Chapter Five #2
“It’s weird being back,” Scarlet says as I focus back on the group's conversation. “But Mom said she needed help, so here I am.” She blows a wayward strand of hair back from her face. She’s in the process of moving back and from the looks of her, she’s been busy today.
Her brown hair is in messy space buns with loose strands dangling over her face.
Scarlet and her mother Barbara own Mama’s Cakes Bakery. They inherited it from her grandmother when she passed away. Scarlet, like most of us, needed time away from Rose Prairie, and her coming back to town has the rumor mill buzzing.
“If you need help, you know Barry can always come by.” Tiffany offers as she attempts to cool off her steaming mug of tea.
Scarlet gives her a polite smile. “Thanks, but I’ve got it. No point in getting help now that the truck’s unloaded.”
We chat for a bit longer before we finally settle on book talk.
This right here is what I was nervous about.
The particular book we picked out comes highly recommended by multiple book sites, and like Smith pointed out, the man on the cover is…
enticing. We all agreed on this choice, but I’m unsure what the others will think.
This book starts with a bang. Quite literally.
“This book is hot,” Wendy adds casually as she fans herself. “You might have ruined me for other books, Cara. Because damn.”
“It’s definitely sexy, but does anyone else think it’s a bit creepy? They just met and already he’s like you’re mine.” Mariah dips her chin, lowering her voice in a terrible rendition of a man’s deep rumble.
“You’re supposed to suspend reality,” I laugh.
“Real world? Hell yeah, it’s creepy as shit.
Book world? He could say the most heinous things and I’d roll over.
” I slip down my chair, my arms going limp around me showing just how I’d melt.
A chorus of agreement rings out, drowning out the jingle of the bell on the front door.
“There’s a reason why we call them book boyfriends. They’re so much better than real life.”
“I don’t know,” a distinctly male voice interjects, startling us all.
My head whips over, my eyes locking with Smith as he leans casually on a bookshelf, the very same book we’re reading dangling from his long fingers.
“There are some things a book boyfriend can’t do if I recall. ” His eyes narrow, taunting me.
“I’m sure there’s a great many things you don’t recall,” I grind out through clenched teeth, not nearly loud enough for the group to hear.
Elle stands, flipping her light red hair over her shoulder before offering Smith her hand. “Hi,” her voice seems to shoot up an entire octave as she introduces herself to my ex and I repress the urge to roll my eyes. “I’m Elle. Are you in our book club too?”
Jesus.
“No,” I say at the same time Smith says yes. I stand, ready to push him out the door if I need to.
He’s laying on all the charm, sucking them all into his orbit. “Yes,” he repeats with a hard look at me before glancing back at Elle. “I am. Cara mentioned you were reading this book this morning and I couldn’t help myself.” He holds the book up for everyone to see. “Did I miss anything?”
“Like you actually read it,” I scoff, flopping back down into my chair and crossing my arms mumbling to myself. “The Smith I knew never had time for stuff like that.” Curious eyes glance at me, but I ignore them.
“After my wonderful day with Mrs. Haverford, I managed to come back here and buy that copy I was looking at earlier. I read the first five chapters.” He runs his thumb across the paper edge, the pages flipping. “I can see why you were always reading.”
If he’s looking for some sort of reaction out of me, he’s going to be sorely disappointed. Stone cold, baby.
Elle assures him that we’ve just started and that he didn’t miss anything important. She does more than assure him. She hangs all over him and I try to push back the sting of jealousy. The other ladies introduce themselves and Scarlet pulls over a chair as I watch this train wreck about to happen.
How did he know? He said that I told him we were reading this book, but I didn’t tell him when my book club was, right? I watch as he settles into his seat, my eyes wandering over the expanse of his chest in that damn shirt again.
June nudges me with her shoulder. “Are you okay,” she whispers in my ear. Her eyebrows are raised in concern.
Smith watches me with a triumphant grin on his stupid, handsome face while Elle drums up conversation.“Oh yeah,” I say full of sarcasm. “I’m peachy.”
After the novelty of Smith arriving wears off, I do my best to completely ignore his presence.
This is my book club. I’m not going to let him win this one.
Maybe I deserve it after my stunt with Lori, and now this is my punishment.
On second thought, no. That was well-deserved and honestly helpful.
He would’ve had to talk with Lori eventually.
I just helped him get it out of the way sooner.
Look at me being all helpful.
We settle back into talking about the book, this time with more focus on the plot and less time spent discussing our sexy new book boyfriend. The more we discuss, the more I realize that Smith did actually read it.
“I’m not so sure,” Smith interjects. We’re on the topic of the main character, Viv, who pushes the sexy bad boy Lark away after an emotionally stressful scene. “I agree that some space was needed, but to leave him high and dry without an explanation. Or a simple conversation,” he shakes his head.
I lean forward in my seat. “So you’re suggesting what?” I argue. “She was too emotionally distraught to have a conversation like that with him, so she did what she thought was best. She left. He’s a big boy, he can handle it.”
Scarlet and Tiffany back me up, each offering their point of view.
“Running’s going to get her nowhere.” Smith leans forward in his chair, mirroring my stance.
“I’m pretty sure it gets her away from him,” I snort sarcastically.
One of the best things to do in situations like that, when emotions are overwhelming, is to find some sort of escape.
I should know. “Sometimes people need a breather. Her leaving gave her that.” Viv is a character I can appreciate and relate to.
She knows what’s best for her at that moment and does it, damn the consequences.
Smith rubs his hand along his jaw. “She could have been an adult about it and had an adult conversation before disappearing. It could’ve saved them both from the heartache that’s clearly coming.
” His eyes lock with mine, and I know we’re not talking about Viv.
His words sting, slicing into my already wounded heart.
Because we’re not talking about Viv or Lark.
We’re talking about us.
“Maybe her running was her way of avoiding that heartbreak.” The women sitting in the circle around are wide-eyed as Smith and I dig through our past trauma under the guise of talking about a book.
“No,” he states firmly. “Her leaving was the worst possible thing she could do.”
My head shakes, a wan smile settling across my features. “You don’t get it.”
Smith stands abruptly, his voice pleading. “Then explain it to me.” That dark strand of hair bounces on his forehead and he runs a hair through his midnight tresses. He looks as if all his energy was sucked away with that one movement, and he sighs. “Explain why you left.”
The entire room is eerily silent as Smith and I stare at each other.
The heater kicks on, the dull whirring the only noise in the room.
They’d have to be blind to not see that Smith and I were no longer talking about fictional characters, arguing about a fictional plot point.
We were both stuck in our hurt, reliving and arguing parts of our past.
Tears sting my eyes and I blink rapidly at the floor to keep them at bay, breaking the tense connection with Smith. June’s hand glides up and down my back as I try to regain my composure.
Unable to look back at him, I hear the soft rustling of fabric and the scrape of a chair. He clears his throat to break the awkward silence. “I apologize for ruining such a nice night. Ladies, please forgive me. Cara,” his voice breaks on my name, “I’m sorry.”
When I manage to glance up, he’s already gone.