Gabby glanced from me to Ava. “We’ve been pulling some books for the high school’s GSA book club, and we're going to go over the titles with her later this week.”
I raised a brow at my dear old sis, wanting to call bullshit. Nope, I wanted to scream it. There was no way that Ava just randomly reached out to the library for help with a book list. Beyond the fact that her school had a librarian, Ava devoured books. She could make a book list on her own in minutes. I had a strong feeling that she wanted to spend time at the Ryan Library and learn a bit more about one Nate Roberts. Meddling sisters.
“Umm, Ava, can I talk to you for a minute?” I ground out.
The wattage on Ava’s grin increased exponentially. “Sorry, sis. I was swinging by to tell you that I had an appointment that I forgot about tonight and couldn’t do dinner.”
Ava’s gaze found Nate headed from the kitchen toward our table with coffee, then she looked at me, tilting her head like she was considering something. “Say, crazy idea here. Since I bailed on your dinner plans, maybe you could meet up with Gabby and”—she gestured to Nate as he put the coffee in front of me—“Nate, is it? You all could have dinner instead. They can share the titles they were thinking of with you. We can talk about them later, and I can get your input. Sound good?” Ava stood up, looking like she was going to make a fast exit.
Before I could saynot so fast, Gabby began nodding as she tapped her chin absentmindedly. “Great idea, Ava.” She looked over her shoulder at Nate. “Nate, I have thatthingtonight. Do you mind getting Elle up to speed on the books we were thinking about? If we have a core group of titles that we want to go forward with, I can request as many copies as we need through the interlibrary loan website and have them for you by the end of this week or beginning of next.”
Nate looked completely confused. I’d feel bad for him if I wasn’t so pissed at my meddling sister right now. What the literal fuck? Ava was clearly setting us up, and somehow Gabby had become her sidekick?
I interrupted Ava’s reply to Gabby with a terse, “One, manners. Nate, Ava. Ava, Nate. Two, Ava. Porch. Now.” Without looking back, I stormed out.
The sound of the front door closing behind me made me whirl around to see Ava moving across the porch with a wide grin stretched across her face. I snipped, “What the hell was that?”
“Tsk-tsk, Elle-belle. Where is the gratitude?”
“Gratitude? What do you think you’re doing here?”
Ava looked to the heavens like she couldn’t even remotely understand me. “Um, setting you up? Come on, that guy is dreamy. You can thank me later.”
“Arrrggghhhh!” I threw my arms up in frustration and began to pace to the edge of the porch and back, taking a moment to appreciate the sweet little neighborhood and the traces of snow covering some of the ground. It wasn’t exactly warm. We were going to need to wrap this up because I didn’t have a coat out here like Ava. “Why are you insisting on interfering in my life?”
Leaning back against the porch railing, Ava watched me with a wary gaze. “I wouldn’t need to interfere if you’d get to work. You will be old and gray before you ever make a move on the hot librarian in there, and you know it. I don’t want you to end up with a houseful of cats, Elle. You deserve that guy. You’ve talked about nothing less for the past month.”
I ran my hands through my hair. “There is so much to work with here I don’t even know where to start. One, I would have made a move in time if I felt like it. Two, cats are cute, but I’ve decided I’m more of a houseplant person. And three, what’s up with asking them for book lists? I know damn well you didn’t need help with that—”
Ava raised her hand. “Actually, I did. I mean, I wanted to bring the public library in as partners in these book groups because I want the kids to see that more people care about them in town than a few teachers at the high school.”
I paused, considering that. “Okay, that’s not a terrible idea.”
“I know. And also, might I add, you are full of shit. You’ve had six weeks and are still working to get up the nerve. I’m just giving you a push.”
“It doesn’t matter anyway.”
“Why? Because he couldn’t possibly be attracted to you or some other bullshit nonsense you have in your head? Get over yourself, Elle. You’re gorgeous, funny, loyal, and any guy would be lucky to get a chance at you.” Ava looked pissed.
“This isn’t the me of my high school days, I do like who I am now. But you’re sweet, Av, thanks.”
“Of course,” Ava dismissed. “You do the same for me. But quit stalling. Why haven’t you made a move?”
“Many reasons,” I said as I looked to the porch’s ceiling. “Today’s top ones include that it’s been a shitty day with work, and I have no idea if he’s even interested. Well, he indicated he might be, but I don’t know if he was just trying to save me from embarrassment. Hell, maybe there’s something going on with him and Gabby. He might not even be available.” My stomach dropped, even as I said the words. God, it wasn’t like anything had happened between us over the past month, just great conversations and a gut attraction that wouldn’t leave.
“Um, excuse me. Not meaning to eavesdrop here, but I did anyway…” Gabby had stuck her head out of the library, and a wide grin stretched across her face. “Nate and I are just friends, if that’s of any interest to you. He’s like my big brother, so eww.” Gabby scrunched her nose as she laughed, then wagged her eyebrows. “So just saying, if you’re wanting to jump a certain hot librarian, I am happy to cheer you on. Might I suggest tonight’s dinner as an excellent starting point?”
Good Lord, could this day get any worse? Of course the universe decided to answer just then, and the answer would be yes. Yes, it could.
“Ahem, excuse me.” Nate stepped around Gabby to join the group on the porch, otherwise known as my current circle of hell. “One, just saying, if the hot librarian is in reference to me, thanks. Two, Elle, how about that dinner?” Nate was giving me a look I couldn’t read, but holy hell, it made my lady parts, as Ava would say, take notice. Embarrassment and arousal were warring internally, and I had no idea which side would win.
“Um, this is a bit mortifying.”
Ava knocked her shoulder into mine. “What my sister means to say is yes, dinner sounds great.” Ava squeezed my arm as she moved from the porch railing to the door. “Gabby, do you still have those books on hold for me?”
Gabby slid inside after Ava, her voice floating back to the porch. “Yep, they’re at the desk.”
I locked eyes with Nate, feeling heat flood my cheeks. So now we had a dinner date? Surely the day could only get better from here.
