Page 107 of Not in My Book

“Ugh,” I said, sitting up, suddenly nervous. “It’s okay if it’s bad.”

“Shh,” he admonished, still reading. “Don’t draw me out of it.”

I studied him as he read, trying to see any break in his expression.

“If you don’t like it, you can tell me. I can take it.” I paused. “But maybe be a little nicer than you were in September.”

“Rosie, I can’t focus with you staring at me like that.” A few moments later, he clicked his phone off and faced me, smiling.

“Well?” I demanded. “What’d you think?”

“I loved it.”

I groaned. “Tell me what I need to fix. I know you have something simmering in that devious brain of yours.”

“I have notes, but not a lot. I think it’s in really good shape. Do you want to go over them now?”

“Please.”

He spent the next hour going over line-by-line edits with me. Naturally, we argued over a few different key points, but it was mostly painless. The way Aiden talked about it soseriouslyand was giving me so much effort filled me with joy.

After I was happy with it, I submitted it that afternoon. I peppered him with kisses in thanks.

“It really means a lot to me,” I said afterward.

He regarded me and said, “You act like it’s some big nuisance that I’d do something like that for you. Iwantto, Rosie. I want to be the first one you show your writing and the one you tell all those thought in your head. I’m grateful that you let me.”

I blinked away tears before they could fall. “You were worth every bit of the wait, Aiden.”

Eventually, I had to leave. After I collected my things and put my shoes on for the first time in days, he pressed me against the front door, his mouth on mine.

“You sure I can’t convince you to stay?” He murmured against my neck, biting softly where he’d easily discovered I was sensitive.

“You’re making a really good case.”

He huffed a laugh. “I can make a better one upstairs.”

I groaned and pushed him away, “No, no, I need to go. I’ll see you on Monday, okay?”

“Fine,” he said begrudgingly. It was only Wednesday, but Monday felt so far away. He gave me a final reluctant kiss, his hand on my jaw, angling my mouth whichever way he wanted. I walked all the way home a little dazed, wishing I could turn right back around.

“I’m home,” I called out to Alexa as I shoved our front door open later that morning. She was supposed to arrive home late last night. I hadn’t seen her since before break ended, and I hated how lonely the apartment had felt without her. Alexa’s bedroom door creaked open, and I moved to give her a hug. “How was your break?”

She hugged me back, but then stilled; she pulled back and peered at me. “Oh my God. You and Aiden fucked.”

I straightened. “Um.”

“Oh my God!” she yelled, grabbing my hands. “You twofucked!Tell me everything.”

We sat on the couch, snuggled in blankets. Her eyes were wide as I relayed every detail of the weekend. Even talking about it now was surreal. It was like I was speaking about a romance novel, not my own life.

“To quote you, ‘That’s so romantic.’ ”

I laughed. “It was.”

She smiled wide. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Me too.” I smiled to myself for the millionth time that day.

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