An hour later, Amy’s stomach hurt from laughing. Posing for Bookface Friday photos with Toff was shaping up to be a great idea—awkward, embarrassing, and wreaking havoc on her nerves but also fun.
After the first attempt, directed by Toff, she protested. “If I’m not taking the photos, I need to stage them,” she’d told him. “Otherwise, I feel like it’s cheating. The photos have to be what I want, since I chose the books.” She was proud of herself for standing up to him. “Besides, bookface is my area of expertise, not yours.”
Toff and Dallas shared a cryptic look. “Okay,” Toff agreed, “but how about if Dallas takes behind-the-scenes shots, too?”
She frowned. “What? Why?”
“For fun.” Toff grinned. “We’re allowed to have fun, right? That’s my area of expertise.”
“Okay…I guess.”
She could enjoy those photos later, in the privacy of her bedroom, after the contest, when she fell off Toff’s radar and their friendship—or whatever this was—went back to normal.
Under her direction, they posed for three more photos, two featuring her and one featuring Toff, posing up and down Main Street and drawing a lot of attention, which Toff loved but she didn’t.
“Can I stage the next one?” Toff asked when they took a snack break. “Please?”
“I don’t know…” Amy loved book number four and had no idea what he had in mind. “I guess so, but if I don’t like it, we’re reshooting it the way I want to.”
Toff’s grin lit up his whole face. Totally unfair coaching maneuver. She ripped open her package of peanut M&M’s and poured a few into her hand. M&M’s made everything better.
“What’s your plan?” Amy handed him book number four, which featured an out-of-focus photo of a girl with her back to the camera, looking up at the sky, dark hair streaming down her back.
He set the book aside. “I’m not doing that one.” He nodded at Dallas, who pawed through his backpack and pulled out one of Amy’s favorite ’ships of all time.
What the…? Amy gulped. She hadn’t brought this book, Summer Sweethearts, for a very specific reason—the cover. A cover that just so happened to feature a blond guy and a redheaded girl, which wasn’t the reason she’d bought it. Or ’shipped it. Not at all.
Who am I kidding?
“I didn’t pick that one,” she protested weakly.
“I know,” Toff said. “Dallas did.”
“But…how did you know I like this book?” She stared at Dallas, confused.
Dallas crumpled his bag of chips. “I read your book reviews, too, Amy, not just Viv’s.” He leaned across the café table and spoke in a stage whisper. “Don’t tell Viv, but some of your reviews are even funnier than hers, including this one.”
“I asked him to pick a book that you ‘shipped’ or whatever, with a couple on the cover.”
Amy ran her palms along her jeans. Do not panic. Find your swagger. Flustered, she turned to Dallas. “Uh…thanks.” She appreciated his compliment, but that didn’t change the fact that Toff had a speculative, dangerous gleam in his eye as he studied the cover.
“It was my backup plan,” he said, “in case you chickened out and didn’t pick any books with hot couple covers.” He flashed her a steamy look. “Which you didn’t.”
So maybe he did have a plan. Amy bit her lip. It was definitely a hot cover, or maybe sweet-hot. The couple rested their foreheads against each other, the tips of their noses touching, their lips almost touching, mouths curved in matching I’m-about-to-kiss-you smiles.
“But why do we need a couples cover?” Her voice was weak. No swagger at all.
“Because you want buzz,” Toff said, pinning her with a laser-focused coach stare. “Because challenge number two is supposed to be about ‘ships.’” He made air quotes. “And ‘ships’ are about couples.”
“And because you love this book,” Dallas chimed in. “Don’t deny it. I read all about it.”
“But i-if we do this…” She swallowed, unwilling to state the obvious.
“When we do this,” Toff said, “you just have to pretend we’re faking out the sheriff again. It’s easy. Just act like you want to kiss me, like you did before.” His gaze dropped to her mouth. “Just…you know…fake it.” He continued staring at her mouth, which did nothing to ease her anxiety.
“It won’t be easy,” Dallas said, elbowing Toff, “since you’re a pain in the ass, Flipper.” He turned to Amy. “I’ll make sure you don’t have to suffer too long.” He pantomimed snapping a photo, moving his index finger up and down quickly.
