Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Emotion showed in Caleb’s eyes, but Rhys wasn’t sure if it was disappointment or annoyance. Maybe both? Rhys wasn’t trying to upset him. He was trying to make it clear that he wasn’t any good at socializing. He didn’t do partnership well.
“All right,” Caleb said. “We’ll each make our own entries. It was just an idea.”
Rhys couldn’t make his lungs work right. The room started to spin, and he was afraid he might pass out. “Um… Enjoy the drink. I should… um… go.”
He turned and managed to make his way out the door without running. He was glad things were quiet on Front Street at that time of day. He wasn’t sure he could make it all the way to Frost + Foam, but Jonah’s bookstore was next door, so he went inside and sank into one of the comfy chairs Jonah had placed around the store.
Jonah was finishing up with a customer, but Rhys hadn’t noticed anyone else in the store. He slipped his shoes off and pulled his legs up, curling into a ball in the soft chair. He hoped no one had seen him. He didn’t want anyone to notice him while he took a few minutes to just breathe. He heard the bell ring on the door and assumed that whoever had been checking out was leaving.
Rhys took several long, deep breaths, trying to steady himself. Moments passed, and the tightness in his chest began to loosen. It was only then that Jonah approached him. He loved that his friend knew he needed a few minutes before he’d be ready to talk.
“Are you okay?” Jonah asked.
Rhys blew out a long breath. “Probably.”
“What happened?”
“Caleb asked me to work with him to create a drink for the Harvest Festival.”
Jonah nodded. After a moment, he said, “That sounds like a good idea.”
“It might be, but…”
Jonah prompted him when he didn’t finish. “But?”
“I can’t do that.”
“You can’t give up control of your entry?” Jonah’s smile annoyed the hell out of Rhys. Sometimes it was great to have friends who really knew him, and sometimes he hated it.
“No. Yes. That’s not the main reason.”
“Then what is it?”
This was Jonah. Rhys could be honest with him. Jonah wouldn’t judge him, but he still couldn’t explain that Caleb made him feel all fluttery and confused and distracted. He couldn’t be in close quarters with him because he’d make a fool of himself, and Caleb would hate him. “Caleb needs a chance to develop his own brand. He should have his own entry.”
Jonah narrowed his eyes. “That’s all?”
Rhys looked down at his hands as he nodded, certain Jonah didn’t believe him.
“What can I do to help?” Jonah asked.
“I don’t suppose you can figure out a way for me not to run into Caleb until after the festival?” Or maybe ever.
Jonah chuckled. “No, but I could taste test your drinks for you.”
Rhys smiled. “That would help.” Jonah truly appreciated good coffee. He regularly sent customers to Rhys’s shop.
“I can also recommend a book if you’d like something to read tonight to distract you.”
He would absolutely need a distraction. “Sure, that would be great.”
Jonah wandered off into the shelves and returned with a paperback. “Try this.”
Rhys took the book from him, immediately suspicious of the pink cover with artwork of two men on it. “Trapped with the Cowboy? Is this romance?”
Jonah shrugged. “Maybe.”
Rhys flipped the book over and read the summary. “Why would you pick this out for me? You know what I like to read.”
“I know you need something fresh and new to keep your mind off the festival. You need a challenge.”
Rhys shook his head. “The festival is enough of a challenge.”
“I think it’s more of a stressful event you feel compelled to participate in because you love Frostwick Harbor, even if the festival doesn’t matter to you so much.”
There he went again, knowing Rhys too well. “It’s always too crowded. And they’re predicting even more people this year.”
“You could just show up for the beverage contest.”
“I know, but I do enjoy hanging out with you and our other friends, and the food is always amazing.”
Jonah smiled. “We like having you there.”
Rhys read the blurb on the back of the book. The story was described as an opposites attract, forced proximity gay romance. The two main characters apparently got stuck in a cabin together. “Thanks, but this doesn’t sound right for me at all.”
He tried to hand it back to Jonah, but his friend refused to take it. “Try it. Challenge yourself.”
Jonah was playing dirty. He knew the one thing Rhys hated more than a crowd was not succeeding when challenged. It was almost as bad as gas station coffee.
“Fine, but I’m stopping after fifty pages if I don’t like it.” That was Rhys’s trial rule for any book.
“If you don’t like it after that, I’ll accept defeat.”