Page 99 of Not in My Book

“Everyone in the workshop knew it,” Tyler said. “It was only a matter of time, Rosie.”

The three of us continued to chat, but I quickly got the vibe that they wanted to be alone. Tyler smiled easily at everything Jess said and would occasionally push her hair away from her shoulder.

I sent a look to Jess and said, “I’m going to grab some water. Anyone want anything?”

“We’re good,” Jess said with an excited smile.

The bar area was crowded, and it was hard to make my way through since I was so short, but I was in no rush. There were only two minutes until midnight and everyone was trying to get their last drinkof the year. My eyes wandered to the door, hoping Aiden would miraculously walk in before midnight, but the clock was ticking.

Soon, the DJ called out, “One minute to go!”

Everyone dissipated from the bar and started searching for their significant others. Jess and Tyler stood from the booth and made their way to the dance floor as the countdown started on all the TVs.

When the countdown from ten started, I lost hope. It had been too short notice, he probably wouldn’t make it.

Five.

“Hi.”

I whipped around and Aiden was standing behind me—in a red sweater and dark jeans. My mind told me to play it cool, but my body wasn’t listening. I could hardly believe he was standing there, looking at me with soft adoration in his eyes. My heart thumped against my chest. I bit down a smile as I instinctively moved toward him.

Four.

“Hi! You came.”

Three.

He smiled. “I did.”

Two.

“You wore red.”

One.

“Someone told me it’s what you wear when you hope for love.”

I sucked in a breath. “And you’re hoping for love?”

He nodded, stepping toward me. Everyone around us was cheering and kissing as “Auld Lang Syne” played. “I am. I’m not good at it. And I’ve had bad role models, but I want to try.”

I nodded, my chest so full of hope. “Me too.”

He rubbed the material of my dress between his fingers, his hand lingering on my wrist. “What does black mean?”

“It means you’re taking control over your life,” I said. My stomach dipped when his mouth hooked up on one side, smiling down at me. “Do you want to dance?”

He held out his hand silently, and together we stood amongst the swaying couples, our eyes locked on each other’s. He pressed his hand to the small of my back, pulling me closer. I was too short for us to dance cheek to cheek, but Aiden bent his head so we could.

“I was afraid you were drunk,” he whispered, his mouth pressed right against my ear. “And that was the only reason you invited me.”

“I was a little tipsy,” I admitted. “Liquid courage and all that.”

“You don’t need liquid courage. You’ve got me.” His hands tightened on my waist and I gripped his shoulder.

“I know we said we wouldn’t talk about the book anymore. But … if this were a romance novel, and if I were Maxine, which I am, and if you were Hunter, which you are, then this would be the part of the romance novel where we kiss,” I whispered. “It’d be the part where I’d tell you that I want you. And that I think about you all the time.”

Aiden pulled back from me, his green eyes pining me down. His hand came up to cradle my jaw, his thumb brushing across my cheek, softly and slowly.

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