“Is everything ready?” Michael asks, appearing beside us. “Should we open the doors?”
I glance between him, Alex, and Luke. Henry is munching a brownie, with chocolate crumbs on his chin and a grin on his mouth.
Paula wanders over and sets down another tray of food, looking at me. “We’re ready. Let’s do this!”
I nod, taking a deep breath to settle the tornado in my stomach. Luke catches my hand again, pressing his lips to the back of it as Michael opens the doors.
Here we go.
* * *
“This place is amazing!”Cat says when I join her, Myles, Geoff, and a few others I don’t know at a table.
“Thanks.” I smile modestly, looking around. The turnout has been great; Cat invited some friends, Geoff and Alex brought people they know through the bookstore, and Luke and Michael invited others too. Even Isaac is here with his wife, Julia. Having all these people here to celebrate, playing games and enjoying themselves, means the world to me.
“I love the brownies,” the girl beside me says. “It’s hard to find good vegan brownies.”
“Thanks! They’re Paula’s specialty.”
“I’m Josie.” She sticks her hand out and I shake it, noting her short, dark hair and green eyes. She has a sprinkle of freckles across her nose and I hesitate, sure I’ve seen her before. “I work at Bounce,” she adds at my bemused expression.
“Right!” I chuckle. “I knew I recognized you.”
“You’ll be seeing a lot more of me now that I know there’s delicious vegan baking here.”
I grin. I knew getting Paula on board was a good idea.
A loud cheer goes up a few tables away and I turn to see Henry looking triumphant. I don’t know what game he’s playing, but apparently Luke and Michael aren’t doing so well. I giggle at the expression of dismay on Luke’s face.
Steph waves to me across the room and I excuse myself, heading over. I decided to repay her generosity with a ticket to New York for my opening night. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for her helping me find my courage. And, you know, forcing me onto a plane.
“Okay, who isthat?” she asks with a flick of her hand. “He’s hot.”
I follow her gaze to take in Cory’s tall, fit frame, short beard, and disheveled dirty-blond hair. I’m not going to disagree with that assessment. He gives a friendly wave in our direction and Steph swoons. I’ve never seen her swoon in my life.
“That’s Cat’s brother,” I say with a laugh. “He owns a bar in the East Village.”
“Fuck,” she says softly, and I laugh again, elbowing her in the side.
“You have a boyfriend.”
“I know.” A resigned sigh trickles out of her. “But the men here are something else.” Her gaze darts to Luke and she tilts her mouth into a sly grin. “You’ve done well for yourself, Harri. Luke is gorgeous and he seems really sweet.”
“Yeah, he is.”
“And,” she says, dropping her voice, “he must be pretty good in bed. Have you had any more—”
“Steph,” I hiss, cutting her off before she can say “orgasms.” My face warms at her knowing smile, and she snickers.
“That’s a yes.”
This time, I can’t stop the grin that creeps onto my lips. “Yes. He’s very… Yes.” That’s an understatement. Luke went to all that trouble to redo his apartment—ourapartment—and we’ve hardly left the bedroom. But he doesn’t seem to mind.
Actually, living with Luke is better than I could have imagined, and not just because of the sex. When I’ve come home exhausted from setting up the cafe all day, we’ve ordered take-out and spent the night on his sofa—him playing his games and me working my way through the books from his shelves I haven’t read. I missed reading, and while I now have an exciting life of my own in the real world, I know it’s okay to get lost in make-believe worlds from time to time, too. Especially when Luke is eagerly waiting for me to finish a series so we can chat about it.
I meet his gaze across the room. His mouth curves into a sexy smile, his eyes filled with affection as he gazes back. I still can’t believe this gorgeous, nerdy man is in love with me. Without his love—his belief in me—I would never have created this place. It was my vision, and I chose to do it for myself, but having him push me along the way meant everything.
And as I look around at everyone having fun in this dream I made a reality, my heart feels like it will overflow.
