Page 202 of Dark Love

Vex loves me.

He likes my books, and he loves me. I don’t need to hide that part of myself from him. How am I going to tell him?

Do I just blurt it out? Oh hi, by the way, I’m the person who wrote those books. I’ve been keeping it a secret from you.

That only sounds a lot stupid.

I could tell him that I’m shy.

Like he doesn’t already know that.

Why couldn’t they have had book one in stock?

Vex already has book one. But he doesn’t have my latest book.

There’s a box full of Advanced Reader Copies in my suitcase that I was going to share with my author group.

I could sign one and give it to him… That’s perfect! I dash up the stairs, stopping at the spy door, which closed automatically when we came downstairs. A book propped up on the floor works to prevent it from closing behind me.

Thankfully, we left my suitcases by the door when we came in from shopping today. It doesn’t take long for me to grab the book and dash back downstairs.

What do I say?

Dear Vex—It feels wrong to put that name onto paper.

Yet, it’s his name. That’s who he is.

No. His father attached violence to his name.

This is silly. Just write something.

To a future of solving mysteries with you.

I love you,

D. P. Flowers

That will work.

“Why are you sitting on the floor instead of the perfectly comfortable chair just a few feet away?” Vex walks over to the bookshelf I’m sitting in front of.

“You read D. P Flowers' mystery novels.”

“Yeah? Payne got me one as a gag gift.”

Gag gift. My books are a joke to him.

Vex shrugs. “Turns out Flowers writes a great mystery. He’s become one of my favorite authors, if you can’t tell.”

That was a roller coaster of emotions in a single long moment. You can do this. You can tell him. “None of your books are signed.”

“Flowers doesn’t sign his books either. Reclusive mystery authors seem to be a thing. Why?”

It’s now or never. “I thought you might like one.” I hold the book out to him with trembling hands.

“Dahl, I have all—” He grabs the book out of my hands. “—Where did you get this one? Flowers isn’t releasing this for two months.”

Two months and three days, to be exact, but who’s counting? “That’s an Advanced Reader Copy. Authors give them to friends, influencers, and loyal readers.”

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