Although it had all the tropes that sometimes made everything predictable, don’t ask me how, but this was different.
I didn’t know whether reading Sarah’s copy of this novel without asking was some kind of bookish sin, but if it was, I’d happily accept my punishment.
In my defence, though, it wasn’t my fault.
The novel I’d been reading wasn’t gripping. And Sarah’s book was just sitting there on the table, taunting me. Telling me Ineededto read it.
So I picked it up. I only intended to read the first page out of curiosity, and in all honesty, I was expecting to be bored, but before I knew it, I was hooked.
And now here I was. Feeling like I should put it down and pretend I hadn’t read it before Sarah got back and caught me. But at the same time, desperate to keep going.
Fuck it.
Ihadto carry on. Surely Sarah would be happy that I was finally reading and loving a romance novel, right?
After sprinting to the bathroom, I took the fastest piss of my life, washed my hands, then raced back out to the balcony to continue reading.
I was so engrossed in the story that I didn’t hear Sarah come in. It was only when the sweet scent of cherries surrounded me that I knew she was close by.
‘Sorry I left you for so long!’ she said. ‘I was… wait. Are you reading my book?’
My eyes flicked up and for a moment I considered asking her if we could continue this conversationafterI’d finished the chapter. Things were really heating up between Virginia and Rocco, and following a few false starts and interruptions, I gotthe impression that they were finally about to give in to their urges.
‘Yes,’ I said firmly, meeting her eyes, then swallowing hard. On the one hand, reading the book had been a good way to distract myself from my growing attraction towards her. But on the other, if the characters were about to fuck, I was pretty sure that was also going to make me think about the things that I’d want to do with Sarah.
This really was an impossible situation.
‘And?’ she asked, her eyes narrowing before she folded her arms across her chest defensively.
God, I really wished she hadn’t done that.
Don’t look at her breasts.
Don’t look at her…
Who was I kidding? I’d already looked for far longer than was appropriate.
‘AndI’ve been trying to work out why the hell you didn’t recommend this to me in the first place. It’s bloody brilliant!’
‘Wait, what?’ She frowned.
‘You heard. I said I love it!’
‘Hold on a sec.’ She pretended to stumble back in shock, then dramatically flopped into the chair. ‘Did you just say… that youloveda romance book?’
‘Yes, I did.’ I sat up straighter. ‘I almost pissed myself because I didn’t want to stop reading and go to the bathroom.’
‘Wow. Miracles do happen!’
‘You still haven’t answered my question. Why didn’t you give me this book in the first place? Especially considering it’s your favourite book of all time?’
‘That’s exactly why I couldn’t give it to you. Because if you ever said anything bad about it, I’d never be able to speak to you again. And let’s face it, at the time that Jess set me this task, I didn’t need any more reasons to hate you.’
‘Thanks.’
‘Obviously I don’t hate you anymore.’
‘Good to know,’ I chuckled. ‘But just for the record, even if I didn’t like this book, you shouldn’t care. Reading is so subjective. The important thing is thatyoulike it. Don’t let other people’s opinions ruin your enjoyment.’
