Page 20 of Can't Take My Eyes Off You

‘Humor me, Berx. I just want an hour with you. Please,’ he begs, his eyes pleading along with his words, practically melting my heart on the spot.

‘Things are good. I’m settled into our, er—myapartment.’

He frowns to himself. ‘But you’re happy?’

‘With the apartment? Yeah. It’s everything we dreamed.’

‘When do I get the tour?’

‘Never,’ I say without missing a beat. That’s my new talent.Nos come easily, because if they don’t,yeses cause problems.

He jerks his head up, a look of confusion on his face. ‘Never?’

I shrug my shoulders. ‘Youhavea key, Will, and since all this started you’ve yet to even see if it works. You saw the plans; the place looks just like that, only I opted for a queen-size bed as opposed to a king. No need for a huge bed when I’m all alone.’

‘Right,’ he says softly. ‘Makes sense, considering you’re the queen of my heart.’

I shake my head, now biting into my sandwich. ‘Rule number two, Adler.Noflirting.’

He rolls his eyes.

‘Let’s talk about bigger things,’ I suggest when I’m done chewing. ‘You have a theme song! They picked a good one as youarestunning.’

He groans. ‘Let’snottalk about that. I came here to get away from the show, not chit-chat about it. I needed a moment to decompress and there’s only one place I feel myself…’

‘I know.’ I soften, because I can tell he’s struggling with the show, and I’m not a total bitch. ‘It’ll get easier. Life changes take time, but eventually you’ll be comfortable there. I don’t know how you couldn’t; the place is to die for.’

‘Are you comfortable at the apartment alone?’ he asks sadly.

‘Um… yeah. I mean, are reminders everywhere? Yes. But I’m making it work. I even took a chance and tried something new the other day.’

He looks at me curiously.

‘Black pepper popcorn – it’s so good. I’ll pick you up a bag.’

‘Alright,’ he says with a smile. ‘See, this is what I mean. I needed this.’

‘You needed to talk about popcorn?’

‘I needed normality. To be treated like I’m not Prince Willy but just some guy who used to live completely under the radar with his best friend at his side. You make me feel normal.’

‘I’m gla—’

Before I can finish my sentence, I notice half the waitress staff at this restaurant are at the front counter, giggling and whispering and before I can even remember what I was saying they’re approaching our table. As soon as they speak to him, he’s suddenly all smiles for his fans. These are the moments that remind me he’s no longer mine anymore. Two years is starting to feel like a lifetime.

7

BERKLEY

Work was long today. We had two author signings and I’ve only just gotten the shop cleaned up and am now lying in bed, with a seven-layer chip dip that won’t survive to the new year. What I didn’t do was go out and party like Will wanted me to. Instead, I’m watchingDick Clark’s NYREalone. I couldn’t possibly miss it, yet watching it alone isn’t the same, and the book on my nightstand is also calling my name. But it’s romance. Am I up for reliving my own heartbreak through someone else’s love story? Not yet.

Will did beg me to come to a party with him tonight but I can’t handle being out with theRoyalsidiots. They’re too desperate for attention. Yes, I wanted to be with the Will I used to know. I wanted to kiss him at midnight like I have every year since I met him. But I only see little bits of that guy so it looks like this is officially the year I start without him.

I click the volume of the TV up louder to drown out the ticking clock on my bedroom wall. Just get to midnight, Dick, so I can cry myself to sleep and then wake up refreshed, renewed, and in a brand new year.

The slam of the downstairs side door to the outside startles me, and I sit straight up, muting the TV I just turned up, listening. I locked up the shop, right? I jump out of my bed, grab the baseball bat I keep for security, and tiptoe into my living room as heavy steps come up my stairs.Whyare they coming up here when there’s a whole bookstore to rob, and my office they had to walk through to get to my stairwell has the money. Jesus, I locked myfrontdoor, right?

My door handle shakes as someone tries to open it. Am I starting the new year dead? My heart is beating so hard I can hear it in my head. What to do? Hide! I run across the dark room, standing where I know the door will open, and whoever is breaking into my apartment won’t see me. I jab Will’s contact, calling him as I stand against the wall, baseball bat in one hand, phone against my ear in the other.

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