Page 70 of The Hopelessly Bromantic Duet

Ugh.

This is dreadful.

I mean, it’s nicely written and all. But blah, blah, blah.

He must have opened this file by mistake, so I navigate, searching for his book. Except the sneaky fucker won’t tell me the title.

I poke around the desktop, hunting for it. Maybe this is it.The Case of The Disappearing Pages. It’s not a terrible title, like he said, but the man is harsh on himself.

I click it open.

My breath catches.

This isn’t his novel.

The hair on my arms stands on end. Chills sweep down my body. But they’re weirdly good chills as I stare at a few sentences from... a journal.

After the last week of getting to know him, I’m no longer convinced I can handle fifty more weeks of living together with, let’s face it, my dream guy. He’s the swooniest man I’ve ever known, and my entire body vibrates just being near him. He’s wickedly charming and ridiculously beautiful, and I am so far gone.

I swallow roughly, my throat going completely dry.

Holy shit.

My fingers tremble.

This is wrong. Looking at this is so wrong. I have to stop. I will stop.

I do stop. I close the file straight away.

Then I exhale the biggest breath in the city as I sink back into the couch cushions, processing what I just read.

Tingles rush down my body. They sweep through my chest as his words intoxicate me.

I’m thrilled that he’s as fucked up about me as I am about him.

But I can’t let on I read even three sentences. He’ll die of embarrassment. I shake it off, so I can pretend it never happened and tuck this moment far, far away. Then, I groan, laughing at myself.

The fucking book file was opened right behind the article. Thanks, Microsoft Word.

I dive in, and I have chills in a whole new way as I read the first four chapters of his book.

The man can write.

When I’m done, I grab my phone. A text blinks at me.

TJ:It’s been twenty minutes, and I’m dying.

I laugh as I tap out a reply.

Jude:Get your arse back here so I can tell you how bloody fucking good it was.

TJ:You’re just saying that so I’ll give you a blow job.

Jude:Pretty sure I don’t have to say anything but ‘Get down on your knees now,’ for you to suck my cock.

TJ:That is true. Also, can I tell you thateverything you say in your accent is hot, but I draw the line at arse. Ass is hotter. Can we agree ass is better in all forms? An end to arse.

Jude:WHY ARE YOU TELLING ME THIS NOW?