Hemingway looked up from her spot on the couch, sighed, and settled back down again.
She’d get interested again once the box was empty.
I brought the other half of Felix’s sandwich over to him, passing him the plate as he started to peel tape away from cardboard.
“You want a box cutter? I’ve got one in the kitchen.”
“No, it might damage them,” Felix said, picking at the edge of the tape with short nails and making a tiny sound of triumph as he got a hold of it, tearing the strip off in one dramatic flourish.
“Close your eyes,” he demanded, an order that definitely wasn’t to be refused.
I obeyed, letting my eyes fall closed. Whatever was in the box was clearly a surprise.
“Hold out your hands,” Felix added.
I followed his instructions, hoping he wasn’t about to hand me the entire box like this. If he could lift it,Icould lift it, but not without being able to get a grip.
A second later it turned out I was worrying for nothing. Felix put something much smaller than the box in my hands. Cool, firm to the touch, about the size of…
Abook.
“No way,” I said, opening my eyes and staring down at the thing in my hands. “Noway,” I repeated.
The ARC copies of the seventh book. With a cover in the style of the old ones Felix had loved so much, and his name in letters bigger than the title.
I knew enough about how things worked to know that was a good sign. If hisnamewas more a selling point than the title of the book, that meant his career was going well.
“Yes way,” Felix said, beaming at me. “Been waiting for these all week, wasn’t sure they’d show up before I have to leave.”
I’d almost forgotten they were due. Felix had kept the secret well.
“That’s your copy,” he added. “Since you’re my favorite and most important influencer.”
“And least biased.” I laughed. I thought everything Felix did was incredible. I thought the way he yawned in the mornings was incredible.
I couldn’t have an objective opinion of this book. Not after everything it’d meant to us.
But I’d sure as hell tell the world that my boyfriend was amazing and they should all read his book.
Felix chewed on the remainder of his sandwich as I flicked the ARC open, stopping on the dedication page and staring.
For Kieran, Alex to my Eliot. I’ll always come back to you.
Tears sprang up in my eyes as I reached out to trace the words. I needed to touch them to be sure they were real.
Felix set his plate down and wrapped his arms around me from the side, resting his chin on my shoulder.
“Good timing on these,” he said softly. “Just in case you were worried that I was never coming back.”
“I know where you live,” I said, but the joke fell flat.
This meant the world to me, and I couldn’t pretend otherwise.
“And I know whereyoulive,” Felix said. “And I mean it. I’ll always come back to you. Losing you once was enough for a lifetime.”
“Agreed,” I said, wrapping an arm around him and setting the book back on the stack.
I’d read it half a dozen times now, but that wasn’t going to stop me reading it again.
