Page 11 of The Best Book Boyfriend
Hattie:DO IT!!!
After Adam left, Hattie sent me a gift box of sex toys as a break up present. She said something about how I needed to get to know my mind and my body from scratch. So on that front I’ve been doing just fine, and haven’t really seen the need to bring an actual man back into my life.
I always thought it was good with Adam, but a lot of what I read about in books blows it out of the water. It doesn’t stop me thinking about it often, though. He’s the only man I’ve ever been with, how am I meant tonotthink about him?
How he used to manoeuvre me into his favourite positions, how he used to kiss my neck, how tightly he held me when he came. I probably think about it too often. Sometimes I miss having sex with him, even though I think he’d become a bit selfish. It wasn’t always a team effort anymore, and sometimes he finished before I’d really warmed up. It was definitely less frequent than those early days when we couldn’t keep our hands off each other.
I think that’s normal though? It’s not really possible to keep up the chemistry you have when you’re a brand new couple. Or more likely, he wasn’t having sex with me because he was having it with someone else. I try not to think about that part too much.
That’s another reason I love having a new Book Boyfriend. It’s someone to fantasise about that isn’t him. Someone who knows what they’re doing and will never, ever hurt me.
By Sunday night, I’ve talked myself into texting Luke. I keep checking my phone, hoping for a message from him, but I don’t know why. He doesn’t even have my number. The ball is entirely in my court, and I don’t know how to play.
I try to remind myself that we had a friendly conversation about my favourite subject. If nothing else, I might get to do more of that. And maybe a cute guy with a coffee shop and an interest in books wouldn’t be a bad person to practice flexing my flirting muscles on.
I amnotflirting over text though. I don’t know how and I won’t even try in case I use the wrong emoji and somehow suggest I want to touch his... never mind. Keep it simple.
Kara:Hi Luke. Nice to meet you on Friday. Thanks for the coffee.
Do I mention the doing a runner in B&Q thing? No, probably best pretend that never happened.
Here are three books for the time of your life:
1. Snowed Inn - events manager Tiffany and hockey player Parker get stuck together in a snowstorm. (This will show you that romance books can be fun.)
2. The (Mis)Adventures of Becky Baxter - Becky’s been single for a year, but when she meets a guy who is only in town for one long weekend, she decides it’s time to get back in the game. (This will show you that romance books can take you to unexpected places.)
3. Roomies - Guz and Sam are accidentally allocated to the same apartment during their final year of medical school. (This one is MM but worth reading for the tension alone)
If those don’t convince you, then nothing will. You’re a lost cause.
Good lord, I imagine never in history has anyone written such a long text. I’m not over thinking this. I hit send then realiseI haven’t even said who it’s from.
This is Kara by the way!
An exclamation mark?Go to bed, Kara, you idiot.
Chapter 6
Luke
Kara.Her name is Kara.
Ever since I met her on Friday, I’ve been bollocking myself for not asking. She’s not one of those women who looks like a particular name, and believe me, I’ve run hundreds through my mind trying to guess. Not a Sophie or a Hannah or an Ellie or a Rose.
No way would I ever have guessed Kara. It suits her. Kara and Luke. Luke and Kara.Woah there bud. Don’t get ahead of yourself.
I’d been getting out of the bath when I heard my phone ping from my bedroom, and I nearly slipped, rushing to check my messages. I was hoping the text would be from her, and not one of the team telling me they can’t work tomorrow.
This weekend has been really busy, which was great, but on Mondays we host a co-working group. I’ll need help to make sure they’re served quickly, and a bit of support so I can get ahead of admin and order more stock for the week.
Thankfully, nobody is calling in sick, and now here I am lying on my bed, towel wrapped around my waist, reading Kara’s message over and over again. I’m surprised she’s even messaged after legging it out of the shop yesterday. She seemed pretty flustered and embarrassed, but even then, she looked pretty cute and I was happy to see her.
This message is very direct. And polite. I’m searching for a hint of hidden meaning in her words. There’s no sign that she wants to meet again, or even a suggestion of flirting, but I like her notes about each book.
I don’t know what‘MM’means, so I Google the book title to find out.Ah, Male/Male.It’s probably not something I’d normally pick up, but if she rates it, I’ll give it a go. After insulting her, it’s the least I can do, and I’m keen to redeem myself if possible. Plus, I can tell just from our brief conversation that she has taken this really seriously.
I read it again. ‘The tension is epic.’So I guess that’s something she likes. I wonder what else.
