"Hey, it's a good book," Avie defended. "Oh man... it's a good one. But I tell you what there's this one guy, Tom, man, is he the biggest scumbag."
"What makes you say that?" Zac asked dryly. "Did he give his girlfriend red roses instead of white ones, because, y'know, she hates the colour red and -"
"Don't be stupid Zac," Avie interrupted.
"I'm not the one reading trashy romance novels."
"Why is he scum?" Kelsey cut in.
"He's a player."
"So?"
"He's practically the biggest player there ever was. He has girlfriends everywhere! I think he has... forty-two at the moment."
Zac nearly choked on his orange juice.
"Forty-two girlfriends?" he gasped, then he recovered himself and went on: "Lucky guy."
"Oh you are such a guy," Avie retorted.
On that, she shoveled the last of her own breakfast into her mouth, stuck her bookmark in the book, put her bowl in the sink and headed upstairs. Zac watched her leave then grabbed the book, which she had left on the bench.
"Decided you wanna read it huh?" Kelsey teased.
"Oh my freaking gosh!" Zac yelped. "Do you see who wrote this?"
"H T Jordan... your point? She's actually a really popular writer. Avie reckons all her stories are best sellers."
Zac stared goggle-eyed at her.
"Kel, I bet you any amount of money that the last thing this... H T Jordan is, is a woman."
"Oh? What makes you think otherwise?"
A grin started growing on his face.
"If I'm right I'll tell you," he said. "I gotta ring Taylor."
"Taylor?" Kelsey asked. "What's Taylor got to do with this?"
There was a twinkle in his eye as he picked up the phone.
"Ponder this for a moment with Taylor in mind: H T Jordan."
Kelsey gave him a strange look. Then, as she thought about, realisation crossed her face and her jaw dropped.
Zac grinned, phone to his ear. Then he heard Rita pick up.
"Hello?"
"Hi Rita. Is Taylor there?"
"Sure, I'll just get him."
There was some shuffling, and in a minute or so Taylor picked up.
"Hey Zac. What's up?"
"Aww, nuffin much. So, written any trashy romance novels lately, Miss Jordan?"