Spin

Twenty-One

[RORY]

I stared at my inbox, silently willing a response to come in.

I'd only been back from Budapest a few days but every waking moment had been spent writing and editing, writing and editing, writing and editing. Though jetlag was probably somewhat to blame, I knew it was bigger than that.

I glanced at the clock, wholeheartedly knowing the time wasn't going to deter me. After a few more seconds of glaring at my laptop screen, I gave up on being polite.

He picked up on the very last ring.

"I'm sorry," I blurted out before Christopher had a chance to speak, knowing I needed to get the formalities out of the way. I put him on speaker, putting my phone face-up on the floor beside me. I'd gotten sick of the desk, opting for our bedroom rug instead. "It's late, did I wake you?"

"It's 11:37. How old do you think I am?"

I chewed on my thumbnail as he laughed.

"Did you see the latest draft I sent you?"

"Though this may be hard to believe, I have to step away from my laptop on occasion."

"Can you please just look?"

He chuckled, sensing I wasn't in the mood for chit-chat. Truth be told, I was more anxious than I'd ever been in any work-related setting. I liked to think it was a good sign, but I couldn't be too sure yet.

I could hear the keys as he presumably typed in his password, nervously staring at my own written words in anticipation.

"One new email, Aurora Thorn. Six minutes ago."

"I know, I know," I hurried him, rolling my eyes as he laughed again. "Let's skip past the mockery, can you please just read it?"

"Reading now."

I was on the edge of my seat as we sat in silence, wishing I could be in his brain for a moment so I knew his pace. I wanted to know which part he was at, which lines he was hovering on, which ones made him shake his head because they weren't hitting.

"Can you say something?"

"I'm reading!"

"Well go faster."

"I'm going to hang up and call you back."

"No."

I shut up, knowing he would follow through on his threat. Three minutes later and he finally sighed, my heart nearly pounding out of my chest.

A text from Finn popped up at the top of my phone screen and I quickly swiped it away.

"Oh my god, speak."

"Relax, woman!"

"You hate it."

"I hate–"

I groaned audibly.

"-that you're this unsure of yourself. It's fucking phenomenal, your edits are perfect."

Another Finn text, another mindless swipe. I was stuck on Christopher's words of praise, letting them sink in.

"They are?"

"Yeah, I wouldn't lie to you. It's great. Truly."

"You don't think the part where I went a little deeper into the history of the movement was too much? I was worried it loses you, it's too much of a departure."

"No, it's spot on. It's necessary context, I actually think that's exactly what the last round was missing."

I took a second to let the feedback settle, fighting a smile. I knew better than to get too excited, knowing we were very far from the finish line.