Thirty-Three: Harlow

THIRTY-THREE

HARLOW

Pierce

Are you and Olivia still shopping?

Yes and no. Done with clothes, now picking up some specialty ingredients + meeting Sasha.

How are the twins?

They’re still sleeping.

Take your time getting back.

W himstery Cafe was the only place in Manhattan that allowed me to purchase coconut-flavored whipped cream by the cup.

It was also quickly becoming Olivia’s favorite coffee cafe, so I insisted she join me for “beta read” meetups with Sasha to get her some free time away from the twins.

While she slurped a milkshake and listened to music, I pretended like the words Sasha held in front of me made sense.

“Okay.” I looked at her latest romantasy novel’s prologue. “Where the hell is the world building, Sasha?”

“Right there on page seven.” She pointed to the screen. “Did you somehow miss that entire paragraph?”

I gave her a blank stare.

“Since you clearly did, I’ll read it aloud.” She sat up straighter. “There was a magical cave in this enchanted desert, tucked away with magical dragons that breathed magical fire.”

I blinked.

“There was so much magic—” She paused for dramatic effect. “That it could only be explained in magical language.”

“That’s it?”

“Uh, yeah, that’s it.” She clasped her hands. “What more world building do you possibly need?”

“Okay.” I shut the laptop for her own sake. “Stop bullshitting and focus on finishing one of your office romances. Now.”

“I’m giving my brain a break,” she said. “Testing out new genres, you know?”

“Just read new genres instead.” I tapped her hand. “Please.”

“You write books, Miss Sasha?” Olivia pushed off her headphones, smiling. “What kind?”

“Um, well…” She glanced at me. “Spicy ones.”

“Like spicy recipes in cookbooks?”

“No.” She snorted. “Like romance.”

“Ohhh.” She tapped her lip. “I haven’t read a book in that genre yet.”

“Then today is your lucky day!” She pulled paperbacks from her purse. “I have the ultimate romance newbie starter kit ready to go. I’ve got a collection of sexy billionaires, some groomsmen who run a wedding business, and ah! An enemies-to-lovers romp that will set your panties on fire!”

“My panties being on fire is a good thing?” she asked.

“ No .” I motioned for Sasha to stop. “Olivia doesn’t need to read those stories at her age, Sasha.”

“Oh, please! I was stealing my mom’s romance books and reading them under covers when I was nine .”

“Can you at least blackout the inappropriate words and scenes, then?”

“So, like, all the good parts?”

“Sasha…”

“Okay, okay.” She handed Olivia one of the lighter romance books. “Start with this one, and I’ll get you seven more after I handle a few things for your grumpy nanny.”

“I’m not a grump, Sasha.”

“Anyway—” Sasha waved me away, focusing on Olivia. “Let me walk you through why romance is the best genre in the whole fucking world…”