Page 114 of Bookworm

"You check them out for your grandma."

Bo cut his eyes at me. "Yeah."

"Romance novels."

"Your point?"

"It's just interesting."

"What is?"

"You," I said.

His brow scrunched.

It was clear he didn't know what I meant and was waiting for more. Bo wanted an explanation—but I wanted him to ask for it.After five seconds, during which I bit my tongue, Bo caved.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he said finally.

"It means you're not nearly as broody as you pretend to be."

His answer was a scoff.

"Seriously, Stryker." I gestured to him and the books. "I never knew you were such amarshmallow."

"I'm not a…what'd you just call me?"

"Oh yeah, you are," I laughed as he gave me a look. "You're tough on the outside but soft on the inside.

Bo shook his head. "Never been calledsoft, Kent."

"Okay, well maybe more like a little ray of sun wearing the clothes of a thunder cloud."

"Clouds don't wear clothes."

He sounded so serious laughter poured from my lips.

"What?"

"Do you have any idea how funny you are?" I said, wiping my eyes.

Bo sniffed, and I shook my head. Once we were on the other side of the street, we turned to face each other.Sounding reluctant, as if the words were pulled from his lips, he asked, "So, what exactly is a marshmallow?"

I smiled with delight. "A marshmallow is someone who acts all hard but secretly has a gooey center. An example might be a person who crosses the street just to pick up books for his grandmother, so she won't have to irritate her bad hip."

I shook my head.

"It's you, Bo. My boyfriend is a total marshmallow."

A slight grin tilted his lips.

"What are you smiling about?" I asked.

"I never smile, Kent," he said. "That's for do-gooders—like you—and oblivious people who don't see how awful the world is."

Despite his words, the ghost of a smile still lingered at the corners of his mouth.

It was equal parts gorgeous and unnerving.

---