“Looks like opening day in Cannes,” Derian
remarked, resting her hand gently in the small of Emily’s back as they wound
their way through the crowds.
“Prepare yourself for something very
different,” Emily said, laughing.
“Oh, don’t worry, I have.” Derian imagined a
long day of networking, the very idea of which made her want to head in the
opposite direction. But she’d have Emily for company, and that made the
dreariness more than tolerable. She was actually looking forward to the event.
When they made it through the long row of
glass doors into the foyer, Derian drew a sharp breath. She’d known what to expect,
but the assault was always the same. Huge spaces filled with people, banks of
escalators going up and down, signs everywhere, and an overwhelming sense of
disorientation. Even casinos had more orderly layouts than this place. Sweat
gathered on the back of her neck. The initial panic was always the same.
“We just have to pick up our badges.” Emily,
her voice bright with excitement, pointed to the registration area and a long
row of booths in the far right corner.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone so excited
to be going to a conference,” Derian said, hurrying to keep up with Emily, who
cut through the crowds like a cab on Seventh Avenue.
“Oh,” Emily said, arrowing in on her target,
“this is a lot more than a conference. This is…everything—it’s what we’re all
about. Not just what’s new in books, but how we make them, who’s reading them,
and where the industry is headed.”
“I’m afraid I’m going to need an
interpreter,” Derian said, “because I feel like a stranger in a strange land.”
Emily grasped her arm. “Don’t worry, you have
a seasoned guide. The first time I attended with Henrietta I was the same way.”
“I doubt that—at least you speak the
language.”
“You will too, soon. Until then, I’ll be your
backup.”
“It seems like you’ve been doing that for me
since we met.” Derian grimaced. “I’m usually not quite so useless.”
Emily paused and the crowd flowed around
them, leaving them standing like a tiny island in a sea of frothing humanity.
“You are less in need of aid than any person I’ve ever met.”
“Thanks, but I owe you—”
“No, you don’t. Caring is not something that
comes with a price on it.”
“It is where I come from,” Derian said
softly. “With everyone except HW. And now you. It will take some getting used
to.”
“Work on it, then. Because I’m not going to
stop.”
Emily spoke quietly, but her words carried
deep into Derian’s soul. She wished they were anywhere but in a crowded
convention hall right that moment. The desire to kiss her was a physical ache.
“That’s good to know.”