Rinn nodded. AJ stopped recording and saved the video. They were finding a rhythm in this. And while filming like this might have been the most awkward thing that Rinn had ever done, she always felt most like herself when she was talking about a book. That was her natural state, really. Books, she could do. Books, she loved.

Rinn nodded one last time. “And seriously, I’m not going to spoil anything for you, but you really have no idea how Harvey is going to end this. You also have no idea how life is going to come at these main characters. I love how surprising and engaging the writing is, and if you are one of the five people on planet Earth who has not read this book, I strongly recommend that you at least give it a shot. I think that it has the perfect blend of the most romantic moments combined with real-life drama and real-world lessons. I mean, do what you’re gonna do, but to be honest, please check this book out. It’s amaaaazing.”

AJ stopped filming and saved that last video. “That was impressive.”

“Oh.” She tucked an errant curl behind her ear. “Thanks.”

“Seriously, I’d never be able to film with someone else watching. I can’t even record one of those drawing-live videos that I see everywhere, where artists do a warm-up sketch so people can see their process as they draw.”

Hope and relief bubbled in Rinn’s chest. She felt lighter, a little more carefree. “Oh, I was screaming internally. I usually don’t film with an audience. Worst-case scenario my sisters come barging in and ruin the shot. But they stopped making fun of me once they saw the first sponsorship check that arrived in the mail.” Rinn took the phone from AJ’s outstretched hand. She focused on the screen, not looking at him as she spoke.

“Is it weird, turning something you love into a business?”

The tone in AJ’s voice was so sincere that Rinn looked up. Stared directly into his inhumanly handsome face. “It is. And I guess it isn’t. I don’t have to worry about finding the money for college. And I’ve started saving up the funds for my sisters, too. It feels kind of poetic that my love of books gets to pay for so many educations. But it definitely adds pressure. To perform. To do well. To look a certain way on camera. To have a certain rate of engagement for every post.”

“You don’t have to look any way, do you?” AJ was still so sincere.