We all obey.
“To the blonde bombshell who came whirling into my life and showed me I was worth loving.”
Women around me awww.
I stare up at him, mouth agape.
He offers a small smile.
“Let’s dive into the story,” Kaz says. “Chapter 1.” He clears his throat. “Even bad days can be magical.” More throat clearing. “Once upon a time, on a beautiful sunny day, a grumpy hockey player named Kaz was throwing a party at his Hampton cottage, and a beautiful blonde princess named Harley showed up and turned his world upside down.” He turns the book around and points to the two characters. “He didn’t want to be around anyone else that day, because something really bad happened, but he couldn’t stay away from her.”
I don’t even know what to make of this.
He turns the page. “Then, there was a lot of drama that unfolded in both their lives and they lost touch for almost a year.” Kaz lifts a finger up. “But serendipity had some devious plans up her sleeve on the day she reunited them.”
For the next several minutes, I flip through the pages of what is now officially my favorite book of all time, and I’m totally in awe. Kaz is wrong. His deep, smokey voice is right up there with my favorite narrators.
I glance around the bookstore.
Some of the women are so enthralled by the story, they’re not even flipping the pages, they’re staring at him. Others have their phones out and are recording every minute of my boyfriend’s debut as an author.
“Epilogue,” Kaz says.
I lower my gaze.
“For the past two years, the beautiful princess and the grumpy hockey player have been living together. Every day, he wakes up, and he thinks his life can’t be any better, but there’salways a little voice niggling at him.” He rubs his clean-shaven jaw. “What if it could be way better?” He pauses and stares up at me. “If you’ll turn to the next page.”
My fingers can’t turn the page fast enough.
It’s… blank?
“Goldilocks, will you come up here and help me write the last chapter?”
For a moment, I’m frozen in place.
I didn’t see any of this coming, and I sure as hell didn’t expect to be center stage today.
Unshed tears sting my nose.
This man.
The redhead who greeted me at the door strolls my way, a huge smile stretching her lips. “I’ll hold onto these for you.” She grabs the book and my tote from my hands. “Your man wants you up there.”
I nod.
I ignore the frantic beating of my heart, and make my way to the stage. I do a double take when I spot Erik standing there, with a pretty impressive camera in his hands.
Kaz approaches and extends a hand, helping me up the three steps to the stage. He plays around with something clipped to the lapel of his jacket. “The mic.”
I nod.
“Surprised?”
I gawk at him. “More like shocked.”
“Good. Had you seen it coming, all this work would’ve been in vain.”
I shake my head.
