Page 131 of What I Like About You

Shoulders back, eyes forward, I march down the aisle and toward my bag—which is miraculously still saving my third-row seat. Book nerds might be passionate AF, but we respect seat saving rules.

It’s a good sign. Tonight is going to be good.

Settled in my seat, I finally feel able to scroll through Twitter to check the pre-event buzz.

I search all the appropriate hashtags—#ReadBetweenTheLies, #OTPCucpakes, #ArielGoldberg, #KelsCupcakes—and retweet my favorite posts.

Retweets will have to do. I’m not unveiling that I’m here today.

It’s five minutes till six and my pulse quickens—this time from anticipation.

It’s surreal, honestly. Being here and living this moment where online and IRL blurs and it’s okay because I am—

“Halle?”

My eyes snap up and my stomach plummets to the floor. It’s not. I mean, it can’t be. What? He’s in Connecticut. He has aNickthing.

“N-Nash?” I sputter.

“What are you—?” he asks, eyes wide in alarm.

Then they flicker forward, to the cupcakes.

Back to me.

Cupcakes.

Me.

“Kels?”

April 6

Ariel Goldberg@ArielGoldberg 1 hr

Look at these beauties thanks to @OneTruePastry!!

#ReadBetweenTheLies

|

Sophie@unicornbooks 37min

SOUND THE ALARM, I AM 99% SURE KELS IS HERE

|

Elle Carter@ellewriteswords 5min

… and I’m 99% sure that’s @Nash_Stevens27 with her?! cc

@AmysBookshelf @s_lee244

|

Amy Chen@AmysBookshelf 3min

WHAT.

---