Page 12 of Lily
7
LILY
It’s weird how sometimes life imitates art. I always thought that was an odd saying because I’d never experienced anything like it. But when I meet Ben after reading theVirgin Guy Next Door, I can’t help but wonder if there was something more to it. Like I was being shown the signs to recognize him without even realizing it. I know it sounds crazy, so I don’t say anything to the book club. They’ll think I’m crazy thinking that the books we read somehow impact our real lives.
"What did everyone think?" Jess asks the table the following week. "Did anyone else find out that they were missing short romance books in their lives as much as I did?”
All the hands at the table go up.
"Don't get me wrong," Courtney chimes in. "I still love a deep dive into the character's life and motivations that drive her story."
“But sometimes it’s nice to get a—Hello. Let’s screw on this kitchen table. I love you—in the span of my lunch break,” Quinn adds.
We all chuckle and nod in agreement.
"Charlotte!" Michelle stands up and waves over the chestnut brunette that just walked into the coffee shop.
She lights up when she sees Michelle and walks over for a hug.
“You guys,” Michelle says to the table. “This is my boyfriend’s sister, Charlotte. She’s hoping to join the club if everyone is okay with it.”
We all burst with excitement for a new member. I pull a chair from the empty table next to us and let Charlotte have my seat next to Michelle.
“Thank you,” she says to me as she sits down. “I’ve already met Fiona, but I’ve heard so much about all of you. Thank you for being so welcoming to let me join the club.”
“Charlotte is relatively new in town and hasn’t had a chance to meet new friends yet,” Michelle says.
"I do have an old friend from high school that lives in the city, but other than that, Michelle is the only one I know.”
“Well, you are very welcome,” Quinn says.
We get down to book club business, breaking down the book we read and the plans for next week's book. Courtney tells us all that if anyone wants a paperback, to let her know, and she will set one aside at the bookstore for us.
The meeting wraps up on time, just as Ben appears outside the front windows of the coffee shop. We made plans to meet at the comic book store before heading to lunch.
I pack up my bag and say goodbye to the girls before I walk outside to meet Ben.
“This is a surprise,” I say before I lean in and give him a quick kiss.
"I know we said we'd meet at the comic book store, but I had to come to see you."
"Sounds like you have exciting news." I wrap my arm around his waist, and we start walking down the street to the deli.
“After years of not looking at it, I got hit with inspiration for my graphic novel.”
I look up at him. “That’s great!”
Ben hasn’t touched his first attempt at a graphic novel since art school. I love that he’s found his way back. Since meeting Ben, he’s started giving me a masterclass of comics, and I have to admit that I'm starting to get hooked. I didn't know that romance plays a part in many of the stories. As soon as I found that out, I told him to start making a list of what he thinks I will like.
We're near to the deli when Ben stops us and turns to face me.
“Lily, there is something I need to tell you.”
My heart sinks because, in my experience, the "we need to talk" speech is never followed with anything good, just heartbreak.
“Since I met you, you’ve awakened something in me that I thought I lost. My love of creating a new world, a love of giving a voice to that world, and a love of drawing that world. But more importantly, you awaken my ability to let someone in my world that I can love."
Hope flutters in my chest that this is going to turn out better than I feared.
"I love you, Lily. And I hope that you can open yourself up and let me in because I promise that I won't let you go.”
I squeal and jump up into his arms. I don’t care about the looks from the other people on the sidewalk think or grumble under their breath.
“I love you too.” I kiss him.
“I waited long enough for you. I couldn’t wait any longer to tell you. I’m ready for our happily ever after.”
