Page 45 of The Road Less Traveled By

Just like he’s broken a few other rules set into place when we signed the contracts. He always touches me without my permission, whether it's just a small touch or a peck on the cheek. It seems like he has a thing for breaking the rules, and even though I flinch every time his hand touches any part of my body, he doesn't seem to notice.

ButVince always does, and even though I’m looking at the back of his head, I can tell there’s a scowl on his face. His back is tense, and when we finally get inside, he goes right to Alex’s security team.

Alex and I begin to wander around the store, neither of us speaking as we hold hands and peruse the romance section. I trace the spines of some of the books with my free hand, and after minutes of silence later, I hear Alex clear his throat.

“Look, I wanted to apologize about all the coverage with Lily and me in the press. I know it can't be easy on you.”

Wow, he actually sounds genuine. This is the first time I’ve heard him have any emotion besides that damn charisma. “It’s fine, Alex. We’re not real, remember?”

“Yeah, but we are to everyone else.”

“It’s okay. Really. Nothing about our lives is peaceful anyway. I knew what I was getting into when I signed that deal.”

He smiles softly as he looks at me, and I think this is my first glimpse of the real Alex. “Yeah, you’re right.” He pauses as he searches my face. “You’re a pretty cool girl, Bree. I wouldn't mind being friends after all this is over.”

“If you stop hiding your true self from the world, I could see that happening.” I laugh as I pull out a book.

“I wouldn't say that I hide, I just pick and choose who I show my real self to. It’s easier putting on that stupid persona for the world.”

“But you’ve shown me, and I assume Lily as well.”

His face turns red when I mention her, and the fact that his pupils are dilated tells me he’s still in love with her. “Yeah, she knows me better than most.”

“Then why aren't you with her right now? It’s obvious you two still love each other, at least to me.”

“Yeah, well, you’re the romance reader, Bree, not me.”

I lightly tap his arm as I laugh. “What the hell does that mean?”

“It means that real life is much more complicated than it is in those fictional books of yours.”

“Okay, pretty boy. I’m about to give you a lesson in literature.”

He laughs at me as he runs a hand through his hair. “Bring it on, Bree.”

“Romance as a genre is highly hated because most people think it creates impossible standards. Which it sort of does, but most things people love about romance books are the little things the characters do for one another. They listen, they talk about the hard topics that can be terrifying to open up about. Romance isn't always about big gestures.”

“It’s not?”

I smile as I trace the spine of my sister's book. “No. It’s about all the little reasons you fall for someone, like how they remember little details about you or your favorite snack. Some of my favorite characters don't feel like characters; they feel like real people. Sometimes, I get so angry at them for making the decisions they do because I do the same things, and it feels too real, if that makes sense.”

“It does.”

“For example,” I say as I hand him my sister’s book. “My sister wrote this based on a relationship that went sideways. She thought he was the one, and they fell apart after a year or so, and this book follows a girl who goes through the same thing, except she doesn't end up with him. She ends the book single as she tries to find herself again. People loved it because there were so many others out there who relate to that feeling.”

He smiles at me, a real, genuine smile. “That makes sense. People connected with her words and stories because they had felt them before, too.”

“Exactly. And even though this is a fiction book, people still read it for the romance aspects.”

He flips through the pages before he looks back up at me. “Alright, you’ve convinced me. Pick out some romance books you think I would like.”

“Are you serious?” I ask, a smile bursting from my face.

“Dead serious, Bree. I think it could give me a new perspective, and I’m always willing to try new things.”

“Well, buckle up, Alex. Movies might be your wheelhouse, but this is where I shine,” I say as I grab a few books. As we’re checking out, I look over to where Vince is standing.

He’s moving his head back and forth, but he finds my eyes and pinches his eyebrows. I nod my head, letting him know that I’m okay. I love how we can read each other with only looks. It’s like the two of us have our own secret language. That’s probably why we work so well.

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