Page 69 of Book Boyfriend
I smile and blow on my cup. It’s too hot to drink.
“Can I just tell you I still fangirl every time I hear your name? I’ve read every single one of your books.”
“You mentioned that.” I snicker. “Really, I’m just a normal person who got lucky.”
“Fish is the one who got lucky. When he told me he literally ran into you when he was in Florida, I about died.”
I laugh. “Yeah, I guess it was even funnier when he found out who I was.”
“He knew the moment he saw you. I talked about you all the time. I tried to get him to readWeepingonce. I remember he looked at your picture and said you were cute. Funny how things work out, isn’t it?”
She shakes her head and I feel as if I heard her wrong. I replay her words in my head. “When did he tell you he met me?” I ask for clarification.
“He called me the next day before he went on set. He said, ‘I ran into your favorite author yesterday on the beach.’ I think he followed it up with you being even prettier in person.” She winks at me and laughs as my heart sinks.
“So he knew I was an author the minute he saw me, huh?”
“Oh absolutely. Poor guy heard me talk about you every time a new book came out.”
I stare down at my coffee cup and move it around in my hands to warm me. My blood is suddenly cold.
“When I heard you were making a movie, I told him he should look you up and try out for the part. He finally picked up the book and read it. I only asked him like ten times. I’ve never seen him read a book so intently. When he found out that first part was him, oh Lord, you’d think he won the casting lottery!”
I swallow hard and jump from my seat.
“You okay?” Chloe asks. “What’s wrong?”
“I, uh, I just remembered I was supposed to check in with the director and start reviewing stuff. I’m sorry to cut this short. I have to go.”
I practically run from her without saying goodbye. Hitting the elevator button repeatedly, I pray it opens before I burst into tears in the lobby. He knew it was me? He lied to me. Oh my God. He is an incredible actor. He had me completely fooled. I’ve been played from day one.
I’ve ignored all his texts and messages for the past two days. I’ve written angry letters to him to figure out exactly what I’m going to say. I’ve gone over every detail of our entire relationship. It’s been one complicated plot after another.
Luna called me three times today. I can’t talk. I somehow managed to get through auditions and only broke down once. I texted Luna to let her know I was fine. She said Fisher was freaking out and wanted me to call him.
I bet he’s freaking out. I wonder If Chloe told him about our conversation. I don’t blame her. She obviously didn’t realize what he was doing or she wouldn’t have said anything.
I haven’t been able to sleep. I was supposed to fly home yesterday, but I canceled my flight. I told Luna I needed a break and I’d be home soon. She begged me to call her, but I just can’t. How do I tell her how badly I fucked up this time?
I knew it was too good to be true. There’s no way he’d ever love someone like me. I should have known better. After Ollie left me I was desperate to feel wanted by someone. Knowing he cheated on me for years with an older woman who was ugly as fuck was a blow to my ego. Didn’t I give him everything I had? It wasn’t enough.
Enter perfect Patrick Fisher. Momma always said, if something seems too good to be true, then it probably is. Or maybe that was Oprah. Regardless, I ignored all my instincts because deep down I wanted a happily ever after. I should know better. There’s no such thing. There’s a reason they call them book boyfriends. It’s because they only exist on paper. They aren’t real.
There’s a knock on my door. Wow, that was fast. I ordered a bottle of wine five minutes ago.
I pull a five out of my wallet and open the door to Fisher. I try to slam the door shut, but he pushes his way inside.
“What the fuck, Greer? Do you know how worried I’ve been? Why won’t you answer my calls?”
“Get out!” I yell, pointing at the door.
“What’s going on? Why are you so angry with me?”
I walk over to him with the full intention of slapping him in the face, but he grabs my hand mid-air. “For fuck’s sake, baby, talk to me.”
I pull my hand out of his grip. “Have you spoken to Chloe?”
“Yeah, why?”
