Chapter 1 #2
He’d stride over to me, and after we spent the whole journey chatting and realising how much we had in common, the chemistry between us would be so electrifying that he’d scoop me up in his big, muscular arms and carry me to the toilets, where we’d end up bonking.
Actually, scrap that last part. Train loos were usually gross, so the thought of shagging in them wasn’t very romantic.
But maybe that idea could work for my novel…
Yes!
There were loads of things that I enjoyed reading about in books but wouldn’t be down for in reality. Dating morally grey men in real life was a total red flag, but if a character did it in a dark romance novel? I was totally here for it.
I quickly opened my laptop again and started typing my thoughts.
This was what I loved about train journeys!
As well as getting loads of time to read, now that I was an aspiring author, these trips were great for writing inspo too. I’d had more ideas in the last two minutes than I’d had in two months.
‘So you were saying?’ Mr Train Totty continued, just before he turned his baseball cap to the back.
Holy guacamole.
This man had walked straight out of my dreams and onto this train.
He was true romance hero material.
Although his glasses and cap meant I couldn’t be sure that he was as hot as he seemed, he was still checking lots of boxes.
Cinnamon Roll Hero energy. Check.
Tall. Check.
Muscular. Check.
Sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Double-check.
And now his cap has just been turned to the back? Hell yeah.
All he needed now was the grey tracksuit bottoms and to lean against the train door and I’d swear I’d died and gone to book boyfriend heaven.
‘Yeah.’ He continued talking on the phone as he sat down several rows in front of me and I resisted the temptation to go over and introduce myself. ‘You’re right. Romance novels are so predictable. They give women unrealistic expectations.’
What.
The.
Actual.
Fuck.
My jaw dropped.
My blood boiled.
And just like that, the fantasy of meeting my Mr Perfect on the train went up in flames.
For a second, I half expected (or hoped) that he’d add ‘only joking’ to his blasphemous sentence. But instead, to my horror, the fucker continued talking.
‘Exactly! Take my mate Harry. Lovely guy, but he can’t get a woman.
D’you know why? Because he’s five foot seven and doesn’t look like a romance novel hero.
Poor sod. Because women are reading these books, they only want to date men over six feet who look like gods.
But not everyone is lucky enough to be blessed with good genes, am I right?
I mean, I’m trying my best, but I can’t satisfy every woman on the planet! ’
He laughed and I rolled my eyes so hard they almost fell out of their sockets.
The arrogance of this guy.
Forget calling him Train Totty. He’d been firmly demoted to Train Twat and even that title was too good for him.
‘Yeah,’ the knob continued, ‘good point. If these books are supposed to be realistic, where are all the short guys? Or the stories about women falling in love with the men with receding hairlines, erectile dysfunction, beer bellies and moobs? And how can these couples always live happily ever after when fifty per cent of marriages end in divorce? It’s just bullshit! ’
Calling romance novels unrealistic and predictable was bad enough.
But bullshit?
This arsehole had just crossed the line.
Bloody typical.
Seeing a hot guy was rare. So of course I should’ve known it was too good to be true. But it was a mystery why the universe had decided to put me, an aspiring romance author, on a train where a man who looked like a book hero was slagging off my favourite genre.
Talk about a cruel coincidence.
It took every ounce of willpower to stop me flying out of my seat and storming over to give him a piece of my mind, but I had to be careful. He could be crazy (very likely, considering the shit that had just come out of his mouth) or dangerous, so I had to bite my tongue.
Instead, I pulled out my phone, snapped a selfie of me looking unimpressed and then drafted an Instagram post.
Can’t believe the audacity of some twat on my train who’s talking sh*t about romance! Calling it predictable and unrealistic! He’s lucky I don’t take his photo and share it!
Like this post if you’re sick of people dissing romance.
#traintwat #romancerocks #romancebookstagram
Within minutes I had a flurry of comments from romance readers sharing their anger and frustration and encouraging me to photograph him, but as tempting as it was, I decided not to.
He got off at the next stop, but even when the train pulled into Sunshine Bay around ten minutes later, I was still seething.
My ex used to slag off romance novels all the time and I always ignored it. But now I’d had enough. I was sick of people bashing the genre.
There were no taxis at the station, but, fuelled by my anger, I dragged my case to the B&B, dropped it off with the lovely owner, Glenda, and told her I’d be back soon to check in properly. I had to talk to Jess ASAP. I knew she’d understand why I was so riled up.
I stepped through the grand solid wooden double doors into the library, and the anger I’d felt a few minutes ago melted away.
