Rewinding My Reaper Boyfriend
"And the weight is consistent with twenty hardcover units. Plus, the delivery driver, Steve, is breathing heavily. The box is dense."
"I can't open it."
Elion put the watering can down. His hands were shaking. He wiped them on his jeans, but the damp sweat remained.
"You opened the last one," Cale reminded him.
"That was the advance copy. It was softcover. It felt... temporary. This is the real thing, Cale. This is the bookstore version. Hardcover. Dust jacket. Barcode."
Cale stood up.
His knee popped. A dry, clicking sound. It used to make Elion's heart stop, thinking it was a bone breaking. Now, it just sounded like the house settling. It sounded like life.