a guy like that was interested in me, you can bet your books I’d be at his front door right now.”
I roll my eyes, since Tabitha’s in love with her best guy friend. She hasn’t said as much, but it’s pretty obvious.
She adjusts her cat-eye glasses. “Why don’t you send Bryan a DM? Say hi. See where it goes. No pressure.”
I shake my head. “I can’t.”
“Of course you can’t.” Her tone is sincere but the way she rolls her eyes betrays her true thoughts.
“I’m better off without him.”
“Of course you are,” Tabitha echoes, shaking her head so her words and body are in obvious contradiction.
“Tabby, he built a robot to replace me.”
She raises an eyebrow.
“Okay, fine, he didn’t know Byron would replace me… but he still doesn’t get me. He tried to fix all my problems by throwing his money and followers around. And he keeps posting his stupid, sexy shirtless photos with his stupid, sexy literary quotes on QuickStar…” I trail off, my cheeks flushing.
“You still follow him?”
“No.” I scowl. “It’s recommended every now and then as an account I should follow.”
“You could block him.” Tabitha bores a hole in me with her stare.
“Fine. Yes, I still follow him. But shouldn’t I feel better about this? I was the one who ended things. We’re not right for each other. He’s rich, and I’m…”
“Getting paid five grand to wear perfume?” Tabitha suggests.
“Only because of his followers.”
“Actually, it’s because of your talent. Sure, he helped you get a half-a-million kick start, but how many do you have now?”
I mutter the number.
Tabitha cups her ear. “Did you say two-point-five million? Jane, that’s all you and your talent.”
“You have to say that. You’re my friend.”
“Then ask them.” Tabitha points at a small crowd that’s gathering around Byron, watching him put away books while they wait for me to start filming.
“Ugh! You’re supposed to be my friend. You’re supposed to take my side. Let me wallow in my misery!”
Before Tabitha can answer, Amelia pops her head out of her office. “Jane, do you have something you’d like to share with the class?”
Tabitha and I look at each other and then at Amelia.
“I just got off the phone with a lovely woman at a very well-respected university that offers an online program for a Masters in Library Science…”