Off Camera (Love Through a Lens, #3)

by Chelsea Curto

“You’re pretty. Very pretty, and also the first woman who hasn’t made fun of me for liking superheroes. I’m wondering if my friends put you up to this as some sort of dare, because I’m not sure what the hell I did to have someone as gorgeous as you rattle off comic book titles at me.”

When I turn and look out at the crowd again, Avery isn’t looking at the couple of the hour. She’s still looking at me. I’m never the guy who gets the girl, but tonight, I want to try. Spontaneous. I can be spontaneous. Just for the night.

“I picked them up at the farmers’ market around the corner. I saw the tattoo on your finger, and I thought they might be your favorite flower.” “It is my favorite flower,” I say, touching the petals. “These are beautiful.”

“You can take care of yourself. I see that. I know that. You’re a strong, independent woman, Ave, and that’s badass. But I’d like to help a little bit. If you’ll let me.”

“We never paused the feud. Competition or not, I meant every word.” “You did?” I ask, and my heart thumps in my chest like a metronome. “You never take up too much space, Ave. Not with me,” he says. “I think I’d like you to take up more of it.”

“How did you remember?” “Oh. Um, you mentioned it the first time I came to your apartment. Before the smoke alarm went off,” I say. “You lit up when you told me about it, but you shrugged it off like it was no big deal. Like you were embarrassed to show me your excitement. I could tell it was important to you, though. I told myself I was going to find a way to get you that set if it was the last thing I did. Everyone deserves things that make us happy, Reid, and I like to see you happy.”

“Lots of evidence that supports my hypothesis. Your copy has been on your nightstand for months. Other books have come and gone, but this one is always there—and that doesn’t include the two other versions you have on your bookshelf. When I asked for book club recommendations, this was your suggestion. Last year, when it was announced a production company was turning the book into a movie, you shared the post to the Thunderhawks’ Instagram story for two minutes before realizing you weren’t on your personal account.”

“After I left the bar the night we met, I ordered a copy of Watchmen. I read it front to back then I read it again. All because the cute guy who blushed when I complimented him said it was his favorite,”