Page 228 of The Hopelessly Bromantic Duet

I lived these scenes with TJ once upon a time in London. From the first meeting to theoh no we can’t be togethermoment, and to the hungry, pent-up kiss in the rain.

The little details, too, are the secret of us, like when Jackson finishes a design for a client and adds a rubber duck in the corner of the drawing.

Like the scene at a garage sale, when they findThe Importance of Being Earnest.

Like the moment later that night, when they read lines to each other in bed.

When Liam says in Jackson’s ear,I hope you have not been leading a double life, pretending to be wicked and being good all the time. That would be hypocrisy.

Then Jackson whispers to Liam:Always be wicked.

My heart climbs into my throat.

TJ’s been leading a double life. A beautiful, wonderful, double life that he finally let me into completely. His most popular book is a treasure map of how we fell in love the first time around.

A map I alone can decipher.

I’m overjoyed. I’m humbled. I’m so ridiculously happy. And I can’t wait to smother him in kisses when I return.

But when I walk past security, my agent’s waiting for me, and she looks more alarmed than when the salacious photos of me landed inThe Hollywood Scoop.

35

LET’S BE WICKED

TJ

Ah, it’s good to wake up in my bed after returning to New York in the dead zone, otherwise known as three a.m.

The only reason anyone should be awake at that time is to fuck.

Now it’s mid-morning on a gorgeous March day in New York, so I hit up Nolan for a run on the High Line. It’s been a while, so I’m stoked to see him. Bonus that this run will pass the time while Jude flies across the ocean, and I try not to obsess over whether he likes my book.

I give my college friend the behind-the-scenes on the private Instagram feed, then ask if he wants to meet Jude this weekend for a drink.

He saysabsolutelyand I guess some things are easy like that—like friends understanding you.

On that note, I wave goodbye and run several blocks home. I take a quick shower, get dressed, and settle onto my couch to start a new chapter in my novel. But first, I fire off an email to Mason.

Did Webflix approve my idea for the change in Liam’s character?Also, hello. I am back. I am writing. All is well.

I return to the scene, checking the time far too often. Jude should land any minute, and I can’t wait to see him.

I can’t wait to find out what he thought ofTop-Notch Boyfriend.

And I can’t wait to figure out what’s next for us.

When my phone rings a little later, I grab it instantly, hoping it’s Jude. But Mason’s name flashes across the screen. Heusually calls when he has good news. So, when I pick up, I say, “Tell me all the good things.”

A peculiar and heavy sigh is his answer. “Are you home? Because I can be there in five minutes.”

Shit. He’s never been over to my apartment.

Panic rushes through me. Did Webflix hate my idea? Did they nix my project? Except, that’s not enough for him to show up at my home. Which means he’s not calling about a deal gone sour. Something else is rotten in the state of my books.

Somehow, I croak out, “Yes. Why?”

“CheckThe Hollywood Scoop,” he says, then tells me he’s on his way.