Chapter 26
TWENTY-SIX
Isla
“I don’t know why they have to include so much sex in these things.” Flo drops the paperback on the table.
I’m really not sure why Flo has chosen to join the romance book club at the senior center when all she does is complain about the sex. Based on her critiques of the last two books we’ve read, she’d be better suited for thrillers or mysteries.
“Because it’s part of real life, that’s why, Flo,” Beatrice says. Travis’s grandma smiles and winks at me.
“Those are my favorite parts,” another woman, Greta, says.
I didn’t expect to find a reading buddy with Beatrice, but here we are. And honestly, I enjoy spending time with her. She’s a lovely lady, but not judgy, which makes you feel like you don’t always have to be on your best behavior in front of her.
Maybe that’s a result of having three grandsons she helped raise.
My grandma is a member of the senior center, but she’s not a member of the book club. She’s never been a huge reader, even when I was growing up.
Some other ladies start to get up and gather their things since the meeting is technically over.
“Everyone, make sure you vote on what book you want to read next time. I left the voting papers on the table near the door,” Louise, the unofficial leader of the book club, says.
There are a few murmurs around the room as Beatrice approaches me.
“Did you enjoy book club?” I ask her.
“Lovely as always, though I think Flo should probably join the horror book club that runs every month.” She looks over her shoulder to make sure Flo didn’t hear her.
I laugh and lean in closer, lowering my voice. “I was just thinking the same thing.”
Beatrice smiles and reaches for my forearm, squeezing gently. “What are you up to now?”
A big body appears in the doorway, and my stomach fizzes with anticipation.
Beatrice must notice a change in my demeanor because she glances over her shoulder, and when she turns back toward me, she’s grinning. “Oh, I see.”
When I first arrived, she didn’t say anything specific about my relationship with Travis. She just gave me a grin and a big hug. But I know she knows because I asked Travis when he dropped me off, and he told me that Josh had told her.
Travis approaches, and he gives his grandma a peck on the cheek. “Hey, Grams.”
“Hello, sweetheart. How are you?” she asks.
Travis glances over at me. “Doing good.”
“We’re going to grab a bite to eat. Would you like to join us?” I ask Beatrice.
She seems surprised but delighted by my invitation. I don’t think Travis will mind. I know how much he loves and respects her.
“If you two are sure an old lady like me won’t be cramping your style, I’d love to join you.”
Travis lets a deep chuckle loose. “Not at all.”
“Okay, your grandpa dropped me off today, and one of the other ladies was going to drop me off at home. Just let me tell her that I’m going with you.”
Beatrice steps away to talk to her friend, and I turn to Travis.
“I hope it’s okay that I invited your grandma. I probably should have asked you first,” I whisper.
He wraps his arm around my shoulder and pulls me into his side. “Are you kidding me? I love that you get on with my family so well.”
His words make my whole body warm.
When Beatrice returns, we make our way to Travis’s truck. I insist that Beatrice take the front seat, something she tries to fight me on, but when I won’t relent, Travis helps his grandma into the vehicle.
We drive to a nearby café that specializes in mac and cheese. I remember the first time I came here, I was a little confused because isn’t mac and cheese just mac and cheese? But no. There’s also pulled pork, carbonara, and even broccoli and jalape?os. One of my faves now.
We go inside, place our orders, and sit with our food in front of us.
“You know, you two are the talk of the senior center,” Beatrice says, bringing her tea to her lips and taking a sip.
Travis and I look at each other and then back at her.
“What do you mean?” he asks.
No one said anything to me about us today, though I did notice some of the women looking at me more avidly than usual.
Beatrice shrugs and sets her tea down. “It’s a large group of nosy old ladies who have nothing better to do with their time than to talk about everyone else’s lives because ours isn’t all that exciting anymore.”
I chuckle. “Okay, but what are they saying about us?”
“Apparently, your grandma let it slip to Pearl that you two are seeing each other. And Pearl is the biggest gossip in the state, I swear, so she told someone who told someone else.”
Travis looks at me and smiles, then reaches out and squeezes my thigh. “I don’t care if people know we’re seeing each other. Let them talk.”
I smile at Travis and look back at Beatrice, whose face is lit right up, looking between us.
“They’re invested,” she says. “Because you two met at the bachelor auction, they seem to all think they had a hand in bringing you together. If you ever get married, they’ll all want an invite to the wedding.” She laughs.
Oh my god, I can’t believe she just said that.
I shift uncomfortably in my chair, and my face heats. Then I take a quick glance at Travis out of the corner of my eye, but he seems surprisingly unbothered.
“They stayed away at this book club meeting, but don’t expect them to do the same next time. They’ll have twenty questions about your relationship with Travis.”
“Can’t wait.” I shove my fork into my mac and cheese and take a bite to keep myself from having to say anything else. I’m not excited about having to answer everyone, especially when anything I say will be passed around like a hot potato and might end up getting back to Travis through his grandma.
“Grams, I don’t want all those women harassing Isla,” Travis says. He’s probably picking up on how uncomfortable I am.
She waves him off and picks up her fork. “They’re harmless, but I’ll do my best to keep them from bothering her.”
He nods and shoves a large bite of his food into his mouth.
“If I could ask, though… have you two been seeing each other since the auction and just keeping it a secret? Josh didn’t give me many details when he called to report the news.”
Travis and I share a look. I’m sure mine reads, “don’t you dare tell her about what happened that first night.”
He snickers but shakes his head. “No, we were just friends since then. It didn’t develop into something more until recently.” He takes another bite of his food.
Thankfully, we move off the topic of Travis and me and onto something else, and when he’s finished eating, he excuses himself to use the restroom.
“He’s a goner.”
Beatrice’s voice pulls me away from where I’m watching Travis walk toward the bathrooms.
“I’m sorry?”
She reaches for my hand, squeezing. “I’ve never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you, sweetie. I’m so happy for you two.”
I squeeze her hand back. I’m so happy for us, too.