‘Wow.’ My jaw dropped. ‘Why don’t you tell me what you really think?’
‘Look, it’s just my opinion. I’m sure there are millions of readers who’d disagree, which is fine, because I’m clearly not the target audience. And of course, I mean no disrespect to the author, because I know how hard it is to write a book, so I’d never share my opinion publicly, but it just wasn’t for me.’
In hindsight, if I was going to give Ben a hockey romance, I should’ve recommendedIcebreakerby Hannah Grace orThe Dealby Elle Kennedy. I loved both those books, whereas I justlikedthe one I’d given Ben to read.
‘Fair enough.’ I shrugged, trying to ignore the knots that had formed in my stomach. If Ben could be so scathing about a book with thousands of great reviews that was written by an experienced author, imagine what he’d say about a debut novel from a newbie writer like me.
Not that I’d even written a book yet, but it was so painful to know that someone could trash something I’d spent months or years pouring my heart and soul into. Although at the rate I was going, it’d take decades to write anything.
‘Oh, I keep meaning to ask. How’s your writing going?’
Was he a mind reader? Crazy that Ben knew I was just thinking about my book.
‘It’s, er… a… work in progress,’ I said diplomatically, thinking it was sweet of him to ask, but also secretly hoping he wouldn’t probe so I wouldn’t have to admit I was more blocked than a constipated drainpipe.
‘Great! Anyway, as I was saying, if that book was your best attempt to change my mind about romance, you’re going to need to do alotbetter.’
Damn. I really thought he’d like that one. Perhapslikewas asking for too much from Ben, but at least I hoped he’d think it was passable.
It was stupid that his opinion bothered me. I shouldn’t give a shit whether he liked the books I enjoyed or not. Reading was subjective. A million people could love a book and rate it five stars, but a million other people could hate the exact same novel with a passion. So maybe I was fighting a losing battle and should just accept he hated romance novels and move on.
Except I couldn’t. Because Jess said I had to give him a book to read every week.
Ugh.
Okay, sothatbook wasn’t his cup of tea, but it was the first attempt. I’d just have to try something else.
‘You’re entitled to your opinion,’ I said, keeping my cool. ‘Maybe it’d help if I knew more about your reading tastes and the kind of things you liked. Are you interested in sports in general? If you’re not keen on hockey romances, maybe we could try a football romance or golf?’
‘I’m not really a sporty kind of guy. The only exercise I enjoy is running, working out at the gym and of course enjoying somehorizontal refreshment. Or vertical, or perpendicular. I’m always up for trying different angles!’ He smirked.
‘Horizontal refreshment?’ I frowned.
‘It’s nineteenth-century slang for sex.’
‘Really?’ I gasped.
‘Yep.’
‘You learn something new every day.’ I nodded, then realised this conversation was straying into dangerous territory and I needed to steer it back. ‘Okay, so we’ll press pause on the sports romance for now. So if you know about nineteenth-century stuff, maybe some historical romance.’
‘No,’ he said flatly.
‘What about fantasy?’
‘You tell me yours and I’ll tell you mine, Jeffries…’ he teased, and I rolled my eyes. ‘Hold on. Let me guess. Your fantasy is spending all day in a room with me so you can admire my beauty? Am I right?’
‘Not funny.’
‘I don’t hear a denial, though, so…’
‘What happened toserious, professional Ben?’
‘Oops, sorry!’ He slapped his own wrist. ‘To answer your question, no, I’m not sure romantasy is for me. Then again, I’ve never read any, so who knows?’
‘What about travel romance or mystery or adventure?’
‘Those could work.’ He nodded.
