“My agent called in the middle of the night and I got the job.”
“Job?” I grab his hand. “The anime job?”
“No, the book job with Vivian Laundale.”
“Oh? I thought you weren’t interested in romance books?”
“I mean, it’s not my favorite to know women are drooling over me, you being the exception, but once she explained what the publisher has planned, I nearly about fell out of my bed. It’s going to be a dramatized full-cast production for a seven-book series. I’ll be voicing Liam, the main character in book four. It’s almost like being in a movie. It’s unreal.”
His words come so fast, practically overlapping, that my coffee-free brain takes a moment to process his announcement.
“Tris, that’s so exciting.”
He scoops me up in a bear hug, bouncing us both with excitement.
“Can’t breathe . . .” I choke out.
“Oh, sorry. I planned on waiting to tell you once you were awake, but I saw your light was on in your window. Then Iwas distracted by—” he waves his hand in the air around me “—thisthat I forgot why I came.”
“Goodness. How many coffees have you had?”
“Since I woke up? Two or three.”
“Give me a second to catch up. Come in, but don’t judge the place. I’ve been on vacation.”
He walks in and sinks into the middle of my sofa, his arms spread across the back in both directions. No matter where I sit, I’ll practically be on his lap.
Sneaky man.
I pour myself a cup and slip into the spot next to him, plastering to his side with the lack of space. Before I would have shoved him down to the other end, but now I snuggle in close, the world feeling right again.
He kisses the top of my head. “How is your morning?”
I blow the steam from the top of my cup and take the tiniest sip. “Perfection.”
The rest of the day continues in the same blissful pattern.
At work, Lewis scolds me over the tools, not for taking them, but for not packing the more expensive torque wrench. Then he proceeds to lecture me on which tools are essential and which ones he would have taken.What alternate reality am I living in?
Whispers carry on the wind as I stroll down to Lula Belle’s for lunch. All eyes swivel toward me as I pass them down Main Street to the point I check my clothes for any new stains or holes. I enter the cafe, even more confused when a few regulars wink at me from their booths. Ethan shoots me a thumbs-up from the pass-through to the kitchen.
“Reese, over here.” Nova and Maya wave me over.
As soon as I sit down, I steal a fry off Nova’s plate, eyeing the cook and the other cafe patrons over my shoulder.
“Okay, what the heck is going on?” I ask and reach for another of Nova’s fries.
Always prepared for my antics, she snatches her plate from my reach so my fingers land on the table.
“Besides you being a thief?”
“I’d steal from Maya, but she’s on this kale salad health kick for the wedding.” I stick out my tongue and gag.
“It grows on you after a while.” Maya spears a dark leaf and points it at me. “But don’t change the subject. You know what the talk on the street is.”
I squeeze the edge of the table, hopefully keeping on my mask of indifference as I panic inside. Could word have spread about the motorhome driving into town last night? A few people did see us.
Be cool, Reese. Don’t ruin the surprise.
