Page 58 of The Haunting Plot

“What are you talking about?”

“Why are you here?” My mind races. I knew this felt familiar. Is this another prank? Are his feelings even real or some elaborate ruse?

“I’m here because I want to help. I like being around you, showing up for you. Well, you and those kids. What’s it gonna take for you to give me a chance? I know I’m not perfect, but I’m trying.”

There’s so much sincerity on his face that it’s hard to doubt him, but I’ve never done this before. “I’m not your project.”

“You’re not.” His tone is firm. He’s not arguing, and his pleading look softens my defenses.

“The romance book bullshit has to stop. You can’t just read my books as some sort of cheat code to get me to like you.”

His face falls. “Shit.”

“I knew it.” Dropping my head, I inhale slowly, balling my hands into fists. My nails dig into my palm, and I welcome the sting as it distracts me from the pain in my chest.

He sighs. “I can explain.”

“Don’t say anything. I just… I need a minute.” I can’t look at him. Instead, I concentrate on my breathing as I wrap my arms around my torso and squeeze. He read my books and used my words to woo me. Why would he do that?

Once I have a hold on my emotions, I look up, holding his gaze as he stands there, his mouth opening and closing like he can’t find the words. “My books aren’t a handbook for tricking me into liking you.”

“I swear, that’s not what I was trying to do.”

“Then why were you reading them? I know you don’t read romance for fun.”

“Remember when I told you that I’m terrible with women? I was told romance books might help me, and they have. I didn’t know you wrote them when it started. I just figured it out.”

“How?”

“You left it up on your laptop. I recognized the character name and setting.”

I ball my fists. “You looked at my computer?”

“It was an accident. I sat in your chair and knocked the mouse on accident.”

“You should’ve been honest with me.”

“You’re absolutely right, I should have. And I was going to, but then I figured it’d be fun to poke you cuz that’s what we do. I am sorry that I wasn’t honest, but I’m not sorry I read them. You taught me how to be the ideal man for you through those books. I feel like a better man because of the men you created.”

The tension slowly leaves my body at his words. It is kind of a relief that someone else knows. And he seems sincere. “If you needed help, you could’ve asked me.”

“I really fucking like you, and I didn’t want to fuck this up like I do everything else.”

His honesty knocks the wind out of me. While I’m annoyed at his actions, it doesn’t feel like a betrayal since his intentions are good. Besides, if this is the worst thing he’s done, it’s not so bad. I’ve never felt this much for a person before, and something in my gut tells me not to walk away. So I decide to give him another chance.

“Be outside in ten minutes, or I’m leaving without you, porn ’stache.”

His eyes go comically wide. “Really? Does this mean we get to act out scenes from your books now?”

“Don’t make me regret this.” Though the thought has something tightening in my core. “And don’t tell anyone that I’m Ayana Cox. Only RJ knows, and I’d like to keep it that way.”

“Your secret’s safe with me.”

After I grab my purse, Sawyer walks me outside, and I lock the house behind me.

“Cool if we take my truck?” he asks, hooking his thumb behind him.

“Yeah—”