I shake my head a little, if only that could dispel the thoughts. “Sorry.” I give Margie an apologetic smile and idly scratch at the sleeve covering my right forearm. “That book holds a lot of memories for me. But yes, if you could find a manuscript that makes you feel something like In the Time Before did, that would be a good start.”

Margie shifts uncomfortably in her seat. “Okay.” Her gaze bounces back and forth between Casey and me. “If that’s all…?”

I give her a curt nod. “Yes. Thank you, Margie.”

She wastes no time unfolding herself from the chair and breezing out of my office. Casey’s gaze tracks her hurried movement down the hall. Apparently satisfied, he plops into the now unoccupied seat.

As another transplant from JMP, Casey and I have been working near each other for a long time. His move over to Anastasios Press surprised me, but he assured me that the water over here was warm, and it was enough to get me to follow. That and I needed a change. I was drowning in memories over there, and I had to get away. Casey has done exceptionally well for himself here. I wish I could say the same. Though that might have something to do with the fact that his heart hasn’t shriveled into some numb version of itself like mine has.

He crosses one long leg over another. “Are we going to talk about what just happened?”

I eye him over the black rim of my glasses. “I was reminded of a time long ago. Nothing to talk about.”

“Wasn’t that long ago.” He looks at me pointedly. “And it looked like more than just a little reminder.”

It was a straight-up fucking flashback, but I’m not about to unpack this with Casey. Even though he watched me obsess over that same manuscript and that same woman, and then her next one, too. Even though he suggested I fight for the offer we eventually made. Even though he watched the aftermath of that offer being thrown back in my face.

No. I’ve come a long way in the five years since. And even if I didn’t come out of it with my heart intact, I still have my job.

I offer Casey a shrug and nothing more. He narrows his dark eyes at me, and I can feel the trepidation leeching into my skin.

“So, then maybe you’ll tell me what that was all about with Margie?” He makes it sound like a question, but it isn’t. Casey is nothing if not persistent, and I’m not getting out of this without answering him.

“Margie wanted to know what to look for in the slush pile,” I say.

“And what did you tell her?”