“No,” I say, maybe too loud. “You’re not just the girl on the page. You’re the whole fucking book.”
Kat’s eyes glisten, but she blinks it away. “That was so cheesy, Talon. Like, peak cheese.”
I grin. “I stand by it. You’re everything to me, Katherine. I really mean it.”
The food arrives, and we dig in. Every now and then, the curvy girl looks like she’s about to speak, but she keeps glancing at me, like she’s waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Halfway through the tiramisu, she says, “You know, I never asked. What happens in the sequel?”
I take a bite, savoring the sweetness. “I haven’t written it yet.”
She leans forward, her voice low. “What if the main character leaves the guy? Goes to grad school, and starts her own life?”
I nod slowly, my heart thumping. I knew this was coming, and have an answer prepared. “Then I guess the guy has to find a way to win her back. Maybe he shows up at her door with a thousand apologies. Or maybe he just lets her go, because that’s what she needs. If you love someone, then set them free. It’s an old adage, but true.”
Kat considers that, picking at the cake with her fork. “You’d really let her go?”
I nod, slowly. “If it made her happy. Yeah.”
She looks at me, blue eyes searching. “You’re not very good at playing the possessive alpha male who shackles the heroine in his cave, are you?”
“Never claimed to be,” I say. “But Iamgood at writing about one.”
She laughs, the sound soft and genuine.
And then, as I reach for the check, a shadow falls across our table. I look up, and squint. Who is this woman? Another fan? She’s blonde and bossy, and staring daggers at me.
“Simone!” Kat gasps with surprise. “What are you doing here?”
The woman’s in a black turtleneck and a pair of jeans so tight they look painted on. Her hair is in a perfect ponytail, her eyes glittering with the kind of mischief that means someone’s about to get called out. She slides into the booth next to Kat, nearly shoving the curvy girl out of her seat with the force of her entrance.
“Evening, folks,” Simone says, folding her arms. “Sorry I’m late. Was finishing up an assignment.”
Kat’s jaw drops. “Simone, what the hell? Why are you here? You can’t just crash my date!”
“No, it’s fine,” I say in an even tone. “We were just finishing up anyways.”
Simone turns to me, and for a second I think she’s going to start the Spanish Inquisition. Sure enough, she gives me a slow, sly smile. “You know, for a supposed asshole, you’re very kind. Thank you for welcoming me.”
I shrug. “I was speaking the truth. We were leaving anyways.”
Simone laughs, then gestures for the waiter, ordering a glass of wine without looking at the menu.
The three of us sit in silence for a beat, then Simone leans in, voice low. “I have three questions, Talon McKnight. Answer carefully because Kat’s already told me everything so I’ll know if you’re disseminating.”
Kat gasps but Simone waves her hand, silencing her friend.
I nod, bracing.
“One: Are you going to hurt Kat again?”
I shake my head. “Not if I can help it. I’m in this for real.”
Simone nods with satisfaction.
“Two: Are you using this dinner as research for your next book?”
I shake my head. “Not unless I get explicit consent.”
