Page 138 of Bookworm

"You know you're amazing, okay?" I said.

He seemed satisfied with that.

"People at school made a bet to see who could hook up with you, for goodness sakes."

I couldn't be sure, but if the lighting was better inThe Singing Fish, I bet Bo would've been sporting a blush.

"And now, you're here with me—after I successfully wiped the floor with you by the way—and I'm awesome," I added, pleasure coursing through me whenhis lips tip up. "So see? There's a lot to be thankful for."

"Alright, Kent," he said. "I get it. Things coulddefinitely be worse."

I nodded.

"My turn.Why don't you believe in happily ever after?"

"I do," I said. "In books."

"Why not in real life?"

"I feel like that's two questions."

He narrowed his eyes, and I sighed.

"Alright fine"—I shrugged—"I guess it probably has something to do with all that stuff with my mom. After she left…I don't know. I saw my dad's grief. Isaw how easy it was for her to leave usbehind.If life was a romance novel, she would've come back for him, for us. It just made me stop believing in happy endings, you know?"

I gave another shrug.

"I think that's why people read books. Ninety-nine percent of the time, they're better than reality."

It was silent a moment, then…

"Careful, Kent," he said. "You're starting to sound pessimistic like me. I've seen your resting frown face. Not sure you can pull it off."

Bo's words brought back the light. I appreciated that more than he could ever know.

I smiled. "No worries, Stryker. I'mstill an eternal optimist and a romantic."

"Just not one who wants to fall in love," he said.

"Not if I can help it," I said.

Though as I looked into Bo's eyes, something shifted inside my chest, and I wasn't sure I had any say in the matter.

"But if you did," he added, "if you found love, you wouldn't run away from it, right?"

"I hope not," I said slowly."That was kind of a weird thing to say."

He shrugged. "Just curious."

Shaking myself, I said, "Do you like older or younger women?"

Bo looked surprised for a beat, but then he sat back, relaxing intothe booth. "Not sure.I don't think age is a factor for me."

Well, that didn't help at all.I was trying to determine whether Meech or Bianca was Bo's mystery woman.His answer didn't eliminate either one of them which meant I'djust wasted one of my questions. Shoot.

He watched me with a thoughtful expression, and I started to grow twitchy, like he could read my thoughts.

"Shin and Meech are killing it up there," I said, wincing as Shin's voice pierced the air ona high note. Meech wasn't doing much better, though her dance moves seemed more natural. Shin was just jumping around. "Literally, I think they're trying to murder each other with their voices."

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