Read Me, Baby (Man of the Month Club)

Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

NINA

I pull into Hazel’s driveway and cut the engine. Taking a deep breath, I glance around at the beautiful century old trees and giant rose bushes in her front yard, reveling in the gorgeous, old town feel that is Magnolia Point. It’s a warm and welcoming place complete with a nostalgic feel, almost as if you can feel the history and old folktales that surround it.

Leaving my hometown was easy and hard at the same time. Growing up, I enjoyed it, but I never realized I was viewed as the ‘weird kid’ until high school. I preferred the term artsy to weird, but living in a football town, my love for books was definitely not the norm, and my glasses and introverted personality made it hard to fit in.

And honestly? I was okay with it.

I should have moved away for college when Hazel said she was going to Magnolia Point. I should have jumped at the change of scenery with her, but instead, I stayed home, going to our local University and getting my master’s in library science.

From the time I was a young kid, I loved to disappear into the books. The stories that danced around my head for weeks after reading made life fun, and as I grew up, it was just easier to stay in that bubble.

As I got older and studied library science, I thought everyone would like a bit of fantasy to disappear with but when I tried setting up the book club in my hometown, I became the laughingstock amongst them.

Clearly, it’s put a damper on my dating life, as well. Men in reality versus men in the books? Complete one hundred eighty degree difference, and maybe that’s why my ex and I didn’t work. I was expecting too much from him.

“Hey! Get out of the car!” I look through the windshield at the voice yelling at me and laugh, climbing from my car as Hazel runs toward me. Catching each other, we swing and rock back and forth as she exclaims, “I’m so happy to see you!”

“Me too,” I reply breathlessly. “I can’t believe I’m actually here.”

“Believe it, girl. It’s a whole new life and it starts today! Grab your bags, get inside, I’ve got wine chilling for us!”

Two hours later, we’re two bottles deep and I’m just about caught up on the gossip.

“Just so you know,” Hazel says coyly. “I gave up good sex tonight to welcome you home.”

I snort laugh. “You wait until now to break that piece of information? Who is he and why are you holding out on me?”

“I’m not holding out on you. You’ve heard the stories of Wes over the last few years.”

“You're kidding! You’re still dating him? I thought you two broke up?”

“We were never really dating to begin with. He’s a nice guy, great in bed,” She says with a shrug. Then an odd expression falls across her features and she adds, “But timing just never worked out.”

“There’s only time for sex?”

She laughs. “Something like that,” she murmurs dismissively, but then her eyes light up and she says excitedly, “Hey! He’s got a younger cousin. His name is Jay. He’s super cute, would give you the shirt off his back and runs his own business. It’s a family business and they they both own it together.”

I put my hands up, laughing as I ask, “Are you reading a MMF now?”

“No, more like a cousin’s best friend,” she says with a sly look.

“In all my years of reading, I’ve never read a cousin's best friend.”

“There's a first time for everything!” She stands and collects our glasses and empty bottles.

“Ha! I’ll write my own novel. I just can’t be bothered with men anymore. I know what they say and why they ditch on the first date.”

She turns around with her brows furrowed. “Why? Nina, you’re gorgeous, smart–”

“And too quiet, and boring.” I respond dismissively. “It’s fine. My books keep me warm.”

She shakes her head. “Well see about that. It’s plenty warm here in Magnolia Point. You won’t need your books for long. You’re going to find your man here, mark my words.”

“Well, let me get to know my books at my new job before you have me married, okay? I’m not even here for four hours yet.”

She places the glasses down and grabs me in a hug. “But you’re here!! And that's all that matters!”