Page 82 of Our Little Cliche
“He wanted me to give you these,” she says, passing me four pink gift bags that probably weigh more than me. My jaw hits the floor, peeking inside of the bags. It’s not justa fewof her books—it’sallof them. Signed special editions with foiled covers, sprayed edges, and some merch too.
“You’re joking?”
“Nope,” she smiles, bearing her pearly veneers.
“Mr. Stone did this?” I croak in disbelief, using his surname since his first isn’t publicly known. Surprisingly, she doesn’t seem at all concerned that clearly Cyrus and I have a thing.
“He did. He mentioned you’re a big fan of mine. Hemade sure that you were to own every book I’ve written.”
“I have them all already. Well, only the Kmart copies. You’re my favorite author in the entire world. Every book you write Ireadthe dayof release, no ifs or buts. You’re who got me into reading in the first place.”
“You’re a lucky woman, Holly. I hope there’s a shelf big enough for these,” she says playfully.
“I do, actually.” There’s enough room for my thirty-five books to be precise.
Cyrus’s library.
“Sorry, excuse me…” The reporter that was previously with Cyrus politely interrupts. “May I?” she adds, holding her camera and notepad up to Izzy.
“Sorry, I’m holding you up.”
“No, you’re not at all. Did you want to take a photo before you go?” Izzy asks me.
I fumble with my back pocket, reaching for my phone. “Oh, I would love?—”
I catch a glimpse at the text message from Cyrus spread across my screen and I feel my cheeks burn in an instant.
Cyrus Stone aka Sexy Boss:
You look so fucking beautiful when your face lights up like that. Consider them your belated Christmas gift, angel. Love you x
“—I’d love that… uh… please,” I finally speak.
“Allow me, ladies,” Cyrus’s voice creeps up from behind me, taking my phone from my hand.God he looks good in a suit.
“I’ll come back later, sorry,” the reporter whispers, sneaking off.
“Stone. It’s been a while,”
“Trying to steal myP.A.are you, Bella?”
Bella. Izzy must be her nickname, maybe it’s short for Isabella.
“There isn’t a soul on this earth that has the power to do that.”
Cyrus, who’s grinning like the Cheshire Cat at me, nods in agreement, gesturing for me to stand beside Izzy.
She was right: that look only comes once in a lifetime.
“Say cheese, ladies.”
While he takes the photos, looking at me the way he is, I mentally go back to a quote from one of the men in Izzy’s book.
“Our love went from zero to one-hundred, then somehow lasted for an eternity in slow motion.”
Wow.
I really am living a cliché romance…
