Page 191 of The Hopelessly Bromantic Duet

“And then to see your character find love again? Well, it gave me hope,” she says, her voice wobbly. “I think the whole film gives a lot of people hope.”

My heart swells with gratitude. “That’s all I can ask for,” I say as she swipes at her cheeks. I hunt in my pockets for a tissue, even though I don’t carry them. When I look around, as if one will magically appear beside me, TJ’s vanished.

Where did he go?

Two seconds later, he returns, handing me a tissue.

Look at that. My fake boyfriend is so thoughtful. I give the tissue to the woman. “Thank you,” she says, dabbing at her eyes. “My sister battled addiction. That’s the other reason it touched me so. Sorry.”

I want to wrap her in a hug. “It’s so hard to watch someone you care about go through that struggle. Hard to know when to be there for them, and when to be tough.”

“That’s the hardest part,” she says.

My eyes stray to the man by my side. TJ’s quiet, though his expression hints he understands the dilemma too.

“Anyway, I’m Sofia, and I don’t want to interrupt your flight. But I had to say that, and to thank you. I can’t wait to see your next movie or TV show.”

“Thank you, Sofia. I can’t wait for you to tune in too.”

I sit, blowing out a breath, touched but energized, too, by the interaction.

Once he sits, TJ turns to face me, smiling softly. He’s not sayingI told you so, and he’s not sayingDidn’t I say once upon a time that you’d be recognized?

But he doesn’t have to voice those things. We both know he had more faith in me than I had in myself. That’s not something I want to take for granted ever again. But I don’t want to risk saying something damning in public, botching either our fake or our increasingly real romance, so I fish out my mobile and send TJ a text.

Jude: Thanks for the tissue save. A very romance-hero move.

When his phone buzzes in his pocket, he checks it, mouthsclever, then types.

TJ: Did you like that more or less than the way I took off my shirt the other day?

Jude: Do not give me an unsolvable dilemma!

TJ: Answer the question, Jude.

Jude: Obviously the answer is—I like them both. And I WANT EVERYTHING :) With bread and pizza on top.

TJ: You mean . . .youon top.

Jude: Do not get me turned on here on the plane.

TJ: I make no promises.

Jude: You’re as wicked as the day you wore a towel and a tool kit.

TJ: Always be wicked.

I hate to interrupt our banter, especially when we hit Oscar Wilde references, but my mind keeps returning to the conversation with Sofia. As much as I want to flirt with TJ, I want to connect with him too. I want more than hot sex and wordplay. I want to share what’s weighing on me, and I hope he’ll listen.

Jude: I keep thinking about something the woman behind us said.

TJ: What’s on your mind?

Here goes. I brace myself for any fallout. It’s risky bringing up someone who came between us, but I do it anyway.

Jude:I worry about William.

Out of the corner of my eye, I try to read TJ’s expression. But he’s bent over the phone, typing slowly. That’s him, taking his time. It’s a good thing, his patience, even though it drives me crazy as I wait.