22. Winona #2
“Mmm hmm,” he says. “Are you coming over for dinner?”
“I have book club.”
He sits up. “So I have to go twenty-four hours without seeing you?”
“Think you’ll survive?”
He flops back into the chair. “Barely.”
I laugh.
“Sure. Laugh at my misery, Winona.”
“Declan?”
“Hmmm?”
“I’d rather be with you tonight.”
“Come over after?”
“Let me see how tired I am. I had a long day.”
“Fair. If you decide you can’t come over, call me.”
“That, I can do.” I glance over at him. “I want to.”
He rests while I drive and after I drop him home, I head home to clean up from my day and grab the pan of hashbrown casserole Cass threw together. She’s already waiting for me when I walk in.
“Got your book and the casserole,” Cass says.
“I still need to shower, give me ten.”
“The life of Winona for Hire,” she says with a laugh, setting the casserole on the entry table and our books next to it.
“Not gonna lie,” I say with a smile. “These days, I’m feeling pretty good about my life.”
“Does that have to do with a certain football player?”
“Among other things, yes.”
“I’m so happy for you, Winona—and not because he’s on the Thunder.”
“I’m sure your fanatic love of that team has nothing to do with it.”
“Nothing at all.” She winks.
I shower and we head over to Moss and Maple. When we walk into the bookshop, the sound of voices greets us from the back room.
“Is that Winona?” Emberleigh shouts.
“And Cass,” my sister answers.
My friends are all settled into chairs and love seats in the room off the side hallway. Trays of food line the “buffet” which is actually the top of a half-high bookcase that runs along one side of the room.
“Okay, so …” Emberleigh says.
“We took a vote,” Daisy adds.
“And we don’t want to talk about the book tonight,” Carli says.
I look at Cass. She smiles at me as if she knew about this vote.
“What? Why?” I ask.
“We’ve got far more interesting things to discuss,” Cass says, wagging her brows. “Get some food.”
It takes me a moment to catch on, and then I realize what they mean by interesting things.
“Ah, no. You’re not bribing me with food,” I say “Even if I am hungry.”
“I brought fried chicken,” Daisy says. “My family recipe. I double dredged it with buttermilk just the way you like it.”
“And I brought pumpkin gooey butter cake,” Emberleigh says.
“Stop. You guys!” I’m laughing. But seriously?
Cass touches my arm. “No pressure, Win. But try to see this from our point of view. You’ve been single forever. And now you're dating!”
“It’s no big deal,” I say, shrugging my shoulders.
“Winona!” Carli says. “You are dating Declan O’Connell, and it’s no big deal?”
“Just Declan,” I say. “I’m not dating the professional football player. Just him.”
Cass beams. “He must love that. You’re so unimpressed by his status.”
She’s wrong. I’m not unimpressed. Everything about Declan impresses me. But I’m not in love with what he does for a living. I’m in love with the man.
The reality of my feelings hits me so hard, I practically stumble into the chair behind me. But I manage to stay standing.
“Are you okay?” Emberleigh asks, noticing my obvious sway.
“Yeah. Yes. I’m good. Just lost my footing.”
In love? After two months?
That’s crazy. I can’t be in love.
Falling? Maybe.
I think I might be falling for Declan.
Everyone’s still looking at me.
“Let’s all get food. Please,” I say. “Then I’ll endure your grilling.”
“Let’s celebrate your love …” Emberleigh says with a smile. “... of butter cake.”
I laugh. “Okay. Let’s hear it for my love of butter cake.”
We fill our plates and everyone takes their seats.
I glance around the room at my closest friends. We’ve known one another all our lives.
“We’re all so happy for you,” Syd says.
“Tell us everything,” Daisy says. “I mean … this is Declan.”
Even though Daisy’s Declan’s sister-in-law, I get the feeling she doesn’t really know him. Not the way I do.
“I don’t know what to say. We’re together so much. I was fighting my feelings because I didn’t think anything could come of them. And then the night of the storm … well … we kissed.”
In a room of women who devour romance novels like termites in an old barn, I shouldn’t be surprised at the squealing and clapping of hands. Emberleigh’s literally kicking her feet.
“He’s surprisingly affectionate,” I say, wanting to share my joy with my friends, but feeling extra protective of what Declan and I share in private.
“Declan?” Daisy says. “Declan is affectionate?”
“Yeah.” I nod. “He’s really sweet. Always telling me what he likes about me. He doesn’t leave anything up for question. I know where I stand. He told me we’re dating.”
“He told you?” Emberleigh asks.
“Now that sounds like Declan,” Daisy says.
“He knows what he wants.”
“And he wants you!” Cass says.
“Honestly?” I say, looking around at my best friends. “It’s a bit overwhelming.”
It’s the first time I’ve said that out loud. “In the best of ways. But it is a lot to take in. He really likes me. I’m trying to overcome the feeling that someone’s about to pop out from around a corner and say, ‘You’ve been pranked!’”
“Winona, no,” Cass says. “Why would you think that? I thought we cleared this up already.”
I look around the room. “I mean … have you seen him?”
“Have you looked in a mirror?” Emberleigh says, her voice softer.
“And not only that,” Daisy says. “You’re amazing. Kind, funny, loyal.”
“Thanks, you guys. I’m not fishing for compliments. Really.”
“We know that,” Cass says. “But don’t undersell yourself. He’s lucky to have you.”
“You’re a catch,” Syd says.
My friends’ compliments do settle something inside my heart. I know Declan cares about me. He’s made his feelings abundantly clear. Maybe I should believe him.
“He asked me to come over tonight,” I say between bites of hash-brown casserole. “We hang out at his place a lot because of his injury. It’s just easier for him to prop his leg up at home.”
“And you turned him down?” Carli asks.
“I’ve got book club.”
“Oh. Girl.” Daisy laughs. “I think that’s a first.”
“What is?” I ask.
“A woman turning down Declan O’Connell for book club.”
“What did he say?” Emberleigh asks.
“He pouted.” I picture his face—dejected, asking me how he’s going to last twenty-four hours without me.
“Oh. My. Gosh!” Sydney exclaims. “He pouted. That’s so sweet.”
“Honey,” Carli says. “That man is gone for you.”
“Can we talk about the book?” I ask, feeling like my time in the spotlight has gone on long enough.
Thankfully, my friends agree and we dig into discussing our read for the month. But my heart is only half here. The other half keeps drifting to Declan.
He’s not the only one who’s gone for someone.