AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Yeah, but I don't know those people. Knowing you've read this; how am I supposed to look you, of all people, in the eye?" I hold the book up. "And that you two—" I gesture between Quinn and Emerson "—have been," I say slowly, scrunching up my nose, "inspired."
Emerson raises her hand. "I vote we forget all about this and never speak on it again."
We all look at Bella, who is typing away on her phone. Sensing our eyes on her, she looks up. "What?"
Emerson glares at her.
"I only told Mila, Grace, and Sofia," she confesses.
Emerson crosses her arms over her chest.
Bella hangs her head and mumbles, "And Easton."
"What!" Emerson shouts. "This is not the kind of ammunition my brother needs. He will never let me live this down."
Alba, who has been silent through the fiasco, cackles.
Quinn strides up to me. "Look, all jokes aside, your books are great." He pulls me into his side and kisses the top of my head. "And I, for one, am fuckin' proud of you, darlin'."
I slump against him and smile. "Thanks, Quinn. That means a lot."
After a moment, he asks, "Can I have my book back? On page one-twenty-three, Jackson does this thing to Aubrey that—"
I cut him off by slapping the book against his stomach. "Please stop."
Quinn gives me a boyish grin before striding toward Emerson still pouting at the bar.
"Hey," Glory protests. "I wanted to know what was on page one-twenty-three."
"Forget page one-twenty-three." Alba reaches into her bag and pulls out the same paperback Quinn has. "Seventy-six will give you butterflies. And I'm not talking about the kind you get in your tummy."
"Alba!" Bella gasps at her sister in shock. "I don't want to hear my little sister talk like that."
Alba rolls her eyes. "You do know I'm grown."
"I know. But you're still my little sister, and my ears don't want to be assaulted by your dirty talk."
Alba huffs, "You're one to talk. I hear the x-rated things Logan whispers in your ear. And you say I'm dirty?"
"I think everyone needs to stop talking." I rub my temples. "This is just too weird."
"Wait!" Alba gasps, ignoring my idea to stop talking. "Ember." She rushes up to me. "You must come to the bookstore and sign at our grand opening."
I freeze. "What?"
"It will be perfect," she continues. "We'll set up a table, and you can sign customer copies."
"Alba, I'm not sure I'm ready for that."
"Please, Ember," she begs. "At least agree to think about it."
"Fine," I sigh. "I'll think about it."
Alba's face lights with excitement. I'm not winning this battle, because she will relentlessly bug me until she gets what she wants.
From behind, Blake drapes his arm across my chest. "Do you want to go for a ride with me?"
My body relaxes against his, and I nod. "What about your sister?"
