Chapter 3

"Don't look at me like that" I reply, picking up my book while Beth throws herself on the couch next to me.

"You could've had Leonardo in the palm of your hands!" She shouts, placing her finger on the page, forcing me to lower the book.

"Beth, we're grown adults. If I did have him in the palm of my hands wouldn't that make me sadistic?" I swipe away her hand, adjusting the book to my liking. I scanned the page to see where I had left off.

"Says the girl who complained about Leo to me for years, I am holding you accountable. If anything, seeing the books you've read, I'd think you're a sadist."

"That was in high school. I've moved on!"

"I saw you check his feed last week you sadist!" She peers over my shoulder catching on the few words from the page, checking on what I'm reading.

"I'm not a sadist! Reading murder mysteries is fun along with reading violent fantasy. Every other bookworm does it! Besides, I've read enough books in similar cases, to know how all of this ends. I also don't like the idea of getting death threats and paparazzi following me just because I am a woman who is affiliated with Leo." I sigh, turning the page. At this point, I was no longer truly reading. I was acting like I was.

"That's it!" Beth snatches the book out of my hand and wrings it wide open. My bookmark (a random napkin I had) falls out, losing my place in the story.

"I was reading that."

"Now you're not!" she waives it to the sky.

"Careful not to crease it!" I caution her.

Beth holds the book up right in front of me and lifts her hand to the corner of the page. She smirks deviously, twisting a side of her mouth upward.

"Don't you dare." I stand up from the couch, sliding my feet into slippers. Beth moves away from my reach, taunting me with the book shaking it side to side.

"I will dogear every page of this book if you do not listen to me. Steph, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance! You can have everything you want! You said it yourself, you're not one to fall in love with him. Don't you want your weird cafe bookstore dream to come true?" Beth presses, holding the book stiffly in her hands.

"It's not a weird dream!" I exclaim, chasing her out of the living room and into the kitchen. She climbs the counter and dogears a page.

"Yes, it is! Now, are you going to listen to me, or not?" She tugs the page, ripping it slightly.

I let out a small cry, stepping away from her.

"Beth,"

"Steph."

"This is so unfair!"

"I am your best friend and I am asking you to listen to me. Steph, don't let this opportunity slip from your hands. I'm serious."

"Fine! Just give me time to think about it! I'll actually consider it. Now give me my book!" I say snatching it out of the clutches of her demeaning hands.

Beth shakes her head at me, moving the panda ears of her onesie slightly.

I glare at her and blow a strand out of my face, pressing my glasses upwards to flip her off.

"You know I just want the best for you right?" Beth replies, sitting back down on the couch. She gives me an apologetic frown.

I sit next to her and nod my head.

"I know," I mutter.

"I'll buy you a new book."

"You better."

Beth smiles lightly and glances back at the door.

"I'm surprised he didn't call you…what was it? Estrella." Beth dramatically accentuates the nickname theatrically.

"Oh, he did. You missed it the first time he knocked."

"Dang, it!"