Page 43 of Can't Take My Eyes Off You

‘Yes, I do,’ she says with a laugh. ‘And I have a feeling you’re gonna be real mad when you find out you and he accidentally wore the same outfit. I know how faux pas that is in your world.’

I glance around the room, looking for another Clark Kent, but my gaze lands on a blond man dressed in a full Superman costume. Suit, cape, all of it. I laugh like it’s the funniest thing I’ve seen in all my life.

‘Whatis funny?’ she asks.

‘He’s adumbass, that’s what. Lois Lane doesn’t even know Clark KentisSuperman.’

She pinches her lips together, obviously irritated with me. ‘Well, he originally rented a Spider-Man costume so I’m just happy Gunner was able to convince him to return it. He’s not one to allow superheroes to mix and mingle.’ She looks like she regrets telling me this the moment the words leave her lips. ‘Now be quiet, he’s coming and I don’t want this to be weird.’

‘You thinkI’llbe the one to make it weird?’

‘Yes, Prince Willy. I can smell the booze on your breath. Bite your tongue.’ She shoots me ashut uplook.

‘Willy!’ Alex says suddenly, like he’s only just noticed me. He looks me up and down. ‘My alter ego. You play the dorky reporter well, but now it’s time for my superhero self to whisk my woman away.’ He rests his hand on Berkley’s lower back.

‘I’m waiting on a fresh drink,’ Berkley tells him.

‘What’s the matter, Alex? Worried your lady will fall for the brains and not the brawn? That’s a tad cowardly for Superman, don’t you think?’

Alex turns towards me, annoyance all over his face. ‘What’s your deal, Adler? Don’t you have a girlfriend? Give up.’

Berkley grabs Alex’s shoulder. ‘Can you give me and Will a minute?’

He glances between the two of us. ‘Don’t try anything,’ he warns me, wagging a finger in my face like I’m going to be afraid of him. Please.

As he turns to leave, I turn my attention back to Berkley. ‘Annoying.’ I laugh.

‘Yes, you are.’

‘Me? Why?’

She rolls her eyes, accepting her fresh drink from the bartender and standing from her stool. ‘Let’s go outside and talk, can we?’

‘I’d like that,’ I say, following her through the bar and down the street to a parking garage where things are quieter.

‘I’m not your biggest fan right now.’

‘Tell me something I don’t know.’

‘Whatis with your attitude?’ she bellows, obviously allowing that anger she had for me to release. ‘Youchose this life.’

‘Temporarily,’ I remind her. ‘For us.’

‘No, William. You did not make this decision for us. This was for your soul Kelly’s Olympian – or probably ego, truthfully –remember? Extending the show is only proof of that.’

‘I extended the show because you wouldn’t take me back andinsistedwe part ways.Remember?’ I snap back.

‘Donothave a tone with me, William!’

‘Don’t have a tone with me,Kaine!’

‘UGH! You are impossible!’ She stomps a heel on the ground in frustration. ‘I only see one dumbass here tonight, and that’s the guy who won’t stand up to his parents and be the person hewantsto be, as opposed to the rich dicklord they’ve turned him into.’

‘Finn’sthe lord,’ I say, immediately wishing I hadn’t.

She points, her jaw dropped, anger on her face. ‘You can’t even be serious for one second! I don’t know this Will. You’re drunk all the time. Crying into my voicemail with ridiculous memories from our past. Yet you strut the streets with perfection at your side and the whole world thinks you’re blissfully happy.’

‘It’s anact, Berx. I’m on a TV show.’

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