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“Give it time. On a more positive note, I think Coach is going to be all over this.”
He chuckles and hauls me flush against him. “I want to be all over you.”
Someone clears their throat from behind Oliver, and I peer over his shoulder.
My father stands in the hallway, expression neutral. “You two care to join us or are you going to make us wait for grace? Food’s getting cold while you do whatever it is you’re doing.”
Our heads knock together and we snicker. Once more, I feel like a kid, this moment reminiscent of all the times Pop would tell us to cut out our antics and get to the table. Joy swells inside of me.
In unison, we say, “Sorry, Pop.”
Without waiting for my father to leave, I grab Oliver’s face and kiss him long and hard. “I love you, Twist.”
Chapter21
Wren
“Icould read that chapter over and over again.” Serena fans herself with the book, cheeks pink.
Some of the women murmur agreement while others giggle in delight.
“What chapter was it again?” Reggie flips through her book, clearly going to read said chapter as soon as she’s alone.
Three women chime all at once, “Twenty,” and the rest break out in boisterous laughter.
We’re close to finishing this month’s novel for the romance book club, and all in all, it’s been a huge success. Everyone loved the book with some planning to read more from the indie author.
“All right.” I stand and survey the women sitting in a circle upstairs in the cozy makeshift living room of the library. “Serena’s chosen the next book, ‘Yours to Hold.’” I grasp the beautiful cover of Emily Silver’s novel for all to see. “If everyone has a copy and we’ve got our date next month, does anyone have any questions?”
Some of the women break out into smiles, and at first, I think they’re admiring the adoring couple on the cover, but then two or three of them giggle and point to something behind me.
“Now there’s serious book boyfriend material,” one woman says, batting her eyelashes as she stares beyond me.
“Definitely,” another says while also looking over my shoulder.
“Eww, that’s my sister’s boyfriend.” Percy puckers her lips like she’s just sucked on a lemon, and I’m completely baffled.
“He’s too young to be my boyfriend, but no doubt that there is a fine man.” Reggie’s no-nonsense tone cuts through my confusion, and at the same time, a floorboard creaks behind me.
I whip around and gasp at the man standing before me. Oliver unleashes his brilliant smile to a few more coos from the women and leans forward to kiss me hello.
As our lips touch, a chorus ofoohsandaahserupt around us. The kiss is dizzying and that’s why it takes longer than it should for me to pull away from him. I abruptly end our kiss and press my fingers to my mouth, cheeks heating. He stares, eyes dark and filled with thoughts of naughty things, and I wish we were alone.
In chorus, the women say, “Hi, Oliver,” in a sing-song, flirty tone that causes my insides to burst into flames. I’m not embarrassed but more wishing they wouldn’t objectify my man. I can’t blame them, though I wish they’d keep it to themselves.
Before I can catch my breath or find my tongue, he replies in kind to the group.
“Hi,” he then says quietly to me while tucking a few strands of my hair behind my ear.
I echo his greeting, though it comes out breathy. My stomach suddenly giddy with nerves, I don’t want to turn around and face the group of women. I’m never going to live this down.
Oliver does it for me. He spins me around to face them and tucks me under his arm.
A few women pepper him with mundane questions. A few simply admire him, gazes drinking him in from head to toe. This goes on for longer than I’d like, and I try to get us back on track a few times.
Finally, Reggie slips two fingers into her mouth and whistles to get everyone’s attention. It’s like Oliver’s a celebrity, or maybe he seems accessible now that Dot isn’t attached to him.
“Okay, ladies, it’s time to go. Thanks for a great evening, Wren.”
