Page 156 of Just My Type of wrong guy

“For God’s sake, man. Just say it.”

“I thought that from today on I could also call you…” A.J. bends down, scooping me up by the thighs and lifting me off the ground. “girlfriend.”

I’m speechless. For a second, panic flutters in my stomach. Then my heart bursts, and I smile, because sometimes in life there are no doubts.

“I love the idea of being your girlfriend,meu amor,” I say, resting my forehead against his.

For a few blessed seconds, I swear that as my boyfriend kisses me, I can feel every word he sings inAlways Us.It’s as if the lyrics are writing themselves right here between us, in a perfect and unchanging way, because even before I met A.J. Fortin, he was already the music stuck in my head.

Epilogue – Alex

The truth is finally breaking through

Two worlds collide when I’m with you

Our voices rise and soar so high

We come to life when we’re

In perfect harmony

Perfect Harmony - Julie and The Phantoms

Forty minutes before the show, my hands are shaking so badly I can barely hold my water glass. I’ve been on stage before—I’ve sung for strangers, flubbed a lyric and laughed it off, faced silence and applause. But today… today is different. My name alone is up on the marquee. No GenZ, no Vicious Bonds. And knowing the tickets are sold out, halfway across a continent, tightens my chest—if anything goes wrong tonight, it’ll prove I wasn’t meant for this.

The dressing room is so quiet I almost jump when the door slides open. A.J. is there without a word, and I know he’s the only one I want to see.

“Hey, babe,” he says, hugging me so gently he doesn’t muss my hair. “How are you feeling?”

“A bundle of nerves.” I break free of his arms and start pacing. “Why did you do this, A.J.? And what if I fail tonight and become a failure forever?” I whimper, and he laughs, takes my hand, and pulls me still.

“It’ll be fine,” he says before I can argue. “You know it will. You were born for this.”

I smile—part anxiety, part melted heart.

“How’s it out there? Did people come? Are the guys and girls here?”

“The house is almost full.” He brushes my cheek like he’s smoothing away doubt. “Dani, Bia, and Guilherme are here. Thomas and Rick are on their way.”

“Why didn’t they ride with the rest of us?”

“The car only fits five, and Carlos and Sol came too, so…”

“Oh my god. They’re here, too?” I squeak, not sure why it matters. Of course the only people I know in this country would come.

“Alexandra Saldanha, cut the act,” A.J. says, putting his hands on my shoulders and looking me in the eye. “You’re going to crush it, and I don’t want to see that defeated posture in my girlfriend.”

“You say that because you think everything I do is amazing,” I grumble, and he frowns like I just insulted him. “I think everything you do is amazing, too.” I brush my fingers over his face, my voice soft but certain. “But it’s because I love you, Anthony. And love… love clouds your vision. Remember when I said your risotto was delicious? That wasn’t me talking, it was love and…”

I stop rambling because A.J. is staring at me like the whole world just froze. His big smile makes his dimples pop.

“Wait. You said…”

“That I love you,” I repeat, and he forgets all about not wrinkling my dress, grabbing me by the waist and pulling me close.

“Can we say it now? Isn’t it too soon?” He runs his hands through his hair, destroying his perfectly tousled look, and I press my lips together to keep from giggling. “I’ve loved you for a long time—I just wasn’t sure if I should…”

“You should! I was sure you’d say it on New Year’s,” I tease, narrowing my eyes. “I really wanted to hear it.”

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