stop a chuckle. “The last one wasn’t too bad, either. I’m not sure I would have liked it even if it had been made perfectly.”
He stood and reached out to help Minnie from the lounge.
After they served themselves dinner, he started talking again. “I guess the small favor is that it was Miriam and not Edward. Neither one is good, of course, but if it had been Edward then you also have the whole government both in mourning and changing hands all at the same time.”
“That sounds absolutely miserable. I know it’s what happens when the monarch dies, but thinking about it is too depressing, not just because it’s probably your family’s future.”
Joss sucked in a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “Do you mind if we change the subject? I’ve already thought and talked about it a lot today, and I really would prefer not to dwell on it.”
“Of course. We can talk about whatever you want.”
He shook his head. “I’m not even sure what I want to talk about. Why don’t you tell me about your Trilunium story? You were waiting to get a bit more done before you told me about it, right?”
She nodded then started telling him about the story that took place during Maze of the Silver Moons. It was the kind of in-between story that could be a lot of fun in the right hands. Like Lion King 1 1/2. Lydia had made him watch it a bunch of times when she was younger.
He’d read the guidelines for the entries a dozen times and stopped her when he heard something that seemed out of place.
“Are you sure that fits? Weren’t Joshua and Anne already there?”
Minnie shook her head, her eyes bright with excitement. “No. I read the provided outline like six times. I reread the relevant portions of Maze. It can be interpreted that way, but it doesn’t have to be. They could still be on their way. It fits the story outline the best if they’re on their way.”
As he chewed his buttered roll, Joss turned it over in his head. “Do you think it’s some kind of test? See which entries pick up on that? I’d have to reread Maze, but for the sake of discussion let’s assume you’re right. Could they be using it as a litmus test to see who’s paying the most attention?”
“Maybe?” She leaned in closer. “Do you really think it sounds like something M. Karson would have written?”
Joss nodded slowly. “I think you’re close. There’s something missing or something that needs to be changed, but I can’t quite put my finger on what it is.”
She poked at her dinner with her fork. “Would you read it? I know we’ve exchanged stories a few times in the past - as RealJ and NotChar - but what would you think about beta reading it for me now?”
He felt his whole insides light up. “I would love that, Min. It sounds like just what I need after today.”
“When we’re done with dinner, I’ll clean up and you read? Do you still prefer a paper copy?”
How did she remember that? It had to have been five years since he mentioned that to her. “I do.”
She opened her phone and tapped a few times. He could hear the printer whirring to life in the other room.
Joss reached across the table and covered her hand with his, a warmth he hadn’t expected emanating from that point of connection.
“I can honestly say I don’t remember the last time I looked forward to reading something so much. Not even the last new book.”
Minnie’s eyes narrowed as she looked at him. “You’d already read it, hadn’t you? When the tickets went on sale, you’d read it and slipped up in chat.”
He winced. “Yeah. Kari had Caleb and I read it before she decided whether or not to publish. I had about half an hour to anticipate it before I started reading. I’m still looking forward to yours more.”
The biggest grin he’d seen from her in quite some time crossed her face, and he knew he’d said the right thing. “So tell me where you got your username from.”
Minnie shrugged. “I was born in 1995. There was already a PrincessEm95 so I just sort of picked one of the other sisters to not be. NotCharlotte95 was born.”
He nodded. “Makes sense.”
She squinted his direction. “Let me guess. RealJ is because you’re the real Prince Joshua. And 1955 is because that’s when the first book came out.”
Joss laughed.