AllFreeNovel
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Ireallylike it.
Just like I really like him.
And that's why I don't regret the conversation we had two days ago. Because as I'm bobbing away in an ocean of new feelings, what I said was true. And that truth is grounding. When I get lost or overwhelmed in whatever's happening between us, I can calm myself down by reminding myself that Wilby, underneath all his bluster, is a good man with a good heart. Just knowing that makes me feel better.
The line moves forward, and I peer ahead and silently count the backs of heads. Six people are ahead of us, and if Benji Bannister is as genuinely nice as he seems on social media, then I'm guessing he'll chat with everyone who's lined up to see him. That probably buys us at least another few more minutes.
Something else that's changed since our hypothetical conversation two days ago? Wilby's become even more affectionate with me. It's not like he's ever exactly been Mr. Restraint, but now he's amped it up even more. We drove pretty much hand in hand for four hundred miles to get here. He peppered me with kisses in the hotel lobby while we waited for our room to get ready yesterday. And he's been glued to my side all morning.
Not going to lie, the conversation we had back at his place and his next-level affection is making me think more and more about moving to Australia for work. Work-wise, it makes total sense. It's a no-brainer.
But it obviously means being closer—a lot closer—to Wilby. And Polly. And the kids. Even Emma, because when we left yesterday, she punched me in the shoulder, which I took as a sign of affection.
Reading between the lines, it's pretty obvious Wilby's question wasn't purely speculative. I think he's signaling he'd like me to be…here. I don't know whether he means in the samecountry or under the same roof, but I do know how big a deal that is for him.
He's been let down before, told something by a guy who had no intention of following through. I don't want to be the second guy to do that to him. Which means I need to tread carefully so that I don't mess this up.
We step forward. "So, who is this author?" Wilby asks.
"His name is Benji Bannister, and he's, literally, the best."
"Would I have read any of his stuff?"
"You can't read, remember?"
He smacks the side of his face. "Ah, that's right. I'm at grade two level maths and pre-school level reading." He chuckles. "Do his books have pictures?"
I laugh. "No. They don't. But if they did, they'd be very spicy."
"Wait. This guy writes porn?"
"Not porn. Romance." I wag a finger. "And there isa worldof difference. Don't get me wrong, erotica is great. It's a wonderful genre. But it is not the same thing as romance. People often get the two conflated, and it's annoying and disrespectful to both genres."
"Okay, okay. I believe you. I'm getting scared at how passionate you are about this." He leans in. "And also, a bit turned on. Maybe we could create somehomemade eroticaof our own later?"
I smile and nod my head. "Well, duh."
Now that we're out of the house and kid- and sister-free, we've been creatinghomemade eroticain the car, the hotel room, the hotel Jacuzzi, the hotel steam room, the hotel stairwell. You get the picture.
We don't have much more time together, so I intend on making the most of every single moment we have left.
We move forward. There's only one person in front of us now, and my nerves are kicking in. As if sensing this, Wilby takes my hand and whispers, "What's your favorite book of his?"
"All of them," I reply, my leg starting to shake.
"But if you had to choose one?"
I bite my lip, finally settling on… "Something Special. It's a best friends to lovers romcom, and the cover model is Darren, Benji's real-life partner. They were best friends until it became something more."
"That's a cute story."
"It is." I grip Wilby's hand tighter. "I might read it to you sometime."
"I'd love that." He smiles. "And, Col?"
"Yeah?"
"Relax, mate. This is a fun thing. Enjoy it."