“Whoa.” Toff sat up straight, his attention caught by something down the street. His face split into a grin. “This is perfect!” He jumped up from his chair. “Come on, Ames.”
He grabbed her hand, and they jogged down the street, Dallas behind them, until Toff skidded to a stop in front of a patrol car.
Oh no. No, no, no. “Bad idea, Clyde,” Amy hissed.
Toff ignored her. “Get this car in the background,” he ordered Dallas, who gave him a thumbs-up. He put his hands on her shoulders, leveling her with an intense coach glare, followed quickly by his flirtiest smile. “Trust me.”
The deadly combo did her in.
“Fine. Whatever.” The sooner they got this over with, the sooner she could leave.
“Stand right there.” Dallas pointed to the sidewalk in front of the sheriff’s car. Toff tugged her to the spot. “Who’s holding the book?”
“I am.” He glanced at her. “I mean, is it okay with you if I hold the cover?”
She nodded.
Toff stepped closer to her. Maybe she could still make a break for it.
“Kick off your shoes,” Dallas said, and they both turned to stare at him. “Just do it.” Shrugging, Toff kicked off his flip-flops. Amy did the same, wondering why. “Step in close, until your toes are touching.”
Amy blinked up at Toff, who rolled his eyes at Dallas, then focused back on her, his face crinkling in a funny smile. “Don’t worry. I showered and cut my toenails.”
“Ugh,” she said, temporarily grossed out enough to struggle to regain her composure. “TMI, Clyde.”
Toff laughed, and the next thing she knew, their big toes were touching, which meant she was eye level with his neck. She sucked in a breath, trying to avoid touching him anywhere but his toes. Or huffing him like a junkie.
This photo better get liked and regrammed by HeartRacer and a million other people.
“Hold up the book,” Dallas ordered. Toff held it up in front of their faces. “Crap.”
Toff lowered the book. “What’s wrong?”
“You’re too tall, or Amy’s too short.” Dallas scratched his spiky black hair, looking around. “We need a stool or something.”
“On it.” Toff dashed into the herbal store, returning with a plastic footstool.
Natasha, owner of the herbal store, followed him outside, smiling when she saw Amy. Amy gave her a half-hearted wave. Natasha was a longtime member of the Lonely Hearts Book Club, even though she nitpicked every book they read.
“What’s going on?” Natasha asked.
“It’s a publisher contest,” Amy said. Toff plunked the stool down in front of her. “I’ll tell you about it at book club.”
Toff held out his hand, but she ignored his offer, stepping onto the stool unaided.
“Now try it.” Dallas gestured for Toff to move in close again.
A small crowd had gathered to watch, taking photos with their cells. Amy squeezed her eyes shut. This was her worst nightmare and biggest fantasy all rolled into one tangled mess.
Toff didn’t hesitate, closing the gap between them. They stood eye to eye now. “Welcome to my ozone layer.”
“You’re a dork,” Amy said, struggling to resist his dangerous, flirty superpowers. Toff moved in closer and rested h
is forehead against hers, just like the book cover. Now they were nose to nose. Mouth to…mouth. Almost. She estimated their lips were about a fingertip apart.
She was terrified to breathe. What if she had bad breath? What if he did?
What if…what if…they accidentally kissed? All it would take was a strong breeze to push them close enough to touch lips. Her stomach dropped to her toes.
“Perfect!” Dallas called out. “Hold up the book.”
Toff did, and someone in the crowd whistled. “Told you,” he whispered. “We’re hot, babe.”
He didn’t have bad breath. Not at all.
Amy’s pulse pounded in her ears. If she survived this photo shoot, she could do anything. Climb a mountain. Hang glide. Talk to Lucinda Amorrato without forgetting her words.
“Lower it a bit,” Dallas said, “so I can see the tops of your heads.”
Toff lowered the book a smidge. He moved even closer, his mouth just centimeters from hers. His teeth grazed his bottom lip and she felt the ground shake. Was that an earthquake? Or her imagination?
