Chapter 19

The sizzle of the frying pan filled the kitchen, the aroma of scrambled eggs mingling with the rich scent of coffee. I hummed along to the tune on the radio, lost in my own little world, until Callie’s voice cut through the morning calm.

“Cora? Why am I getting messages from your readers asking why you are in a relationship with a profile that has Haides’ name attached to it?”

I turned to find her hunched over the kitchen table, her phone clutched in her hand, a look of bewilderment on her face. I couldn’t help but giggle as I flipped the eggs onto two plates. “Oh, that? I found his profile last night before you came over. Thought it’d be fun to add him to a relationship status change.”

Callie’s eyes widened, her mouth agape as she stared at me. “You what? Cora, you can’t just go around changing relationship statuses with a… with Haides!” She stood up, her fingers flying over her phone screen as she typed out a response to the influx of messages.

“Why not?” I asked, feigning innocence as I set the plates on the table and poured us each a cup of coffee. “It’s not like it’s going to make a difference to him. Besides, it’s kind of fun playing with people’s expectations while staking my claim on him.”

Callie sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of her nose as if warding off a headache. “Cora, you’re not thinking this through. You shouldn’t be bringing attention to Haides. People in his life might start asking questions if they haven’t already.”

I shrugged, taking a seat across from her. “I don’t know, Callie. Maybe it’s better this way. We can just say that Haides has always been my boyfriend and that I used him as a self-insert character for my books.”

“That might actually work,” Callie admitted, her brow furrowed as she considered the idea. “But we need to be careful. We can’t afford any slip-ups.”

I nodded, taking a bite of my eggs. “I know, I know. You’re right. So, what’s the plan?”

Callie set her phone down, a determined look in her eyes. “First of all, I’m now your PR manager, and you’re going to hand over your phone. You can’t be trusted not to stir up more trouble.”

“What? No way!” I protested, clutching my phone protectively. “I need my phone.”

“Nope. Not until we get a handle on this situation,” Callie said, reaching across the table and snatching the phone from my grasp. “And speaking of getting a handle on things, I think it’s time you started paying me for my services.”

I nearly choked on my coffee. “Excuse me? Since when do I pay you?”

“Since you dragged me into this mess and made me your full-time babysitter,” Callie retorted, crossing her arms over her chest. “I’m going to need a raise for the title change.”

“A raise?” I scoffed. “I’m not paying you anything.”

Callie sucked her teeth, giving me a glare that could freeze lava. “Fine. Then I quit.”

I rolled my eyes, knowing full well she wouldn’t follow through with her threat. “You’re not going anywhere, Callie. You love this drama as much as I do.”

She huffed, but the corners of her mouth twitched upward in a reluctant smile. “Damn you, Cora Lappa. You’re lucky I love you.”

“So, how much are we talking for this ‘raise’?” I asked as I snatched my phone back.

“Venmo me weekly,” Callie said, rattling off her username. “Consider it hazard pay.”

I laughed, shaking my head as I typed the information into my phone. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

“And yet, you can’t live without me,” Callie said with a smug grin before she turned her attention back on my phone, grabbing it from my hands as I let out a muffled “Hey!” around the egg I had just shoved in my mouth.

I watched Callie’s eyes flicker across the screen of my phone, her thumb swiping up with practiced ease as she devoured the images of Haides on his social media profile. A “Mmm” escaped her lips, and I couldn’t tell if it was the coffee she was sipping or the sight of Haides that elicited such a response.

“What?” Callie mumbled around a mouthful of food, catching me staring as she took a big bite.

“Nothing,” I said, trying to sound casual, but the twinge of jealousy was already gnawing at me.

She shot me a knowing look, a smirk playing on her lips as she continued to scroll. “I mean, I can see why you’re so taken with this guy. He’s way hotter than I imagined in my head.”

My chest tightened, and I felt an irrational surge of possessiveness. “Hey, he’s mine, okay?” I said, only half-joking.

Callie rolled her eyes, swallowing her food before responding. “Relax, Cora. I’m not going to steal your dark, broody book boyfriend. I have enough trouble in my life without adding a fictional serial killer to the mix.”

I raised an eyebrow at her, still feeling a bit territorial. “But?”

She sighed dramatically, setting my phone down and meeting my gaze. “But… I wouldn’t mind having my own Haides. You know, minus the whole ‘killing people’ thing. Just the smoldering looks and the mysterious vibe.”

I let out a relieved laugh, the tension easing from my shoulders. “So, what you’re saying is you want a dark romance book boyfriend who’s all smoke and no fire?”

“Exactly,” Callie said with a grin. “I want the fantasy without the reality biting me in the ass.”

“Fair enough,” I conceded, leaning back in my chair and sipping my coffee. “But you have to admit, the reality of Haides is… a lot.”

Callie nodded, her expression turning more thoughtful. “Yeah, I know. And I’m here for you because of it—not because I want to jump on the Haides train. I’m just along for the ride because you’re my best friend.”

I smiled at her, grateful for her unwavering support. “Thanks, Callie. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Probably get yourself into even more trouble,” she said, nudging me playfully with her foot under the table.

We shared a laugh, the bond between us strengthening with every shared joke and knowing glance. As I watched Callie’s eyes twinkle with mischief, I knew that I found a true ride-or-die friend.