Page 62 of Be Your Forever
“Okay, you can take it off.” When I do, I realize we’re in the parking lot of our local independent bookstore.
“EEEK. Are you taking me book shopping?”
“Kinda. I have a challenge for us. When we get inside, we have ten minutes to search for a book for the other person. The only rule: it has to be the craziest, most insane book you can find. So, bear, are you up for the challenge?”
“Oh, hell yeah, I am. This is gonna be so much fun.” We stand outside of the store and my body buzzes with excitement. I quickly glance at Asher before bolting inside. People look at me, but I don’t seem to notice nor care. I am on a mission. I hear him call me a cheater behind me, and I can’t help but laugh.
I’m already scouring the aisles when I get a text from Asher.
Asher: Choose wisely, bear.
Me: You’re talking to the queen of book recs. I got this…do you? *winky face*
Being in a bookstore again feels…right. It’s my home away from home. My fingers brush across the smooth spines of a plethora of books. I see some of my favorites from Kennedy Ryan to Shantel Tessier to Lyla Sage. Iknowwe’re here to get a book for each other, but I’m struggling to not leave with atleastfive books...okay, ten. What can I say? Book buying is an addiction. Back in high school, whenever I wasn’t in class, I could be found in the library, nose deep within the cream-colored pages, getting lost in a story.
A piece of my heart slots back into place while I stand amongst thousands of stories. I lost my love of reading while darkness held me captive. But now that I’m back? I’ll be holding it within my clutches like a lifeline.
I’m scanning the aisles both for an idea as well as making sure Asher isn’t close by. As I’m scouring my surroundings, something grabs my attention. My footsteps are muffled against the carpet as I make my way over to the cover that draws my attention. The moment my fingers grip the glossy cover, I feel my face stretch out in a wicked grin. This…This is perfect. I tuck the book under my arm in case I bump into Asher. I’m looking every which way, making sure he’s not nearby. I make it to the checkout, and the moment the book is inside the bag, I walk outside and wait. I can’twaitto see the look on his face when he sees what I picked out.
Asher
Did someone say robot erotica?
Bri thinks she’s so slick…running ahead of me like that. But I’m determined to find the perfect book to give her. My mission? To find the most ridiculous book they have. I take the escalator up and make my way toward our go-to section when I get a text.
Bear: What's taking so long? *image attached*
Briisoutsidewitha giant grin on her face, her hair blowing in the soft breeze. She is stunning, and she looks…happy. My fingers pinch to zoom closer, and I scan every inch of her beautiful face. I allow myself a moment to bask in her radiance before returning to my mission. My eyes flicker across the signs from romantasy to fantasy to…wait, does that say what I think it says?
Monster Erotica. Yup. It sure does. My feet move with purpose over to that section as I glance at the spines. What in the actual fuck am I seeing? Some of these titles are…something. Among the shelves are alien romance, krampus romance, and there’s even a Covid monster romance.
What the fuck? Why is that a thing?
Then I come across the most insane of the bunch: robot erotica. How does that even work?
I pick up the book and read the silly title:Romancing the Thick Cocked Robotby Chandler Kitty. The actual fuck? I let out a snort of laughter that has people’s heads turning in my direction. I murmur my apologies before putting the book under my arm in case I run into Bri.
I ignore the looks from the cashier as I purchase the book. I take the bag and hightail it out of the store, only to come face to face with Bri.
“You finished before me?”
“Well, I did have a head start; pun intended.” She winks at me while holding up her matching bag.
“You little minx. Okay, let’s go. You cool if we stop by my place? I have something I need to pick up on the way to your house, and I need your help getting it.” I can’t wait to see the look on her face when she sees her books still in their boxes in my living room.
“Sure. Are we doing the book exchange at your place or mine?”
“We can do it at mine, if that’s cool.”
“Works for me. Now, let's go. I swear, I was getting some weird ass looks when I was shopping.”
Twenty minutes later, we are pulling into the employee parking lot behind the bar. We have our bags in hand, and I’m suddenly very nervous.
What if she gets pissed at me? What if I overstepped a boundary and she ends our relationship?
I shove those thoughts away as we walk up the stairwell and into my apartment. The first room we’ll enter is the living room, so my heart is beating like a drum inside my chest.
“I can’t wait for you to see your—” Bri stops in her tracks, and the bag in her hand falls to the floor. “What is that?” I remain silent. I can’t seem to find the words to say.
