John dipped his head in a conspiratorial way. “I’m deathly afraid someone will find out how much I love Meg Ryan.”
I stared at him. “What?”
He shrugged. “I can’t help it. I love her. I love her movies.”
“You’re serious?”
“I’m ahugefan.”
“So, let me get this straight. John Kater—poster boy for brooding male authors—likesrom-coms?”
He didn’t even flinch. “Guilty.”
I twisted in my seat and mock-inspected the room. “What dimension have I landed in?”
John shrugged.
“They make me feel good. All hope and happy endings. You know exactly what you’ll get.”
The corner of my mouth tugged up. It was...unexpectedly endearing. I thought of the pastel spines on his bookshelf I’d written off as Vivian’s.
“So those”—I pointed—“are really yours?”
I needed him to say yes. I needed to know this wasn’t some elaborate bit. That he hadn’t been playing me.
He took a swig from his beer, cheeks pinking ever so slightly. “I told you. Viv and I aren’t...real. There’s nothing of hers in this house.”
“Boat,” I corrected.
“Semantics.”
The tightness in my chest loosened. A little. I should’ve stopped there. But I didn’t.
“So why the farce, John?”
His eyes landed heavy on mine. Something deflated in his chest. “I wish I could tell you.”
“I can keep secrets,” I whispered. I even smiled a little, as if to sayIt’s safe here. You can trust me. Let me in.
“It’s not that easy,” he whispered back.
“You two seemed...close.”
A rare smile crept across his face—unforced, soft. “She’s my best friend.”
I raised a brow. “Vivian Garner is your Oatcake?”
The smile deepened.Hello, dimple.“I don’t know what that means, but sure.”
A wave of relief hit me so fast it was embarrassing. I looked away before he could see it. “Okay, then. Which Meg Ryan movie is your favorite?”
I scanned the shelves for a familiar title. The fact thatJohn Katerloved romance? That he believed in happy endings? That he shared this fact withme? It was messing with my equilibrium.
“You’ve Got Mail,” he said.
“Of course it is.” I took another drink.
He shifted closer, not taking his eyes of the screen. “Can you keep another secret?”
