CHAPTER 8 BOWER
BOWER
“The stairs must have a carpet runner,” Adalade says as she walks through the house, giving me a punch list of things to complete.
She moved in yesterday, and even though every box is gone, her curtains are hung, and her knickknacks are in place, there’s still a lengthy list of things she wants completed to feel at home.
“Do you have a specific color in mind you would like for the carpet?”
She waves her hand at me. “I trust your judgment. Just keep in line with the aesthetic of the house.”
Which means I’ll take a million pictures of the house and have a designer help me because I know nothing about carpet runners.
“And call the painter, because there are some missed spots along the baseboards.”
“Already have them coming in on Wednesday. I moved your meetings and booked you a spa day so you’re not here while they’re touching up.”
Adalade smiles. “Thank you.”
“Of course.”
She heads into the living room, where she takes a seat on the couch and crosses one leg over the other. “Since we’re heading into fall, I’d like you to find me some suede boots, brown, with no heel.”
I write down her request in my notes.
“How high would you like them to go?” Given that she’s older but still fashionable, I know she’s not going to want them to go over her knees, but I figured I’d ask.
“Below the knee.”
I nod. “That’s what I thought you were going to say. Would you like me to look for a matching suede trench coat as well? I know we spoke about it this summer, wanting to add more trench coats into your wardrobe. Just unsure with the San Francisco weather if suede is the way we want to go.”
She slowly nods. “Yes, look for a trench in suede. Please have it match the boots. I’m not one to spend a lot of time outside, and if I do and it rains, I’ll have an umbrella.”
“Great. I’ll get right on that. Anything else?” I ask, looking down at my gigantic list of things I need to get done.
“I’d like some of those macarons everyone is talking about, preferably raspberry and pistachio.”
“I spoke to the bakery this morning, actually, and they have set a box to the side for me to pick up. I’ll have Mark deliver them.
” Adalade smiles, clearly pleased with my ability to anticipate her needs.
It’s moments like these that make me feel safe.
She appreciates all that I do, which is why I know this job suits me.
I’m good at this. My dreams to start my book truck feel less safe.
“Thank you.”
I close the top of my pen and ask, “So, are we good then?”
“I believe we are,” she says. “Thank you.”
“Of course.”
I go to stand when she says, “How are you fitting into San Francisco so far?”
She might be a demanding boss, quite needy, but she does care about me, which is probably why I don’t mind running all of her errands.
“Great. Learning the lay of the land. My best friend’s brother lives here, so he’s been helping me. I stayed at his apartment the first few nights when my place was getting a fresh coat of paint.”
“Oh.” Adalade folds her hands on her lap. “Your friend’s brother…” She wiggles her brows, which makes me laugh.
“It’s nothing like that. He’s eight years younger than me. I’ve known him since he was a teenager. We’re friends.”
“You know, my first husband was ten years younger than me. There’s something to be said about the virility of a young man and their eagerness to please.”
Adalade Von Herbert!
I don’t think I’ve ever heard her talk like that before.
I don’t even know how to respond, which of course makes her laugh.
“And then my second husband, well, he was six years older than me, and there’s a reason why that was my shortest marriage. Wasn’t quite up to the task like the previous husband. Couldn’t keep up.”
Well, consider me intrigued now, because never has she ever talked about her life like this.
“Wore him out on the honeymoon?” I ask.
Adalade chuckles. “Let’s just say things died down after that. Thank goodness for a prenup. He was gone within months. And then there was Larry.” She sighs and stares off at the fireplace. “My dearest Larry. Not the most well-endowed, but boy, did he know how to use what he had.”
I can’t help it; I chuckle.
She shivers and then looks up at me. “He was my friend’s brother as well.”
“He was?” I ask.
She slowly nods. “Twin brother. Just a year younger than me, but he rocked my world. We were friends first, and well, a relationship unfolded in front of us, and it was the best decision I ever made. Tell me, what does your friend’s brother do?”
“Well, he, uh…he actually is the starting third baseman for the Bombers.”
Adalade’s interest piques. “The baseball team?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, that’s an unexpected answer.” She holds out her hand. “Please, hand me my phone. I want to get a good look at this boy.”
I pick up her phone off the coffee table and hand it to her.
She pulls her reading glasses from on top of her head and places them on her nose before typing on her phone.
It takes her a second, but I know the moment Bennett shows up on her phone because a small gasp falls past her lips as her hand goes to her chest.
“Bower, is this him?” She turns the phone toward me, showing me a picture of Bennett, holding his bat and standing in the dugout, waiting to go out on the field. His helmet casts a shadow partially over his face while his stunning blue eyes stand out against the obscurity of his brim.
