Page 51 of Unapologetic Love Story

‘Maybe.’

‘Cynical, jaded Tom Branimir likes Superman? I thought you’d be a Bruce Wayne guy for certain!’

‘Absolutely not,’ Tom barked, making her laugh all the more. ‘He does jack shit for Gotham; he’s an establishment hack. Superman actually cares about doing good, not because of the optics, but because it’s the right thing to do. He doesn’t look at the outcome; he does good because he has to. He chooses to!’

Raina smiled gently. ‘Okay. So you loved Superman. And now you’re Lois Lane?’

Tom’s eyes widened at the observation, and suddenly they were both laughing. Hysterically.

‘Damn,’ he finally said. ‘You’re right.’

‘I know I am.’

He grew serious again. ‘But you need to stop being Clark Kent and start being who you’re meant to be. Which is fucking Superman.’

‘Tom Branimir,’ Raina said gravely. ‘If you’re getting at the “autism is a superpower” shit, don’t. I tried telling myself that as a kid, but life knocks that right out of you.’

‘I don’t mean that. I mean people fucking need you. I’ve read all the comments from your followers. I’ve seen the impact. You’re doing something important. That’s why you make the right people mad. So, stop acting like a small-town Clark Kent. Pretending you’re just doing a civic duty, keeping your head down and hunching over. Stand tall. Like the goddamn hero they know you are.’

Raina stared at him for a moment. She felt like she’d been dropped. Like the air had been punched out of her lungs. She knew she had to say something, or she would end up falling into him.

‘I’m having a birthday party this weekend.’

He looked taken aback. ‘It’s your birthday?’

‘On Sunday, but the party is on the Saturday night.’ She touched his calf with her foot. ‘You can come, if you want.’

His eyes followed her touch. And then, to her astonishment, he nodded. ‘I’d like that.’

‘It’s going to be a small affair compared to Pepper’s birthday. We’re prepping for that already.’

‘Oh, yeah?’

‘Hers is going to be Gatsby themed.’

Tom groaned. ‘Of course.’

‘I’d invite you, but she might make you put on a tux and serve the drinks.’

‘Yes, she really fucking hates me.’

‘Well . . .’ Raina swung her feet gently. ‘I guess she’s just worried for me. And whatever you end up writing.’

She could feel him watching her, his gaze almost a physical touch against her skin. ‘I’m not going to ruin you, Raina.’

‘Oh, come on,’ she said weakly. ‘Men always say that.’

A pause fell between them and Raina felt exposed, like prey that had wandered too far from the thicket. It was now almost impossible for her to keep that mask on when she was around Tom Branimir. The ice queen melted. The indifferent wallflower wanted to dance.

The real Raina wanted to muscle her way forward and bask in the open for once. She wanted to be fully wrapped around this man. She wanted his hands all over her and her perfume on his sheets.

‘Major congratulations on the award nominations,’ he said, his voice deep and full of genuine warmth. ‘No one deserves it more than you.’

‘It’s not too frivolous?’

He smiled, chastised by the reminder of his earlier words. ‘No. Not at all.’

They gazed at one another for a moment before he spoke again, this time with a drop of remorse.