Chapter 4 #2
We eat at the kitchen island, and I can't remember the last time a meal felt this easy. This right. Even my lunches with my girlfriends don’t feel this natural.
"So," Ethan says, setting down his fork. "Tell me about this book club of yours."
I laugh. "What do you want to know?"
"Everything. How did it start?"
"Well, it started with our favorite author RJ. She made the club back during COVID when we needed more connection with each other. She’s more like one of us and less a famous author.
She’s super approachable. Then, my good friend Madison started the spinoff chat that I’m in the most. She's a TikTok influencer, and she was reading this romance novel that had a Daddy Dom Little Girl dynamic.
She posted about it, and a bunch of us reached out saying we loved the book, too.
We started chatting, realized we all lived in the same state, and decided to do a real life meet up. "
"And now?"
"Now we meet virtually every week and try to get together in person every couple of months. Sometimes, those of us who live closer get together while the others join us via video call. We read books, drink wine, and talk about everything from fictional men to real-life problems."
"Sounds like a good group."
"They are. They're my people." I smile. "They're probably losing their minds right now because I didn't show up last night, although I did let them know."
"Because you were here."
"Yeah."
"Do they know about me?"
"They know I'm working for you."
"And?"
"And they think it's the plot of a romance novel."
Ethan grins. "Is it?"
"I don't know yet."
His gaze holds mine. "I guess we'll find out."
My phone buzzes.
Madison: Rescheduled meeting. Tonight. 7 pm. Chloe's shop. This is non-negotiable, Lily.
I chuckle and show Ethan the message. Madi has a flare for the dramatic.
"You should go," he says.
"I have work to do."
"Lily. Go see your friends. You've been working nonstop. You need a break."
"But—"
"No buts. It’ll be fine. And you'll come back tomorrow, right?"
"If you want me to."
"I do."
I bite my lip. "Okay. I'll go."
"Good." He stands, collecting our plates. "But first, you're coming with me to the rare book shop."
"You want to come?" I ask him.
"I want to see what you're working on. Plus, it'll be fun."
I don't know why that makes me so happy, but it does.
We spend the afternoon at Marcus's shop, a cramped, dusty space filled with floor-to-ceiling shelves of books. Marcus himself is exactly what I expected: older with gray hair, bookish, with a passion for literature that's infectious.
"This is the one," he says, pulling a leather-bound volume from a locked case which holds more treasures that I hope to explore someday. If they are locked up, they have to be rare.
I hold my breath as he opens the book carefully.
Pride and Prejudice. First edition. 1813.
It's beautiful. The pages are yellowed with age, but the text is clear. And on the inside cover, there's an inscription.
To my dearest Jane. May you always find your Mr. Darcy.
I look at Ethan. "This is perfect."
"I agree," he says.
Marcus names his price and Ethan doesn't even flinch. Twelve thousand dollars. Twelve. Thousand. Dollars. For a birthday present. He must really love his sister.
"We'll take it," he says.
"But wait," I say, an idea forming. "Can you get it signed?"
Marcus raises an eyebrow. "By whom? Austen's been dead for two hundred years."
"By a living author. Someone Claire admires."
"Who?"
I pull out my phone and scroll through Claire's social media. She posts constantly about books, and there's one author she mentions more than anyone else.
"Lydia Hartley," I say. "She writes historical romance. Claire is obsessed with her."
Marcus strokes his beard. "I know Lydia. We've worked together before. I wouldn’t have anyone mar an original copy of Pride and Prejudice though. How about we get a copy of her newest book? It won’t be released for a month yet but I know she already has some on hand. I can reach out."
"Really?"
"For an extra fee."
"Done," Ethan says.
Marcus grins. "I'll have it ready by Friday."
We leave the shop, and I'm buzzing with excitement.
"This is going to be amazing," I say. "Claire is going to lose her mind."
"Thanks to you," Ethan says.
"Thanks to your credit card."
He laughs, and the sound makes my chest warm.
As we drive back to his place, I glance at him.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Why are you doing all this? Going to this extreme with the party, the gifts. It's a lot of effort and I’ve never met anyone, let alone a single man who would do all this for his mother and sister."
"Because they deserve it." His hands tighten on the steering wheel. "My mom worked herself to the bone to give us a good life. And Claire was always there for me, even when I was a terrible, moody teenager. They've given me everything. The least I can do is give them one perfect day. I’ve never thrown them a party before, and I’ve never bought them meaningful gifts. Most years it’s a hastily signed card with a gift card included. A couple months ago, I had a patient who lost his mother. They’d been estranged until she had a stroke.
Watching him say goodbye to her…" he pauses for a second. "I overheard the pain in his voice and so much regret in his words. If God forbid, anything ever happened to me, I would want to make sure my family knew how much I loved them and that I’d said all that I needed to say. I don’t want to leave this world with regrets. "
I reach over and squeeze his hand.
"They're lucky to have you."
He glances at me, and there's something vulnerable in his expression.
"I'm lucky to have them," he says. "And I feel pretty damn lucky to have met you, Lily."