Page 236 of The Hopelessly Bromantic Duet

The photo I took of his first novel at An Open Book.

And one more image TJ added.

A picture fromThe Case of the Disappearing Pages.

It’s official. It only took two weeks for me to fall in love with London, from the sights to the rain to the music.

Don’t get me started on the men, though. That situation is not what I expected. There has been no non-stop fiesta of dick.

Cue the sad wiener trombone.

But hey, I blame my roommate for that.

Jude takes up all the space in my mind. He makes everyone else look like a carbon copy of an already faded, old-timey, black-and-white photograph.

After the last week of getting to know him, I’m no longer convinced I can handle fifty more weeks of living together with, let’s face it, my dream guy. He’s the swooniest man I’ve ever known, and my entire body vibrates just being near him. He’s wickedly charming and ridiculously beautiful, and I am so far gone.

Then we go to our public pages and tell our readers, our fans, and friends to watch the video.

Anyone is welcome to hearour love story.

EPILOGUE

THE LUCKIEST GUY IN THE WORLD

Jude

To say I’m on the edge of my seat on Oscar night would be an understatement. I tug on the cuffs of my tux—fiddle with the cufflinks.

Shifting closer, TJ presses a hand on mine, calming my nerves.

Mostly.

As the presenter at the Dolby Theatre reads off names for the best actor nominees, my boyfriend threads his fingers through mine.

Squeezes.

His reassurance settles my pulse more. Still, this is one of the biggest moments of my career, and I am wired.

“And the Academy Award for best actor goes to...” The presenter pauses, smiles, then finishes, “Sebastian Lowe.”

For a few seconds, I’m disappointed. I wanted to win. I wanted to give the speech Helen urged me to write.

But I’m okay. I’m more than okay as TJ leans in, presses a kiss onto my cheek.

And I clap for my fellow actor.

It’s fitting, in a way, Sebastian getting this honor since I got something that was meant for him.

So, I cheer harder. I’m truly thrilled for him, but more for the things he’s trying to do than for what he accomplished tonight. A week ago, the captivating actor reached out to me privately. He said he wanted to talk to me about being out in Hollywood. What it means. How to navigate it.

TJ and I will have coffee with him tomorrow.

I didn’t come to Hollywood for that reason, but if my presence here makes someone else’s choices easier, then I’m grateful.

I’m grateful for so very much—this life, this love, these chances.

I have this man by my side.

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