Page 125 of Book Boyfriends
“If Cecily’s happiness is what you want, how do we know she has it?” I ask.
“Georgia!” Arms flailing, Kerry trots into the courtyard, several pieces of paper in her right hand. “Sorry to interrupt, but Velma sighting. I was able to snag the signs before she saw them and came to investigate.”
“Thanks, Kerry, but we’re done here.” I smile.
She stops short in front of me and James, her brown eyes bright. She flashes a flirty smile at James. He clears his throat, nods, and then averts his gaze. It’s for the best. Even if I don’t appreciate the disappointment puckering Kerry’s lips into a pout, she’s not for him.
More importantly, James isn’t for anyone. At least, right now. Like he says, he’s a work in progress. Kerry deserves a man with his shit together. Despite the tailored suit, James is very much not together.
“Which book is this for anyway?” Kerry asks, her pout twists into a curious expression.
“All of them.”
“Ooh, I can’t wait to see it,” she coos.
“When it’s all done,” I say, that knot in my stomach tightening with this lie and the forthcoming one when I pretend the video footage got erased. I make a mental note to bring Kerry a latte from her favorite coffeeshop every day next week in amends for lying to her.
“Oh fun!” She claps. “I love your books so much. They always have the best twists. Like I never saw Simon Davenport as Lady Cecily’s endgame, but that man.” She makes a pretend swooning movement.
“Simon Davenport makes you swoon?” James says aghast.
“Oh yeah.” She wiggles her hips. “The unexpected dirty mouth of a quiet, well-mannered ornithologist.”
“Simon Davenport? The Marquis of Hampton?” I blink.
“Yes! So sexy! He’s one of my favorite book boyfriends you’ve written.”
“Figures,” James mutters.
She goes on, ignoring him. “I don’t normally like love triangles, but the way you did it was so clever. First, I was shippingthat cadLord James, but then, like Cecily, I fell hard for Simon. It was such a great analogy for avoiding red flaggy men.”
“Cad? I’m…He’snot that red flaggy,” James grumbles to himself.
I bump James’s arm with my shoulder. “I’m happy you liked that Lady Cecily found her happiness at the end of the book.”
His softened expression telegraphs the realization settling in him. His wish came true. Lady Cecily is with the marquis. She’s happy, and even if James’s mouth ticks down, I know it’s whathe wants. Sometimes a little grief and sadness are wrapped up in our heart’s desires coming true.
“Yeah. It’s one of my favorite HEAs. Even better than Owen and Selena or Victor and Ivy.”
“Victor and Ivy? My second?” Lars gapes.
Tucked into Lars’s side, Jackson’s mouth quirks. “Not that I’m complaining, but what about Lars?”
“Who’s Lars?” Confusion contorts her pretty features.
CHAPTER THIRTY
OUR STORY
Who is Lars, indeed? Turns out he’s just a footnote inShifted Heart. Instead of it being Ivy and Lars’s story, it’s hers and Victor’s. Lars is simply a brief mention as Victor tells Ivy about the former pack leader who gave up his position for love. Much of the story centers around the pull between Victor and Ivy’s own duties. It ends with her still joining the human/supernatural alliance, but making her home base in Victor’s territory.
Much like Owen and Selena’s story, they don’t go to bed every night together, but are happy. Both books depict modern relationships with each couple balancing their personal wants with their deep love for one another. Owen still ends up going to the city, but not in a big romantic gesture. Moments after Selena breaks up with him, saying it’s what’s best, he rushes after her. “We decide what’s best for us together,” he says, pulling her into his arms and kissing her with the passion of a man who almost lost the one woman he truly loves. Which he almost did. The rest of the book depicts the complications of a long-distance—sort of—relationship. Sugarville and the city are only ninety minutes away from each other, after all. In the end, Selena still quits her job but instead she leads a mini coup with several otheremployees leaving with her to start their own consulting firm. She splits her time between the city and Sugarville with her new husband, Owen.
The wishes changed each book’s story, but the only ones who notice are the guys and those of us who knew of their true identities. Lady Cecily is happily married to Simon Davenport. Victor enjoys Ivy chasing him through the woods. Owen and Selena got a pair of pugs they named Lars and Duke. Their namesakes are both touched, even if James grumbled, “At least get something that does not snort.”
It all ended as it should, and none of it as I planned. Which I’m okay with. Though, it’s not truly the end. It’s just the middle. For me and for all of us. Lars and James are figuring out their lives here. Just as I am.
Right now, the two of them are helping Rem and Jackson paint the nursery, while Hope and I stretch out on the couch with Wentworth. James’sbloody hellsand Lars’s snarky taunts drift downstairs. It’s strange how right this all seems. Lars just fits with our little family unit. Jackson took him to meet Mom this week, who adores him. He’s also got the stamp of approval from Rem. The duke is slowly growing on my brothers.
