Chapter 38
Sage
After the incident at the shop, I was relieved when Cedric arrived, and I could finally leave. The whole conversation with Rhodes kept looping in my mind, even after I flopped onto my bed in my plant pants and closed my eyes, leaving Ellis alone in the living room watching TV.
Tequila and plant pants were my secret remedy for everything bad in life. Ellis had given me the stink eye when I immediately poured myself a shot when I walked in the door, but luckily, he kept his mouth shut. Sure, I was day-drinking, but shit had been going down. I deserved it.
Maggie and Levi had never been given details about my previous placement or my biological parents. That was always what they told me. No part of me would ever think they’d have lied to me, even for my own good. Maybe I would ask about it tonight when I went to book club.
My phone buzzed with a text from Rhodes.
Alan was the one who tried to grab me? What a creep.
My fingers hesitated over the screen, wanting to text him back.
That was the other part of the equation, along with this whole gas-station-flower-stalker situation.
Rhodes and the ex-wife drama were crowding my thoughts.
I liked him, but it was a good decision to slow things back down.
His next text came through. The greenhouses were tempting, and the thought of seeing him and Opal was even more of a lure, but I could work with the excuse of the greenhouses. Maybe that would provide me enough focus so I wouldn’t be too blinded by all the hotness that was Rhodes.
I texted back.
Maybe
Aloof. That would be me. I’d feel the situation out with him, and we’d have dates before I convinced myself that I was falling in love.
The last thing I needed was a repeat of the past. Letting myself relax for a while, I scrolled through socials and played a game on my phone before finishing the last two chapters we were going to discuss today.
Lila was a stickler for people staying on top of their reading, and while most people could fake it, she always could tell when I was lying.
Flinging myself off the bed, I got dressed for book club with a sigh. If I didn’t show up, everyone would have a fit, and Ellis was going to ask Phiny out, which was going to be a shitshow. I needed a laugh, so I was looking forward to it.
I needed this book club night more than ever. A chaotic escape with my family and friends to have a break from all the drama with no brooding ex-military types or creepy notes involved.
Well, almost. Ellis loomed behind me like a scarred shadow, his man bun and glacial stare making him stick out in our quaint town like a sore thumb. "Ready?" he grunted, scanning the street as if expecting ninjas to pop out around from a corner or drop from a tree.
I rolled my eyes, adjusting my tote bag with my copy of A Curious Beginning inside. "It's book club, Ellis, not a stakeout. But yeah, let's go. Chapter & Crumb is just that way. Let’s walk.”
“We could drive.” He scanned the area again. “And I know where it is,” he grumped.
“You can walk with me, or you can run back to Rhodes.” I started down the street with purpose.
He nodded and fell into step beside me, even if he gave what could only be called a very grumpy look.
Fortunately, he didn’t open his mouth or argue with me about my plan.
Instead, he did whatever bodyguards do. I wouldn’t admit it, but his presence was a comfort after everything. I was glad to have him there.
Outside Lila’s cozy little store, a sidewalk sign read ‘Book Club Night’ in all caps.
The place was already buzzing, and the windows were a little fogged up from all the people inside.
Fairy lights were strung over the windows, blinking on and off around brightly colored origami butterflies that I knew Mia had made last week.
They danced on the transparent monofilaments that Mia had taped under the window frame, so they seemed to float in the display. So extra, but so awesome.
Pushing open the door, I was immediately hit by the chaos of the chatter and the laughter. I always felt better when I was in Chapter & Crumb. What Lila had built here always made my heart happy. Not only did it always smell good, but there were books (and snacks).
A few people waved when I came in, but Ellis was catching glances already. He didn’t really blend, but he seemed unbothered.
Maggie was already here with a few of her friends, including Janice and Marge, who had their heads together and were sure to be chatting about some hot gossip. I was hoping to get her alone to ask her a few burning questions, but it would be tricky with that group.
“Sage! Finally!” Lila called from behind the counter, her best-friend radar pinging. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t come over earlier.” She had a line stacked four deep, and her eyebrows furrowed as they moved from me to Ellis, but she leaned around, waving to Mia to help her.
I joined the line. “Come on, we need food. I might as well feed you if you’re following me around.” Ellis grunted as he moved closer, glaring at poor Earl Jenkins like he was the next great threat in town.
I could see the back of Hattie’s hair where she was wrapped in Kipp’s arms, hidden among the stacks on the bookstore side. If they weren’t careful, they could be exposed any second, and if I wasn’t mistaken, Kipp’s hands weren’t exactly being PG right now.
“This place is nuts, but the food looks amazing.” Ellis was already looking hungrily at the case, and I refused to be sorry that we hadn’t eaten dinner.
“Everything here is super good. Be prepared to get shit for not reading the book,” I warned.
“That’s fine.” His shoulder gave a half-shrug, as if he wasn’t even going to put in the full effort for that. Yeah, couldn’t wait to see Phiny shut that down.
We edged up to the counter just as Lila was taking off her apron. She’d outdone herself with her costume today, which was a full Victorian gown. Very Bridgerton looking, but she had little butterflies in her hair, which was done up in swirls.
“Your boobs look amazing in that dress.” I winked at her.
“Funny. Your brother said the same thing.” She wrinkled her nose at me and just laughed. “I got it online. You like?”
“Love it. Especially the little butterfly netting you have there hanging out of the pocket. Details are amazing.”
“Thanks. You must be Ellis. My husband East mentioned you.” Lila maneuvered us off to the side despite Ellis looking longingly at the case as if he were starving.
He dutifully stuck out his hand and gave her a polite shake. “Yep. That’s me.”
“Go on and sit down with Mags. I’ll get you a tray of snacks. I know Phiny brought you some early, but we have a little of everything tonight.”
