Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 121233 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 606(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121233 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 606(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
I closed my eyes, not even realizing the tears that had flooded my eyes until that motion released them and two rivulets ran silently down my cheeks.
Clay thumbed each away.
“I know I have a lot to explain, and I promise I’ll tell you everything. But right now, I just need you to know that I might have been good at pretending a lot in our time together, but I never faked the way I felt about you.” His thumb slid across my jaw. “You have owned my heart since the first fake kiss, Kitten.”
Something of a laugh left me as I opened my eyes again, and Clay waited until I looked at him before he held up the book in his hands.
“This baby needs some revision,” he said, trying to smile, though it fell quickly as his eyes searched mine, the same pain I felt reflected in them. “So, what do you say? Want to rewrite it together?”
A few more tears slipped quietly down my cheeks, Clay wiping them away before they had the chance to even hit my jaw line as I shook my head. My eyes bounced between his, heart swelling with the hope he’d restored.
I sniffed, grabbing the book and turning it over in my hands as I surveyed the horrid cover and font.
“Only if we start completely over,” I whispered, smiling as I peeked up at him. “Because this is the ugliest thing I have ever seen in my life.”
The room burst into laughter at that, and I had almost forgotten about the crowd until that moment. But I didn’t have time to even blush before Clay took the book out of my hand and dropped it to the ground.
“Deal,” he breathed.
And then he kissed me.
His arms wrapped me up in a fierce embrace, sweeping me off my feet until just my toes touched the ground. I snaked my arms around his neck just the same, holding on tight as he kissed me breathless in the flashing lights of a dozen cameras.
“Atta boy!” I heard Zeke yell, and the room erupted into applause.
That brought me back to the moment, and I flushed, breaking our kiss and ducking my head into Clay’s chest as he grinned and tucked me into his side.
“Alright, alright,” he said, holding up his other hand. “No more questions. You can read all about it in our book.” He looked down at me then. “If we ever stop kissing long enough to write it.”
Riley blew out a loud whistle as Clay swept me up in his arms, kissing me to another bellow of applause before he was carrying me through the crowd and out the door. Cameras and crew tried to follow us, but Riley and Zeke held them off — along with Charlotte, who turned and crossed her arms once we’d shut the door that led into the team hallway.
“Oh God,” I said, scrambling out of Clay’s arms. “Charlotte, I’m so sorry. I—”
“Sorry?” she asked, severe, and then a slow smile spread on her face. “For what? Making us the headline?”
I blinked. “I…uh…”
“It’s fine,” she said, begrudgingly, before she turned and pointed at Clay. “But don’t ever pull that shit again. And you both owe me an interview with the reporter of my choosing. A long one.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Clay answered.
Charlotte smirked, waving a hand at me as she clicked by in her high heels. “Go get a room, you two, before you make us all sick.”
I hid my face in Clay’s chest again, and then he used his knuckles to tilt my chin, wrapping me in his arms before he turned to face Zeke and Riley.
“Thanks for helping me pull my head out of my ass,” he said.
Zeke put his arm around Riley. “Anytime, bro.”
“You two were in on this?” I asked, pointing between them.
“Duh,” Riley answered. “Although, don’t blame those stick figures on me. I offered to help sketch and he refused.”
“My stick figures are a masterpiece,” Clay said, holding his head high.
Riley and I exchanged looks before all four of us burst into laughter.
“I can’t believe you did that,” I said, shaking my head as I looked up at Clay. My heart beat faster when I did, when I realized his arms were around me and we were together.
Together.
“I can’t believe you’re giving me the chance to explain,” he countered.
“Speaking of which, we’ll leave you to it,” Zeke said, and he and Riley gave a wave of their fingers before disappearing down the hall, leaving me and Clay alone.
I turned in his arms, fingers crawling up his chest before I hooked them behind his neck. “Is this real?” I asked, chest pained at the thought that I was dreaming.
Clay swallowed, nodded, and pulled me into him. “I’m sorry I ever made you doubt my feelings for you. I’m sorry I hurt you the way I did.”