No way.
Never gonna happen.
My phone chimed, snapping me out of my thoughts. I pulled it out of my bag and tapped the screen.
It was an Instagram message from a new bookstagrammer friend called Brianna. I clicked on the notification.
Bri123xlovebooks4ever
Hey Sarah,
Thanks SO much for the books you sent me. That was so generous of you. Can’t wait to get started soon. Thanks again! Xoxo
My heart bloomed and I typed out a reply. It was sweet of her to message.
I tried to gift at least three books a month to aspiring bookstagrammers. I remembered how hard it was getting started, especially if you didn’t have money to buy paperbacks every month. So now that I had a decent following, I tried to give back to the community that had helped me to grow.
And because I was genuinely passionate about spreading the romance joy, I also donated at least two books a month either to a charity shop, a little book library or the book swap bookshelves they had in train stations. I always carried spare paperbacks too, just in case, and sometimes, if I saw someone reading romance on the bus or train, I’d pull out a book and give it to them.
Plus, I reasoned that I’d have to buy new books every month to replace the ones I’d donated, right? Otherwise, I’d have gaps on my bookshelf, which as any bookworm knew was a serious crime. I was just trying to be a law-abiding citizen, that was all.
Then again, who was I kidding? The day I had gaps on my shelves was the day someone should check that the real me hadn’t been abducted by aliens.
I’d already arranged for all of my books to be delivered to Sunshine Bay. If I thought it was hard to shut my suitcase with my clothes and other stuff, I’d literally need a lorry to transport the amount of novels I’d accumulated over the years.
Talking of books, that reminded me. I had to find one for Ben to read.Ugh.Part of me wanted to give him one that’d blow him away so that I could sayI told you sobecause I’d love nothing more than to see him begging for forgiveness and apologising for ever dissing romance. But the other part of me couldn’t be bothered wasting my time trying to convert him.
Jess had asked me to do it, though, so I would. Reluctantly.
‘Hey.’ Ben came back into the office clutching two coffee cups and two paper bags.
As I took in the sight of him, I swallowed hard and reminded myself for the hundredth time that it didn’t matter if he was pretty, he was a dick.
If you sprinkled glitter on a turd, of course it would look better, but underneath it’d still be a lump of shit. I just had to remember that.
‘Milky coffee with one sugar and a double-chocolate and cherry muffin.’
As he put both on the table in front of me, I frowned.
‘How did you know how I take my coffee and that those muffins are my favourite?’
‘I’m a mind reader.’ He tapped the side of his head and smiled.
Jesus. Why did his teeth have to be perfect too?
I hated him.
Okay, maybe considering he’d just bought me coffee and cake, two of my favourite things—after books, of course—I should tone down my animosity towards him a bit. Just temporarily, though.
‘Only joking!’ He smiled again. ‘I forgot to ask you, so I called Jess instead.’
That was… nice.
‘Well, I hope you didn’t disturb her, but, well, er, thanks.’
‘Pleasure. So…’ He pulled out his chair and sat down. ‘Shall we get down to business?’
I raised an unimpressed eyebrow.