“Just kiss her, already!” someone called out—was that Natasha?—and the crowd laughed.
Amy swallowed. She hoped Toff couldn’t tell she was trembling. “W-We don’t have to actually kiss for the photo,” she whispered. “Only our hair is in the picture.”
“A kiss would get a lot of buzz, Bonnie.” His mouth curved wickedly.
She inhaled sharply and took a step back, almost falling off the footstool.
Toff caught her and resumed their bookface position, his lips nearly grazing hers. “Just think of all the likes you’ll get.”
In her peripheral vision, Amy saw Officer Hernandez emerge from Natasha’s herbal store clutching a paper bag, doing a double take when he saw them. “You two again.”
“Nothing to see here, Officer Hernandez,” Toff said, standing up straight. “Bookfacing isn’t a crime. We’re just a couple of lovebirds not breaking curfew.”
Dallas zoomed in on the sheriff, then her and Toff, snapping away with his camera as Officer Hernandez squinted suspiciously.
Amy swallowed a laugh as Toff touched his nose to hers again. His lips were definitely grazing hers. Her skin felt like it was crackling with anticipation. And panic.
“Lower the book,” Dallas ordered. Toff complied.
Wait? Why was he taking photos of their faces without the book cover? That wasn’t how bookface worked.
“I bet he’s got herbal Viagra in that bag,” Toff whispered against her lips. “Go-go for the po-po.”
Amy snort-laughed, uncontrollable giggles overtaking her, Toff’s joke triggering her stress release valve. This must be what hysteria felt like.
Still laughing, Amy whacked Toff on the chest and he staggered backward, pretending to be hurt. All the while, Dallas kept snapping photos. Scattered applause rang out, and the crowd slowly disbursed. To her surprise, Natasha shot her a wink and disappeared back into her store.
Officer Hernandez’s face pinched, and he did the two-fingered warning gesture, pointing to his eyes, then to Toff. “Eyes on you, Nichols. Eyes. On. You.” He frowned at Amy. “Watch out for this one, young lady. He almost got you into trouble once before.”
“She likes trouble,” Toff called after the sheriff, who unlocked his patrol car, shaking his head.
“She does not,” Amy protested, jumping off the footstool.
“Sure you do. I’m just being an alpha. I thought you liked that.” Toff’s dimples bookended his mischievous grin.
“Time for one last outtake.” To her surprise, Toff pulled her backward against his chest, resting his chin on top of her head. “We did it, by the way.”
“D-Did what?” Amy was so stunned by the feel of Toff’s body pressed up against hers, she could barely speak.
“Hit the vibe I was going for.” His hands cupped her waist, and her heart stuttered to a stop. “Say cheese, Bonnie.”
Dallas grinned as he snapped more photos.
Just a coach, just a coach, just a coach, Amy chanted in her head while her stomach did somersaults.
“Amy, you look like you’re about to pass out. I thought you took a shower, dude,” Dallas joked, looking up from his camera. “Hold your breath if he smells that bad.”
Amy almost smiled. Almost.
“I don’t stink, McNerd,” Toff argued, still holding her. He bent down to whisper in her ear. “Um, I don’t, right?”
Omigod.
“Uh…you smell like soap.” And sunshine and unicorns and starlight and—
“Ha!” Toff straightened. “Amy says I smell awesome.”
“I didn’t say that!” He couldn’t read her mind, could he?
Time to get her head back in the game, because that’s definitely what he was playing—a game. Eyes on the prize, she told herself. The prize is Lucinda Amorrato, not Toff.
Dallas smirked. “Last one. Say cheese!”
“Cheese!” Amy forced a wide smile.
“Rabid raccoons!” Toff yelled as the sheriff drove off.
“Got it!” Dallas grinned as his fingers scrolled across his viewfinder. “Wow. Um…yeah. We got a lot of…good ones.”
“Of course we did.” Toff released his grip on Amy’s waist and grinned like he’d just smoked another comp.
Amy took a breath and stepped back. “Okay, I think we’re done for today,” she said briskly, her heart still pounding. “All that’s left is the Pride and Prejudice cover. I can do that one by myself.”
