Page 151 of Booked on You
I chucklebecause when Hallie starts capitalizing words, it’s a sign that she’s pissed.
Scarlett
Want me to punch him in the dick for you?
Hallie
YES! UGH!
Scarlett
Can’t you talk to your brother about this?
Hallie
Clint doesn’t give AF! He thinks it’s hilarious. Anyway, sorry for interrupting your flow! Happy writing.
Scarlett
It’s okay! I’m always here for you. But also fuck him.
Hallie
I set my phone down, returning to my words. Hallie’s complicated relationship with Landon has been an ongoing saga for as long as I’ve known her. It doesn’t help that she’s the reason he broke into the industry. All it took was one photo of them arguing at a mutual friend’s wedding to go viral, and the next thing you know, he’s walking runways in New York and being asked to pose for book covers. Landon would never give Hallie credit, just because she wants it. All the book girlies know Hallie and wanted to know who the attractive man was with her. The argument was so iconic that it became a reaction meme.
The cottage door opens, and Ezra walks in carrying two mugs of coffee with a plate of toast slathered in butter and strawberry jam. My favorite.
“Morning, babe,” he says, switching the mug with the one that’s almost empty. “Thought you could use a refill. Guess I was right.”
Even though it’s early October, he’s shirtless and dressed only in joggers. His dark hair is still messy from sleep.
“My hero.” I save my document, and he leans over to kiss me.
“Sleep good?”
“Great,” I say.
“How many words?”
“About a thousand so far.”
“Wow. Way to show off, Scar.” He leans against the desk and takes a sip of his coffee.
This has become our routine. I wake up early and write in the cottage until he brings me another cup of coffee around seven. We drink it together while I tell him about whatever scene I’m working on, and he tells me about his schedule for the day. Then we go our separate ways until lunch.
“Oh, Natalie emailed me yesterday,” I say, pulling up my inbox on my phone. “One hundred thousand preorders forHer Forever.”
Ezra’s eyes go wide, and he’s suddenly very awake. “Are you serious?”
“Funny, that’s what I asked when I emailed her back. Apparently, they’ve already sold through their print runs and are having to do another one.” I still can’t quite wrap my head around it.
“While it’s on preorder?” he asks. “Is that normal?”
“No,” I say. “My other books have done well but nothing like this.”
The publicity around us has pre-emptively turned the book into a phenomenon, and everyone wants to know if it’s really about our relationship. It is, but we’ll never confirm it.
“That’s incredible, Scar.” He sets his mug down and pulls me to my feet. Ezra wraps his arms around me and holds me so tight. “I’m so fucking proud of you.”
