Page 77 of Counterfeit Boyfriend
33Gwen
“Tori?”I burst into the apartment, a stuffed unicorn tucked under my arm. “You’ll never guess—” I froze as I took in the enormous bouquet of red tulips on the counter.
“I bet I can guess,” she said, coming out from the hallway.
“Was he here?” I asked, my throat going dry.
“Just the delivery man.” She leaned her elbows on the counter. “But… Well, don’t be mad, but I might’ve provided him with your schedule. Since it was to leave you notes and not to ambush you, I figured it was okay, and you’ve been so miserable, and really, someone needed to do something.”
I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “So you told him to do this?”
Tori adamantly shook her head. “This was all him. He got in touch with me—evidently Evan had my info—and asked if I’d help. I told him I would, and that if he made it impressive enough, maybe I wouldn’t follow through on the threat to take out a restraining order against him—”
“Tori!”
She held up her hands. “Just a bluff. Had to see what he was made of. Admittedly, he’s pretty damned determined. I think the boy might be a wee bit crazy over you.” She jerked her chin at the flowers. “Did you read the note yet?”
“Not this one.” I reached for it, the big yellow square on the plastic holder that usually held fancier, tinier cards. He’d folded the paper several extra times to get it to fit and my impatience grew as I struggled to unfurl it.
Using my palm, I smoothed out the creases.
Gwen,
I love that you prefer tulips over roses, and I like that you have a squirrel charm on your ankle bracelet. Your friends were right, but I’m not sure I feel quite right saying I never thought I’d find a squirrel so damn sexy. I love how excited you get about things, and how you’re equally excited about the next thing that pops up. I love how you know a ton about lighthouses. How you make superhero jokes. And don’t even get me started on your laugh. It’s seriously my favorite. Plus your dimples.
And the way you stretch your legs up on the dash.
I could leave or take your music, but if it meant having you next to me, I’d let you play how much ever awful music you wanted.
I have a picture that proves I’m also pretty fond of your ass, but until you decide to give me another chance, I’m keeping it. (Notice how I said the thing about giving me another chance like it’s an inevitability. Hint, hint).
I also want to make a cheesy pun about your two lips, but I’m afraid I’ll undo everything else I’ve said today. Shit, I probably undid it by just saying that, didn’t I? I’d start a new piece of paper, but I’m trying to lay it all out there, so…
I promised myself I’d give everything I had to showing you how much I care, and that I know you better than anyone else. If you don’t want me to contact you after today, well, it’ll kill me, but I won’t keep bugging you. That’s not me giving up, it’s me letting you choose and giving you your freedom.
I do, however, have a few more hours till the clock strikes midnight…
He didn’t sign it, and I wasn’t sure what exactly the clock-striking-midnight statement meant. It was seven o’ clock and if I had to wait till midnight for the conclusion, I might explode.
“Why are you frowning like that? Was the note bad?” Tori asked.
“No. It was just as sweet and funny as the other two notes. It’s just that the other notes told me facts about who he is.” His words were amazing, and they made my heart soar, but I found I missed those details he’d included about himself. I wanted to dive deeper into who Ethan was. I wanted to see if we could make things work.
I did. I couldn’t help it.
Ethan always claimed I’d be fine on my own. And technically I was still breathing, still living, but I no longer felt fine without him my life.
The doorbell rang.
I stared at the wood that separated me from whoever it was, afraid to hope, afraid to move, afraid to breathe.
“I’ll get it,” Tori called out, unnecessarily loud. She swung open the door, blocking the way with her body. “Do I know you? You look super familiar, yet slightly different.”
“Funny,” Ethan said, and a swarm of dizzy butterflies swirled through my gut.
“I thought so. I said I’d help, not that I wouldn’t make you work for it.”
“Fair enough. I’ve prepared a big closing argument. Can I come in and finish presenting my case?”
