The event I’d been anticipating for weeks suddenly feels interminable, and when it’s done, Jasmine takes her time making her way over, looking almost scared of what she’ll encounter when she finally reaches the counter. “You’re writing again,” she says by way of greeting.

“I am. I got inspired, I guess.”

Her smile is quick, and then she’s playing with her fingers in a nervous way I’ve never seen from her. “Listen, Lara, I’m sorry for springing all of that on you at Homecoming. That wasn’t the right way to talk about … any of this. I can’t blame you for not reaching out afterward.”

“I couldn’t,” I tell her.

She casts her eyes down. “I know.”

“I was busy.”

She nods.

“I had to tell my mom I’m crazy about a girl. I had to break up with Chase. I had to tell my friends. It’s been a busy weekend, to say the least.”

Her hands freeze, and she looks up. “Are you screwing with me?”

“I feel like you should be saying something more romantic to me right now,” I say, disentangling one of her hands so I can twine my fingers with hers. “Weren’t you just telling me something about being in love with me? Something more like that.”

“I am,” she says softly. “So fucking in love with you.”

“Yeah, I know the feeling.” I rise onto my toes and press my lips to hers, and bozhe moi it feels like coming home. It’s like our last night together all over again. I’m free and open to show her exactly how I feel, and I can’t believe how long it took us to get back here. But we’re here, and we’re kissing, and—

There’s a loud cough in my ear, and I step back to see Beth giving me a Look. “Not to interrupt your moment,” she says wryly, “but there’s a huge line waiting to get books signed, and while I’m sure they’re all grateful for the demonstration of Happily Ever After, you did beg to work this event, and the part where people spend money is not quite over.” She holds out a pad of sticky notes and a permanent marker, and I sheepishly take them. I’m about to apologize when she turns to Jasmine and holds out a hand. “I’m Beth. I imagine I’ll be seeing you around.”

Jasmine honest-to-goodness blushes. She is so damn cute. “I hope so,” she says, cutting a look to me.

I wink and force myself toward the line.

When I’m done taking names and sticking them into books, I rejoin Jasmine by the counter and pull her to the side for a little more privacy. “So, to be clear, we’re doing this thing. Right?”

She smirks. “Yes, Tinkerbell. We’re doing this thing.”

“You know your parents know.”

“Oh, I know.”