Page 93 of The Best Book Boyfriend
I turn it up and start swaying to the music, closing my eyes and shaking my limbs loose. The lyrics transform me. I skip and jump and punch the air and scream along with the words, neighbours be damned. When the song ends, I collapse to the floor, sweaty and breathless, my hair sticking to my face and my neck.
But I feel great, so fucking great. And also gross. I need to freshen up and pull myself together. This is the first day of the rest of my life and I’ve got somewhere very important to be.
Chapter 39
Kara
“Kara,whatareyoudoing here?”
“Can I come in, please?” Asking is pointless, I’m already stepping inside and tucking my shoes away. “I owe you an apology and you’re going to have to bear with me because I’m losing my mind about it.”
I walk through the kitchen, stopping in the middle of his living room. “I know, I know, yet another apology. I seem to spend half my life apologising to you.”
“Kara, I need to say something first.”
“No, please—”
“Sit down. I’ve got a whole speech written.”
My head whips up.A speech! For me?“You have?”
“Yes, and I can’t keep this from you any longer, because I’m losing my mind about it too.” His warm hands squeeze my shoulders and he walks me backwards until my calves hit the edge of his sofa. There go the flutters in my belly again.
I pull my feet up, cross my legs, and watch him lift a piece of paper from his shirt pocket. He pushes his fingers back through his hair and coughs to clear his throat, his eyes locked on mine. My heart softens under that look and I see it all, everything that’s about to unfold, without a single word spoken.
“You ready?” he asks, and he’s so damn cute I want to leap into his arms. I bite my lip and nod.
“Kara—” he smiles so wide. It may be the best smile I’ve ever seen, and I’m powerless to do anything except smile right back. We pass a good thirty seconds just grinning at each other.
“Is that it?”
“Sorry, you just look right at home there.” He shifts from one foot to the other and I realise he’s as nervous as I am.
“OK, here goes. Kara, You walked into my life four months ago and made everything better. I know Adam broke your heart, and I know you wanted him to come back, but I don’t think you want that anymore. And I get it, I know it must feel weird to be with someone who’s been married and still would be if life hadn’t dealt him a shitty hand. This would all be so easy if it was a book, but this isn’t a book, this is real life. I know things feel complicated, but I’m right here and, complicated or uncomplicated, I want to be with you. As more than just friends, just to be clear.”
My heart.It just can’t be possible that it will fit in my chest any longer. It’s beating so fast and ready to explode.
“I don’t presume to know what you want, but I know you love a Book Boyfriend. So I’m telling you right now, I’ll be any Book Boyfriend you want me to be. I’ll be Aiden fromGot Wood?I’ll be Jason inDealbreaker. I’ll learn to skate and be one of yourIce Kings. I’ll be Toby, I’ll be Anders, I’ll be Jameson. I’d say I’ll be Marco inTen Night Stand,but I’m going to need a hell of a lot more than ten nights with you. And you already know I make a good Matthew Braverman.”
A telling smile is written all over his face. He’s not even looking at the paper. He knows every word of this speech because it’s from his heart. Mine is swelling as he spills his words out for me.
“That night on the sofa,” he continues, “I’ve replayed it so many times. You told me your favourite Book Boyfriend is Matthew, because even though he might seem like her enemy, he’s always looking out for Briony’s best interests. Well, I’ve been besotted with you since the day we met. After that first night here I was worried I’d rushed you and I didn’t want to add any stress to your life or make you feel like you had to do anything. But I can’t keep my feelings from you any longer. All I’ve wanted this whole time is what’s best for you because you deserve the world, Kara. And I wouldn’t be looking out for your best interests if I let you get back together with...him.”
Besotted! Luke is besotted!
My blood is roaring in my ears. It takes everything in my power not to roll back onto the sofa and kick my legs up and down in the air like a kid on their birthday, because that’s how I feel right now. He doesn’t need to say all of this. I already know it, and I’ve felt it for ages, but I let him keep going because this is the most Book Boyfriend thing that has ever happened to me. Apart from the coffee shop meet-cute. And the night on the sofa. And all the making eyes at each other across Book Club, the reading weekend, and the fake dating birthday dinner. Everything about Luke is pure Book Boyfriend.
“The night of your birthday. I wasn’t faking. I know I was pretending to be Matthew, but I wanted everything that happened that night so much. Then you told me you were going on a date and it crushed me. I just wanted you to stay for the rest of the day, all weekend, forever really. I wish I could support you dating, but I can’t bear to see you meet shitty guy after shitty guy and lower your standards because—”
“Luke, stop,” I cut him off.
“Please, just let me finish.”
“No, stop. I need to tell you something right now.” Standing up, I step closer to him, take both his hands in mine and get ready to change our lives.
Chapter 40
Luke
