Page 142 of Not Exactly a Small-Town Romance

“Don’t say that name in here!” the barista hisses.

“Sorry.”

I shake my head. “Doesn’t sound like a small town to me. Not with twenty—” I almost said it. “You-know-whats.”

“It’s not exactly a small-town romance,” the barista calls. “But everyone can see y’all’s starry eyes. Kiss her already!” She motions to the barista behind her, who hurriedly pulls two cups to make coffees.

“Kiss her!” someone else cries. It becomes a chorus.

Zachery steps in close. “It’s got the good tropes. Friends to lovers. Country to city. Reformed playboy.” He leans in next to my ear. “All the good sex scenes.”

“Shhh.” I grip his arm, but I’m laughing. “So, I have to settle for a big-city movie star instead?”

“It’s a step down, I know.” He lifts my chin.

Zachery. Everything in me says he’s right.

It’s him. It was always him.

From the champagne to the Charlie Brown mug, across the country, in my noisy apartment. From movie premieres to pizza at home, it’s always been Zachery.

“I love you,” he says.

“I think I might love you, too,” I say.

“We’ve got all the time we want to figure it out.”

I don’t need to see the script or read the words to know what will happen.

Because the moment is here.

Zachery Carter kisses me in a colorful coffee shop in Fort Worth, Texas.

And it’s way more than a meet-cute.

It’s a genuinehappily ever after.

Chapter 46

ZACHERY IN THESTARS

One year later

All three of my phones buzz simultaneously. I need to get rid of one. Or two.

I choose the one that reads “Kelsey” on the notification and pick up the voice call.

“Where are you?” she asks.

I glance up at the street signs. “Crossing Broadway. Two blocks away.”

“Allison Firenze doesn’t like to be kept waiting. Do you have the roses? She insisted on roses.”

I shift the bouquet to the inside of my elbow. “Thirteen yellow ones. Not twelve. Not red. Thirteen yellow.”

Kelsey sighs in relief. “Good. Make it look good.”

“Nobody buys it anymore. They all know you’re my one true love.”

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