Page 24 of You Can't Fight Lightning
“Now you’re making fun of me.”
“No, I’m not at all. I’m respecting your agency and giving you the time and space you need.”
I glanced down. He wasn’t readingOnce Upon a Marquessanymore. The book he held now wasHer Every Wish. “Did you get the whole series?” I jerked my chin at the book.
Z looked down. “You know, I wasn’t sure the librarian was in her right mind when she pushed these on me, but I love the characters, and I really want to help them out of their foolishness. It’s frustrating until they figure it out for themselves.”
“That means you’re invested in the story.”
He nodded as he sat back down. “There’s room here, and room next to me. I’m having brunch.”
I sat down at the table next to him. “You’re a fan of brunch. What’s up with that?”
He turned partially in his chair and I could feel his enthusiasm. “Because I really love breakfast, especially the bacon and tomatoes. But I also love parts of lunch, with a sandwich, some avocado. Brunch is the best invention.”
I had to laugh. I mean, if you’d seen his expression, one of an acolyte, and watched him talk, you would have laughed too. “I think you have the right idea.”
“I know I do.” He was smug in his certainty. “On this, there is no discussion. If there is, it can happen out of my presence.”
I laughed again. Something about the way he spoke was both formal and humorous, although I didn’t think he meant to be humorous.
Oh, son of a damn gun. Why was I cursed? Why?
This guy was great.
No. No. He just seemed great. So many of them did. And then you got more involved, and they had mom issues, dog issues, stalking issues, dying issues. No. Keep your distance. It was better for everyone involved.
The waitress came out, and with Z’s eyes on me, I ordered a sandwich and a completely decadent coffee drink. I’d hiked more than I planned to, so I could afford a few extra calories.
When she left, I looked at him. He was reading, although whether to give me some privacy or space, I couldn’t tell.
“She’s a great author.”
He looked up. “She is.” He put the book down and looked off into the distance. “I know these are fiction, but they are realistic. And they show men as they should be. Which is not how I’ve been.”
To say I was stunned was not putting it strongly enough. Did a guy, a hot guy, a guy I’d only yesterday thought was a player, just admit he was wrong?
Was this real?
Or was it more of his play?
I decided despite how impressed I was that I would listen with a critical ear.
Although it wasn’t like I was getting involved with this guy, so it didn’t matter if this was part of his playbook or not.
Right?
Right?
Chapter Eight
Z
Icouldn’t believe my luck in having Roxy just walk down the street as I was in the middle of many, many revelations. From humans writing fiction, no less.
And then to have her agree to sit beside me—I had to thank the first book I’d read. The hero gave the heroine time to make a decision, to make her own choices. He gave her space, agency, and his full support and love.
All my existence, I was sure I knew best.
