Page 86 of The History in Us

Again, I smiled weakly. We had worked well together, but I didn’t think I could continue to work with Levi feeling separated from him from the way I did. My feelings couldn’t stop. I’d shut down my voice as a child, but I wouldn’t do it again as an adult. I had other ways to protect myself from pain.

“Let me think about it.”

Levi shook his head in response, his chocolate eyes dropping. “Of course.” He sat up straighter, rubbing a hand over his head and resting it on his neck. “I’ll see you in class. The project looks great. I’m sure we’ll get an A.” He winked at me, and his smile returned. Forced, clenched, and too bright. No dimples peeked at me, and the hollowness in his eyes returned.

“I can’t wait to see it.”

“I’m the one waiting, Katie.” He stood on those final words and exited the room, leaving me breathless and confused.

* * *

On Monday, I received a call from a number I didn’t recognize. I typically didn’t answer them, but this time I did.

“Ms. Carter, this is Mr. Thomas, Sidonia’s father.”

“Is everything okay with Sidonia? With Vintage Vines?” I’d spoken to her only yesterday, organizing my schedule for the week.

“Yes, fine. She’s fine. So listen, Sidonia gave me a copy of your manuscript. I hope you don’t mind, but I took a peek and I’d like to pass it on to a junior agent, someone trying to get his feet wet in the industry and working hard to prove himself. He wants original work and I think this story has something.”

Silence ensued. I couldn’t speak. I pulled the phone back from my ear and checked the number. It was a legitimate 312—the Chicago area code for downtown—but still I didn’t understand.

“I’m sorry. Mr. Thomas, I’m confused.”

“I see Sidonia told you nothing about me. Typical, but I’ll spare you the family drama. I’m Preston Thomas. I own McTigue Publishing, a firm here in Chicago and with offices in New York. Again, we’d like to pitch your manuscript and see where things may lead.”

My mouth was moving, but no sound escaped. Sidonia. Her father. A publishing agent.

“I think that sounds very exciting, sir. I’d love to see where things may lead as well.” I’m certain my voice squeaked, my lips trembling so hard I tried to keep my teeth separate so they didn’t rattle inside my head.

“Could we meet the Monday after Christmas? I know it’s not the ideal time, but now is when we prepare for the spring line of releases.”

“That sounds perfect.” He forwarded me to an assistant, and I took down the details. I was so excited, I danced around my kitchen for a full minute. I wanted to tell someone, and my first thought was Levi. Uncertain after seeing him at VetGym, I decided a strong admonishment to my boss was the first call to make, and after I scolded her, I’d tell her how much I loved her.

* * *

Tuesday arrived, and I dreaded my class. I should have taken the drop, but I couldn’t afford to pick up another class and prolong the second semester. I needed to graduate and move on with my life, writing fantasy tales or not. I still hadn’t fully believed Mr. Thomas’ offer, and knowing these things took time, I’d applied for a job as a docent at a museum. I had to use my humanities degree in some way, and I was still waiting to hear back from them.

I took extra time to straighten my hair and fix my make-up, which seemed ridiculous for a Tuesday afternoon. I hitched my computer bag over my shoulder and tried to hold my head high as I entered the classroom to find Levi absent from my grand entrance. I took my seat toward the back and nervously tapped my pencil against a notebook I had hardly used all semester. Professor Erickson entered and set up the projector. He began introducing who would present first, and I zoned out as Emma and her partner took the front of the room. My tapping increased to the point the person behind my left shoulder poked me.

“That’s distracting me.” A deep voice I’d recognize even in my sleep made me spin to find Levi sitting behind me. I don’t know how he snuck in, even if I wasn’t paying attention, but I found no words to speak. I simply stared until Professor Erickson called out our names.

“Stay,” Levi whispered as he stood gracefully and walked with that ever-so-subtle limp to the front of the classroom.

“My partner, Katie, and I did a presentation in pictures. A journey of discovery about the city and important people within it.”

Professor Erickson dimmed the lights and Levi stepped to the side, using a device to click the slides. Instantly projected was not the front cover we had designed. In fact, the first slide wasn’t anything we’d discussed either. The slides were images of the city, but within each one was a picture of me.

The Alley Cat Café.

The Lincoln Park Zoo.