Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 19580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 98(@200wpm)___ 78(@250wpm)___ 65(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 98(@200wpm)___ 78(@250wpm)___ 65(@300wpm)
"Mia."
My hand freezes. Pen hovers over the page. I look up and meet her eyes.
"Congratulations, Elise. I loved the story." She fidgets. Self-consciously trying to smile. I scribble her name, then simply add, Demons be damned, add a heart, and sign my name. I hand the book to her.
"Thank you so much, Elise. I'll look for the next book." She turns and exits the store.
When I start signing the next book, I hear a ruckus. Some in the line step aside, feet shuffle. Surprised voices start to cheer while others sound annoyed. A louder voice says, "very sorry — excuse me — thanks — my apologies." Not expecting unruly behavior in the book signing line, I keep my head down.
I finish signing a book and say," Next, please."
"Can you make it out to your biggest fan?"
That voice. I'd recognize it anywhere. My head snaps up to find Elias standing in front of me, his green eyes dancing with mischief, holding my book like any other reader in line.
"What are you doing here?" I whisper, glancing at the store manager who's watching with a bemused expression. "I thought you had practice."
Elias shrugs, pushing the book toward me. "Coach let us out early. Besides, I couldn't miss my girlfriend's big night."
I take the book, our fingers brushing. Even after a year, that simple touch sends warmth spreading through my chest, lighting every nerve ending. "You know you could have just asked me to sign a copy at home, right?"
"Where's the fun in that?" He winks. "I like watching you in your element. The famous Elise Walters, horror novelist extraordinaire."
I roll my eyes, but can't stop the smile spreading across my face as I scribble a message inside the cover. When I hand it back, he reads it, and his expression softens.
To Elias King,
My #1 fan, the love of my life, my home
The bookstore staff begins announcing closing time, and the last few fans disperse after receiving their signatures. Elias waits patiently, catching my eye with a smile that still feels like a thousand butterflies have taken flight.
Outside, the evening air is cool against my skin as we walk hand in hand toward his car. City lights paint the streets in golden hues, and I lean into his warmth.
"You know," he says, kissing my forehead, "that reunion was the best decision I ever made. Offering to be your fake boyfriend when there was nothing fake about how I felt."
"Funny how we spent all that time practicing to convince everyone else when we were really just convincing ourselves."
He stops under a streetlight and turns to face me. "I promise I'm never faking anything with you again. Not then, not now, not ever."
"Good, because this isn't some horror story where the main character loses everything. This is us, and I'm never letting you go."
"I love you, Elise."
"And I love you, Elias."
As much as I don't want to be the writer who writes clichés, please forgive me, this one exception.
…and we lived happily ever after.
The End