Her cheeks turn the slightest pink, and her eyes dart down to my mouth. Like she can’t help herself, her eyes slowly travel down to my chest. I’d forgotten I’m not wearing a shirt, and a smug grin forms on my face when her face reddens more.
When her eyes snap back up to mine, I chuckle at the embarrassed expression on her face. She’s so fucking cute, it’s ridiculous.
She narrows her eyes and places her hand over my mouth. “Get that look off your face right now!”
I grab her wrist lightly and pull her hand away, offering her an apologetic grin. Still, it feels really good to catch her checking me out, especially after all of the uncertainty I’ve been feeling since my conversation with the guys earlier.
“Did you wanna come over and hang out? I think Elliot, Liam, and Remy are over at the house.”
The smile drops from my face and I squeeze her hand in silent apology. Having her here like this is nice, and there’s no pressure for me to do anything or act a certain way. As much as I want to be around her, I honestly don’t think I have the energy to be around her and the guys right now. I know I need to at least go downstairs and eat something at some point, but even that sounds like a feat right now.
“It’s okay,” Charlotte says before I can get any words out. “We’ll see each other tomorrow. Besides, I’m probably gonna spend the rest of the night reading and choosing my outfit for tomorrow.”
She sounds so genuine and sweet, and not bothered at all that I’m not up for hanging out. I sigh in relief and pull her into another hug, running my hand over the back of her hair. “You’re amazing. I hope you know that.”
She blushes when she pulls away, but she seems pleased. “You’re amazing too. Call me later if you wanna talk. I’m gonna be a nervous wreck about starting school tomorrow, I’m sure!”
“I’ll call you,” I promise.
Charlotte leaves, offering me a wave and a soft smile. The moment I hear her on the stairs, I flop back on my bed and roughly rub my hands over my face.
We have to make this work, somehow. The guys might think we’re competing to be Charlotte’s boyfriend or some shit like that, but I know if they open their minds to the idea, we could have something really amazing and special between the six of us. I need to spend more time with Charlotte and see how she interacts with the other guys. And I need to help her realize there’s nothing wrong with having feelings for more than one person, no matter what Sebastian or anyone else thinks.
Acknowledgments
Writing a book takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and patience, but there’s no better feeling than creating something and sharing it with others. Thank you to every single person who read this book, whether you originally read it on Wattpad, or if you stumbled across “Smile Like You Mean It” on Amazon or through a friend’s recommendation. I hope you grew to love these characters half as much as I have.
Thank you, more than anyone, to Kelly. You’re the first person to ever read my writing, and I never would have had the courage to share my writing with the rest of the world if it weren’t for you. You’ve given me so much confidence. Every time I start a new project or take another new step in my writing career, I feel so incredibly humbled when I think back to when you read the beginnings of “Smile” and “Cricket” for the very first time. You’re the best friend and beta reader I could ever ask for, and I’m so lucky to have you in my life.
I’d also like to thank Taryn. I can’t believe our friendship has blossomed into what it is now! You were the first person to truly critique my writing, and you’ve always been so supportive of every single project I work on while making me a better writer at the same time. You make me think more critically about my world-building, and you’ve helped me improve my writing drastically with all of your editing tips. I owe you the world for helping me edit “Smile,” and I hope you know I appreciate it more than anything.
Thank you to Danielle, Rachael, and everyone else in the Reverse Harem Haven discord server. You guys are amazing, and you’ve become such amazing friends!
Thank you, David, for being the sweetest and goofiest husband I ever could have asked for. Even though you’re not a reader, you make me feel so proud about my writing and all of my accomplishments. Hearing you brag about me to your friends and co-workers (and telling them I write reverse harem books with absolutely no shame or embarrassment) is the cutest thing in the world. I love you so much.
To the rest of the boys—Joe, Jeremy, and Nick—thanks for being so awesome and supportive too. You guys crack me up, and I love you all to death.
Lastly, I’d like to thank every single reader and follower from Wattpad. I’ll never forget my writing roots, and every single person that voted or commented on “Smile” before it was published, or even finished, will always have a special place in my heart.
About the Author
Willow Hadley is a reverse harem author from North Carolina. She loves character-driven stories, and she prefers writing books that are cute, fluffy, and give you a warm feeling while you’re reading. She started posting books on Wattpad in 2018 and was invited to be part of the Wattpad Stars program in the summer of 2019.
“Smile Like You Mean It” is her first published novel.
Connect with Willow on Social Media:
Willow Hadley Readers’ Group
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Smile Like You Mean It (Charlotte Reynolds Book 1) Page 32