Leaving her to it, I made my way over to Maggie and her group, feeling relieved. I wasn’t sure I had the energy to pick snacks. It would be enough for me to hang out in a corner while everyone else hunted with butterfly nets or whatever Lila had planned.
I nodded hellos and ignored their pointed ogling at my shadow. Bending to kiss the top of Maggie’s head, I let her press my hands to hers as she continued her conversation for a few minutes before I sat down.
Wade seemed to have kept the whole fiasco at the store quiet from the family, but I was sure it would spread all over town before morning, and I wouldn’t get any peace, so I decided to take it while I could.
If I weren’t mistaken, Wade would be here soon, all up in my grill.
He’d already texted me eighteen times to check on me.
Wedging myself next to Chloe, I let out a sigh. She looked exhausted. I knew she had been working a long shift at the hospital, so I was a little surprised she was here at all.
“Hey, Lo. What’s cooking?”
“Trying to decompress after the day, but I’ve finished my chapters. What’s not to love, right? Butterflies and murder? Iconic."
"Totally," I said, squeezing her back. "She's got that independent vibe I aspire to. Though if I had to chase villains in a corset, I'd probably trip over my own feet. Not sure how those women walked anywhere dressed in all that stuff.”
We chatted for a few minutes about the complete impracticality of Victorian fashion when East showed up.
“I’ve been sent with a collection of snacks.
” East had what could only be called a platter of treats that he looked at with envy.
“You have to share it with Ellis, apparently. Lila was worried he was starving. Hey, man.” He gave the ever-famous chin jerk.
“Phiny said he liked the little pies, so they included a lot of those.”
“I do like the pies,” Ellis said as he slid off the wall, grabbed a handful of the little pies, and stepped back again. He gave a contented sigh, glaring at me like he was resentful he’d had to wait so long for food.
East sat down on the other side of me as Hattie and Kipp joined the table.
It felt good being around my family, and I knew by the way East was looking at me, slinging an arm around my shoulders, that he’d already heard the news about Alan.
He pulled me close for a moment, letting me soak up all the goodness I always felt in his presence.
“I love you, Sage-O-Rama. Anything you need, tell me, okay?” he murmured in my ear. “Anything.”
“Just this hug was what I needed, and focusing on book club.” Gesturing toward the crowd steadily making their way to their seats under Mia and Lila’s direction, he nodded at me and seemed satisfied enough with that.
Maggie and her duo settled nearby just in time for Janice to lean over with her eyes sparkling. “Did anyone else suspect the aunt from the start? Deanna Raybourn is sneaky! Sage, what about you? Everything okay after... You know?"
I forced a smile, not wanting to ruin the mood. “I’m good, really. Just processing. But hey, if Veronica can handle assassins and expeditions, I can deal with a creepy admirer."
Ellis cleared his throat beside me. "If there are assassins, you don’t need to worry.
I’ve got that covered.” The group stared, then burst into laughter, and I could only give him a grateful look for drawing everyone’s attention.
He even earned himself an extra pie from Phiny, who had finally emerged from the kitchen.
"See? Bodyguard perks!" Chloe teased. "Ellis, you read the book? Thoughts on Stoker? Broody protector type—sound familiar?"
“No.” He actually blushed a little.
Table talk finally moved on to the book, where Lila handed out discussion questions and bookmarks so people could cover the main chapter points with a partner.
“Ok, folks.” She clapped her hands. “Pair off.”
Hattie grabbed my arm, earning a stern look from Ellis, which she ignored. “Buzz off. I need to talk to her. Come on, Sage.”
We wandered off to a corner, where I grabbed a cookie from the platter and ducked past Earl, who was cozied up with Marge.
Hattie brushed her hair away from her face before guiding us to a more private spot. “I heard about earlier. Wade is still trying to finish things at the station, but he should be here soon.” She hesitated. “Rhodes called.”
Well, that didn’t last long. If Hattie already knew, then I guessed that they all knew about Alan except for Chloe and maybe Maggie. I must have made a face, because she was already moving ahead.
“Look, I know something happened between you guys, but I’ve called in some favors so we can try to catch this creep who’s sending you those flowers. Rhodes has his tech team on it, too. I want you to know that we have everyone and every resource working on it.”
“Thanks, Hats. I appreciate you bringing the team in to figure it out. The deliveries have gotten pretty weird.” There was no reason to lie to her about how I was feeling.
She squished me closer to her for a minute, and I could see Ellis shifting on his feet. “Let’s go join this clue hunt Lila has got going.”
“Sounds good.” I hugged her back, glancing over at everyone scrambling for hidden notes on the shelves. “Looks like a crazy game she’s got tonight, but I’m in. Kipp looks pretty dangerous with that net.”
Kipp had taken one of the ‘butterfly nets’ that Lila made for the evening, and it looked like he had bad intentions toward our brother if I wasn’t mistaken.
Hattie snorted, “Yeah, he’s going to end up on the wrong side of one of the family prank lists if he isn’t careful. I want it noted that whatever he does isn’t my fault.”
By the end, stuffed with desserts and my sides hurting from laughing at Kipp chasing East around the room, the day's weight felt lighter. As we wrapped up, I checked my phone and saw one new message from Rhodes showing Opal with a new orange kitten. Apparently, they’d stopped by the shelter and finally got the kitten she’d wanted. It was adorable.
Maybe tomorrow I would think about taking him up on his earlier offer and go out to work in the greenhouses. A kitten was a pretty effective bribe. Who didn’t love kittens?
I still hadn’t talked to Maggie, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to dig too deep into what my family life had been like “before.” All I cared about was the Holts and what the “now” was.
Maybe it was selfish of me not to care about my birth parents at all, but Maggie and Levi had raised me with all the love they could give.
If there was a before, I didn’t want to remember.