Page 27 of The Reading

After Lucas took Lawrence and my ruined books back to his place, I had immediately run inside, slid down the wall, then buried my face in my handsfrom embarrassment.

Even if he hadn’t read what was on those pages, he was bound to catch a glimpse as he shredded the books for me. He was going to find out that he was the inspiration for my latest hero, and I could only hope that he didn’t tease me about it later.

Sitting on the floor, I searched for my phone, my obsession with dresses with pockets coming in handy whenever I needed my phone, then dialed my sister.

I needed help.

“Hey,” she greeted, answering on the second ring. “Calling to let me know that you’re going to join us for Easter?”

“No,” I quickly rushed out. “I’m calling because I’m in trouble.”

Sloane’s voice immediately got serious. “I’ll be right there-”

“No, no, no,” I said, stopping her from putting on her cape and flying over. “Not that kind of trouble.”

“Okay, then what kind?”

“Lawrence ate my book delivery, and…and Lucas cleaned up the mess.”

There was a heartbeat of silence before she asked, “The same book that has a hero with blonde hair, green eyes, and lives on a horse ranch? Those advanced copies?”

“Yep.”

The wench started laughing.

“This isn’t funny, Sloane,” I insisted.

“The hell it’s not,” she countered. “Dude, I hope Lucas reads the book, then shows up at your house to put a big smile on your face.”

“Sloane, he’s my neighbor,” I reminded her. “I can’t just get up and move if things go badly.”

“Why not?” she argued. “You’re a novelist. You can write from anywhere.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” I replied dryly. “Maybe because I actuallylikemy house. Plus, there’s Lawrence to consider. New neighbors might not be as understanding.”

“You and that damn goat,” she sighed. “Why don’t you just ask Lucas if you can adopt him already?”

“Can you focus?” I asked, ignoring the possibility of adopting Lawrence.

“Do you want my honest opinion, Kit?” she asked.

“Of course,” I huffed. “I wouldn’t have called you otherwise.”

“Leave your front door unlocked, let Lucas storm his way through it, then spread your legs for the dicking of your life,” she said, causing me to choke out a horrified laugh. “You’ve had the hots for the man for years, Kit. I think it’s time that you do something about it.”

“Sloane-”

“Plus, he’s someone that you already know,” she pointed out, and I could feel myself cringing.

“This has nothing to do with Madam Brousseau’s prediction-”

“How do you know?” she challenged. “What are the odds that your package would get delivered to his place by mistake?”

“It happens all the time,” I informed her.

“But a book that happens to have his likeness as the hero, plus Lawrence eating the books, giving Lucas the opportunity to see that he’s the hero in your latest novel?” she posed. “C’mon, Kit.”

“Just because you found your true love-”

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