As I walked down the corridors, my gaze flicked straight to the warm rose painted walls which had relatable bookish quotes like ‘Just One More Chapter’ stencilled onto them.
My favourite place was the main library space in the grand hall. It had rows of tall pink-and-white bookcases (with rolling ladders, of course), filled with thousands of romance books.
There were dreamy window seats and comfy pink sofas with cushions and fluffy blankets galore.
The library even had colourful book chandeliers hanging from the ceilings.
It was a romance book lovers’ paradise.
This felt like home.
The outside world was polluted with idiots like that Train Twat who didn’t understand the beauty and joy that romance novels brought.
But the Romance Library was a safe place. This was where I belonged.
You’d never find haters like him within these walls. Only people who adored the genre and gave it the respect it deserved were allowed through the doors.
‘You made it!’ Jess ran over and pulled me into a warm hug.
‘I did! So great to see you, hon!’ I said, squeezing her tighter. ‘Have you coloured your hair?’ I stepped back to admire it. Her thick shoulder-length curls looked a shade lighter than normal, and her light brown skin was glowing.
‘Yeah. Kara, the local hairdresser, convinced me to try a caramel tint.’
‘That’s brave for you!’ I said. Jess wasn’t normally one for going to the salon or wearing much make-up. She was one of those lucky people who looked beautiful without it.
‘I’m still getting used to it.’
‘It suits you.’ I smiled. ‘Before I forget, I got you something.’ I reached into my bag, pulled out a gift box and a card, then handed them to her.
‘A present? Thanks! But why?’ Jess said.
‘Just a little thank you for giving me this job. I’m so grateful.’
‘You didn’t have to get me anything, but I appreciate it!’ Jess opened the box, then burst out laughing.
Inside was a pair of pink, fluffy socks with ‘Shhh! I’m reading!’ on the soles, and a mug with a colourful stack of novels and ‘Yes, I really do need all of these books’ printed beside it.
‘I love them!’ Jess beamed. ‘Thanks again.’
‘You’re welcome.’
‘Let’s go to the office so we can catch up. Theo’s on his way too. How was your journey?’
‘It was great, until I ran into a romance-hating dickhead.’
‘Noooo!’ Jess said. ‘How do you know he hated romance?’
‘Because he was talking to someone on the phone and started spouting shit about how romance gives women unrealistic expectations. I mean, the audacity!’ I grumbled. ‘I swear to God, if he hadn’t got off the train when he did, I would’ve stormed over and given him what for.’
‘I don’t blame you! Although, probably safer that you didn’t.’
‘True. It just really pisses me off when people say romance novels are predictable. Do we know that the superhero is going to save the world in an action-adventure novel or film? Yes! And there are always car chase scenes, and the hero kills about a million people in two minutes, but no one calls that predictable!’
‘Exactly!’
‘Makes me sick!’ I said, relieved to vent to someone who understood my frustration.
‘That’s why what we’re doing here is so important,’ Jess added. ‘We’re showing that romance isn’t to be fucked with. It’s here to stay, so people should start treating it seriously.’
‘Hell yeah!’ I said in solidarity.
Just as I was about to continue, there was a knock on the door.
‘Come in!’ Jess said, and the door opened.
‘Hi, Sarah!’ Theo said as he stepped inside the office.
‘Hi!’ I said with a smile. ‘How are you?’
‘Good, thanks. Just had to go and check something out with my brother.’
‘Ben’s here?’ I said, straightening my shoulders before quickly removing my hair band, then running a hand through my hair.
If I’d known I’d be meeting Ben today, I would’ve had a shower at the B&B and dolled myself up a bit before I came to the library to make a good first impression.
And I’d just remembered that I was wearing a new tinted moisturiser for the first time, so I should’ve checked it hadn’t made my medium brown skin look ashy like the last one did.
Oh well. Too late now.
‘Yeah, he’s just bringing in something from the car.’
‘Perfect!’ Jess beamed, giving me a knowing look.
She knew how much I’d been looking forward to meeting Ben.
My gaze travelled behind Theo, and I put on my best lovely-to-meet-you smile.
But when a tall, muscular man with sunglasses and a baseball cap walked through the door, my jaw crashed to the ground.
No. Way.
It can’t be.
‘What the hell are you doing here?’ I snapped as my stomach bottomed out.
‘Sarah?’ Jess looked at me and frowned. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘That’s him!’ I shouted, pointing furiously as I tried to process what was happening. ‘He’s the twat who was talking shit about romance books on the train!’