Toff’s face fell, disappointment clouding his eyes.
Huh. She hadn’t expected that reaction.
“You sure?” Dallas asked, stowing the troublemaking book in his backpack. “I’ll take the photos if you want.” He side-eyed Toff. “I won’t tell you how to set up your shot.”
Amy smiled gratefully at Dallas. He was the best, the pinnacle of boyfriend perfection. Lucky Viv. “That’s okay. I’m sure Viv’s waiting for you. My phone takes decent photos.”
Dallas shrugged. “Okay, cool.”
The three of them walked back to the bookstore together, but for once Toff was quiet. She hoped he wasn’t scheming.
Dallas flipped her a mock salute as he opened the door to the bookstore. “I’ll tweak these photos tonight and send you a link to download them tomorrow.”
“Thanks!” Amy returned his salute, then turned to Toff. “You can go now.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Usually the coach decides when a session is over, not the other way around.” He crossed his arms over his chest, frowning down at her. “Is this a temporary thing, or are you firing your coach?”
A bolt of panic shot through her at the thought. It was more that she was still freaked out about his fake flirting, not that she could tell him that. Calling on all her swagger, she lifted her chin. “Not yet, but I might.”
Toff’s eyes narrowed. “What if I refuse to be fired?”
Amy puffed up. She felt like a general drawing her line in the sand. “That’s my call. I don’t need your help with this last one, so go torture Viv or Dallas.”
They locked gazes for a long moment, currents of…of something arcing between them. Finally Toff nodded, a satisfied smile curving his mouth.
“Now, that’s more like it,” he said. “You keep bringing that kind of heat, Ames, and you’re gonna win this thing.”
CHAPTER NINE
Later that night, Amy lay in bed doodling in her notebook. She still hadn’t recovered from the bookface photo shoot, and drawing was her way of journaling.
She didn’t know if she’d ever recover.
After standing up to Toff, she’d bolted like Cinderella rushing to get home before the magic faded. She hadn’t even said goodbye to Viv, though they’d made up for that with a long string of text messages, mostly reassuring Viv that things weren�
��t, in fact, a disaster.
She hoped.
Her phone buzzed.
Toff: I want you to know I’m about to watch the P&P movie. The one with hottie Keira Knightley. I can’t watch the series. Too long.
Whoa. Amy read his text again, then typed a reply. How about you read the book before you watch the movie?
Toff: Not gonna happen
The winking-face emoji popped up on her screen, followed by alternating book emojis and sleeping face emojis.
She returned fire with a volley of eye-roll and thumbs-down emojis.
His reply was fast. I’m trying to show some OTP R-E-S-P-E-C-T Bonnie. There was a pause, then, I’m sorry about earlier. Didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable
If only he knew why I was uncomfortable. She was grateful this was a text convo so he couldn’t see her blushing.
Amy: I hope you like the movie. Don’t tell me if you don’t.
His response didn’t pop up right away. When it finally did, the butterflies in her stomach twirled and swirled just like the ladies of Beauxbatons in their pretty blue dresses, making Ron Weasley blush.
Toff: Come over and watch it with me.
Amy clutched her size-fifty knitting needle, which she’d found in Brayden’s disaster-zone bedroom. Watch a movie with Toff? At his house? Just the two of them? Not just any movie, but one of the most romantic ones ever made?
Watch the part where Mr. Darcy helps Lizzie into the carriage, his hand grazing hers in slow motion…with Toff? That scene slayed her every single time. She sucked in a breath and typed, I’ve already watched it a million times.
Toff: Great. You can fill me in on the parts I sleep through. Followed by the silly tongue-out emoji. You know where I live, right?
Of course she knew.
Amy: Yes.
Toff: Excellent. Bring Whoppers. Red Vines. Junior Mints
Amy sighed. Mr. Darcy he was not. Time to snap out of her fantasy.
A knock sounded on her door. “Come in.”
The door opened, and her dad peeked in.
“Hi, honey. Mom and I are headed out to see Natasha’s play at the community center.” He stepped into her room and grimaced. “Pray for a fire alarm or an earthquake.”
The Bookworm Crush Page 10