Yes, that’s him.
That’s my best friend’s brother.
And it’s hard not to notice just how attractive he is now that he’s all grown up.
I’ve always thought he was cute, but over the last year, something has changed in him.
He’s grown thicker, taller somehow, and it’s as if he’s filled out into a man with his sharp angles, the endless beard scruff, and the way his muscles fit his body as if that’s how he was meant to be this entire time.
I try not to pay too much attention to it, but it’s hard when he’s that freaking hot.
“Uh, yeah, that’s him.”
“My, oh my.” Adalade adjusts her glasses again. “If this was my best friend’s brother, I’d be asking her when I could officially become a member of the family.”
I chuckle. “It’s really not like that with us.”
“Which is a damn shame.” She sets her phone down. “I feel like this is a big mistake on your part.” Her eyes meet mine. “Do you two get along?”
“We do,” I say, almost feeling dumb from her judgment.
“But I’d never go there. I care about my friendship too much, and I know she wouldn’t be okay with it.
We…we have a really important pact that we made, and boinking her brother doesn’t fall in line with that.
Plus, he’s just…he’s Bennett. I don’t see him that way. ”
“Well, if he’s single, ask him if he’s interested in a woman forty years his senior.”
I laugh and pocket my list. “I’ll see what I can do.”
With that, I take off to the car waiting for me. The one plus about doing all these errands is that Adalade allows me to use her driver, Mark, so I don’t have to worry about parking or navigating the city. If I didn’t have Mark, I’m not sure I’d be as thrilled to be running errands.
“Where are we off to first?” Mark asks as he pushes off the side of the car and flips the toothpick in his mouth.
As he opens the door, I say, “Texting you details now.”
“Sounds good.”
He shuts the door and I pull my phone out just as a text comes in from Bennett. Speak of the devil.
I quickly copy and paste the itinerary of errands for the day and shoot them off to Mark before looking at the text from Bennett.
Bennett: Eight-year breakup? What the actual fuck?
I let out a loud laugh before texting him back.
“Everything okay?” Mark asks, looking at me through the rearview mirror.
“Everything is great.”
“Then if you’re ready, we can take off.”
I buckle up and say, “Good to go.”
As he pulls out onto the road, I text Bennett back.
Bower: Brutal, right?
Bennett: What on earth would possess an author to do such a thing?
Bower: Daring and bold, but also psychotic.
Bennett: But also, why did I like it?
Bower: SAME! Ugh, see, this is what I need in my life, someone to talk to about books. What about the sex scenes? Did you like them?
Bennett: Honestly, at first, they made me feel weird.
Bower: Tingly weird in your private parts? Yeah, that happens to me too.
Bennett: No, LOL. Although…sort of.
Bower: HAHA. Did you get hot and bothered?
Bennett: On a fucking plane with a bunch of dudes sitting around me. Nolan asked why my cheeks were red.
Bower: Why can I see that in my head so vividly? So, do you think you will read the second one?
Bennett: Already started it.
Bower: GAH! Oh my God, you’re a reader and we’re best friends and oh my God, we’re book besties.
Bennett! We need shirts and matching tote bags, and you know what?
We should have a crafting night where we make bookmarks and put our faces on them.
Wait, we need a name for our book club. What should it be?
Bennett: Whoa, slow down. I’m still stuck on shirts.
Bower: Catch up. We have decisions to make. First and foremost, in my most Dwight Schrute–like voice, do you want to form an alliance with me?
Bennett: *Said like Kim Halpert* Absolutely I do.
Bower: Kim Halpert?
Bennett: Fuck! I meant Jim. Goddamn phone.
Bower: We were so close to being cool and then you ruined it.
Bennett: Which means just one thing.
Bower: What’s that?
Bennett: Our book club name must be the Kim Halpert Book Club.
Bower: LOL! Oh my God, yes. Can we please make shirts with Jim’s face but Kim’s hair?
Bennett: I wouldn’t have it any other way. But to clarify, what Kim?
Bower: Kim Cattrall, what other Kim is there?
Bennett: Kim Possible.
Bower: Ooof, good point. I think we go with Kim Possible.
Bennett: Does Jim wear Kim’s cargo pants and crop top?
Bower: That seems like a dumb question, Bennett. Of course he does.
Bennett: Of course, what was I thinking?
Bower: Clearly, you weren’t.
Bennett: Foolish of me.
Bower: I’ll forgive you because that’s what book besties do. Ahh, I’m so excited. Do you think you’ll read the whole series?
Bennett: If you say I should, then I will.
Bower: You know, Bennett, I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship.
Bennett: I thought we were already friends.
Bower: Just let me have my moment.