“Are you worried about them?”
“My mom, yeah,” he said. “But . . . sometimes I feel relieved that it isn’t easy to get ahold of them, that we aren’t in each other’s lives. I know that sounds fucked up.”
“It doesn’t.” Lily reached forward and placed her hand over his. “Family isn’t always easy.”
He stared down at their hands. Then he looked up at her. His face was open and vulnerable. “I’m glad I have you.”
Her heart expanded in her chest.
“I’m glad I have you too,” she said.
He flashed a warm smile and turned his attention to the menu. Lily continued to look at him. He was so dear to her, she didn’t even know what to do with herself.
* * *
? ? ?
Later, in Nick’s moonlit bedroom, they lay naked on top of his sheets. Nick trailed kisses down Lily’s back. He touched her tenderly between her legs and she moaned softly, her breath hitched as he entered her from behind. He kissed her neck, and sucked on her earlobe, telling her in a jagged whisper how good she felt. He lightly bit her shoulder and gripped her hips in his hands. She was coming undone with each stroke, completely enveloped by him. The pressure mounted fast, and she came swiftly, and Nick soon followed, groaning loudly as he thrust into her one last time.
Afterward, they faced each other, exhausted, their bare legs tangled together. Nick’s hand rested on her hip. He moved his thumb over her skin in soft, slow circles.
“That was the best date I’ve ever had,” Lily said quietly. “Thank you.”
Nick sported a pleased smile. “Better than your ideal date?”
“So much better. Blew my ideas out of the water.”
“Good,” he said. “Now I just need to figure out how to make it so that you can never leave this bed.”
She inched closer to him, craving more of his warm embrace. “With the exception of Violet’s bachelorette party next weekend, I’m all yours.”
“Oh, right. Where is it again?”
“Miami. Karamel Kitty got us a section at a club.”
“Damn,” Nick said, impressed. “I hope you don’t forget about me when all of her baller rapper friends show up.”
“You don’t need to worry about that.” Lily shook her head, smiling at him. “I could never forget about you.”
“Let me give you something to remember me by, just in case,” he said, pulling her closer.
She laughed as he planted heated kisses across her breasts and down her stomach, showing her just how much he wanted to be remembered.
23
Nick regretted not meeting his editor, Zara Shah, sooner. Because once they finally had lunch, and Nick told her the truth about being American and lying in his bio, she hardly blinked.
“I’ve heard crazier stories,” she said. “You did write the book yourself, though, right?”
Nick confirmed that he had, and that was all Zara seemed to care about. To his further surprise, she didn’t really ask about how drafting the sequel was going either. She was much more interested in discussing who she thought should be cast in The Elves of Ceradon television show. So far, she’d shared that she’d pictured Daniel Kaluuya as Deko.
“Can’t you see it?” she said. “He’s got that broody-yet-hopeful vibe. Give him some pointy ears and light green eyes, and there’s Deko right there.” She thought Forest Whitaker should play Deko’s father. “Wise, so wise.”
Nick and Marcus sat across from Zara at Eataly’s restaurant section in the Flatiron district. Zara was in her early thirties with long dark hair and thick, black-framed glasses. She spun pasta around her fork in quick, jittery movements. She told them that she’d already had three cups of coffee that morning.
“Who do you think should be cast?” Zara asked, looking at Nick. “Do you have any say over that?”
“Oh, um. I’m not sure. I have an executive producer credit. So maybe?” He glanced at Marcus. “He knows this stuff better than I do.”
“It’s definitely something we can discuss,” Marcus said. “But it’s still so early. They haven’t even hired someone to write the script yet.”
“It sounds like Hollywood plays the hurry-up-and-wait game just like publishing,” Zara said. “Nick, can I just say it’s so nice to finally put a name to a face? I’m glad you finally agreed to meet me.”
“Me too,” Nick said, and he truly meant it. Zara was cool. He’d already thought as much during their phone calls, but it was nice to be able to confirm it in person.