Chapter 1
Layla
“You don’t think they’re all out of control?” I ask, glancing at Chloe.
“They absolutely are, but I no longer have anything to worry about. I have my real life book boyfriend,” Chloe says, smirking.
“Yeah, but you don’t count with this whole book boyfriend thing.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asks, her blue eyes bright with faux challenge. “I went on a blind date.”
Glancing at her, she fights to keep a straight face even before I speak. “They set you up with Scotty, not Beck. You found Beck all on your own. That doesn’t bode well for me.”
Her head falls back in laughter. “Scotty is great though, isn’t he?”
“Of course, and so is his husband, George, but–”
Holding her hand up, she interrupts, “Doesn’t matter, they’re not going to attempt to set me up anymore, so I’m in the clear.”
“You are in the clear,” I reiterate for emphasis and suck my lower lip between my teeth, and nervously releasing it. “They wouldn’t try to set me up either. Would they? I’m not even on their radar,” I claim, hoping saying the words will make it true.
She laughs. “You may attempt to be invisible, but…” she pauses for emphasis, “You’re number one on my grandma’s list since I met Beck.”
“I know, and that’s part of the reason I’ve been on edge at the last few book clubs. It’s like my time is almost up.”
“It doesn’t help that you weren’t at the last book club, so absolutely anything could’ve happened and we don’t have a clue.”
“Gee, thanks,” I grumble, deadpan. “I was sick. The flu has been going around at school and sometimes my body can only handle so much before it caves. Besides, they probably didn’t even notice I was missing.”
She chuckles. “Keep telling yourself that.”
A groan leaves my lips, my shoulders sagging. “Maybe we should skip.”
“Now, you want to miss?”
“You’ve got me worried. Do you know something I don’t?”
“No. It’s just a feeling, but my grandmother asked if we were coming tonight and she never asks.”
My stomach knots, clasping my paperback of Fight My Fire in front of me like a shield, I slow my steps. “Yeah, we should go home. We can grab our own wine and talk about Luke coming to put out my fire.”
Chloe bursts out laughing and slings her arm around my neck, dragging me towards the front doors of the small indie romance bookstore. “We’re already here.”
“What about ax throwing?” I point next door.
She shakes her head, her long, dark hair flying around her while I let her tug me inside. “Remember, you love book club.”
“Of course I do. Where else can you go and share something in common with someone who’s barely out of high school, a mom with a full house and a grandmother in her eighties? My only hope is it stays that way.”
“A blind date wouldn’t change that,” she insists, but I remain silent as we make our way towards the back of the store. The room is already full of mostly women, along with Scotty sitting on a couch near Chloe’s grandmother talking animatedly. “There’s more people here every time I come.”
“You’re right,” I agree, my brown eyes skimming over the crowd, every face familiar.
Scotty spots us and grins, waving us over. “Let’s go,” Chloe urges, tipping her head towards him. We weave through everyone seated in plush chairs or curled up on beanbags on the floor with a glass of wine or a cup of tea already in hand.
“Hi,” we greet them both as we approach.
Nora looks at me with wide eyes and claps her hands in delight. “You’re here.” She glances at Chloe. “I’m so happy you two made it.”
My stomach plummets. “I’m going to grab some wine.”
Scotty jumps up. “Oh, you two sit. I’ll go to the bar and get us all some wine.
I need to show off my glittery nails some more.
They’re perfect for the firefighter book tonight, don’t you think?
” He wiggles his fingers in front of us, his nails painted with orange and red glitter, giving them a look of fire.
“They look fabulous,” Chloe agrees, grinning.
“I love them, but I’ll go with you and help you carry the glasses,” I offer.
Scotty plants his hands on his hip and flutters his eyelashes.
“I’ll be just fine, while you stay here and stop avoiding your impending setup.
” A soft gasp escapes my lips and my eyes widen causing him to chuckle.
“Chloe told me what she thinks is going to happen tonight. It’s one of the reasons I’m here.
You need to sit back and soak up every second of it before we tie you to your seat. ”
Chloe laughs and I collapse next to her with a huff.
Tanith tries to get everyone’s attention the moment he walks away. “We’re going to go ahead and get started on tonight’s book, Fight My Fire. What did we all think about Luke and Ali’s story?”
“Makes me want to start a fire,” Nora responds.
“Nana!” Chloe retorts as we all burst out laughing.
Breathing a sigh of relief as we dive into the book, I relax against the cushions, getting comfortable.
Scotty returns, handing Chloe and I each a glass of wine before sitting on my other side.
Licking my lips, I savor the taste of the sweet grape, and listen to everyone’s thoughts on the book, remaining quiet.
I’m on my second glass of wine and believe I’m out of the woods for the night when Nora throws me under the bus. “I think it should be Layla’s turn to pick a book off the book boyfriend shelf.”
Instantly, my back goes ramrod straight. “My turn? What do you mean?” My stomach drops and I glare at Chloe, biting her lips to keep from laughing.
Waving my hand, I flippantly say, “You can skip me.”
“We don’t skip anyone,” Kim, a young mom, claims.
“And the decision was already made at the last meeting,” Clara, a friend of Nora argues.
“Too bad we weren’t here,” Chloe whispers, no longer able to hide her amusement.
“Layla never joins in,” one of the three women sitting behind us mumbles, loud enough for us to hear. I’m not sure if it was Rachel, Sacha, or Cilia, but it doesn’t matter. None of them have ever been nice to me. At least during breaks or summers, I had Chloe with me like I do now.
Why would they start now?
We turn in unison, Chloe opening her mouth to defend me when I put my hand on her arm to stop her. “Not worth it. We just need more wine. A lot more wine.”
“Come on up here, Layla and pick a book off the shelf,” Clara insists.
“What kind of man would be your perfect book boyfriend?” Nora questions, arching her brow.
“What about a baseball player?” Miranda Brennan suggests.
My eyes go wide and I jump up, knowing they will pick someone for me if I don’t speak up now. “No!”
Mouths collectively snap shut around the room, eyes going wide, and staring at me. My face heats, but with my olive, Italian skin, thankfully it’s hard to tell I’m blushing.
“Oh, dear,” Tanith murmurs under her breath.
“I just mean…ugh, fine. I’ll pick a book.
” I’ll just grab one that’s the complete opposite of who my father is.
Scanning the titles on the designated book boyfriend shelf, skipping all the athletes, I pause on the #formerplayer.
That has more than one meaning, but either way it’s nothing like my father. He was the worst of both.
“We can pick one for you,” Chloe volunteers.
Ignoring her, I sigh. “Right, what about the former player?”
Tanith hands me the book and smiles. “Good choice.”
My glare turns on my best friend, her eyes alight with amusement as I slump back to my seat. “Traitor,” I grumble under my breath, only succeeding in making both her and Scotty burst out laughing.
Taking a big gulp of wine, I tune out the rest of the conversation, not ready to come to grips with reality.
What the hell am I getting myself into?