Chapter 5 #2
“I’ll tell you later,” Asher says. “Romy’s about to speak.”
Sure enough, a woman appears on the screen. She’s young and slightly familiar. And has the biggest smile on her face.
“Hello gentlemen,” Romy says. “Sorry I couldn’t be there in person tonight. I have a class in the morning so this will have to do. Now, did you all do your homework?”
I look around. Every single one of the men have serious expressions on their faces as they nod. My brothers included. Even West, who always finds fun in everything, looks like he’s hoping for an A grade.
“So, what did you all think?” she asks. “Was I right? Is this Asher’s book?” She holds up a black hardback book, with red flowers at the bottom and white lettering for the title.
Rebecca.
Then one by one they all take their own copies out. Hudson’s is annotated with a lot of little sticky notes. Parker has a different version. I can see ‘abridged’ written across it. As for Asher, he’s frowning. Like he has a lot to say.
“I think you might have got it wrong this time,” he tells her. “This guy is nothing like me.”
Romy grins. “That’s what Hudson said about Pride and Prejudice.”
“Wait, what? You each get a book? Why?” I look at Hudson.
“Oh, hello. You must be Zach,” Romy says. “I’ve heard a lot about you. And I already know what your book is going to be.”
I frown, because I don’t like the sound of this at all. “What book?” I ask. “I’m not sure I want a book. And how would you know what mine is anyway?”
She shakes her head. “Spoilers. We do one book at a time. And this one is Asher’s. So tell me, why don’t you think it suits you, Asher?”
“Because the guy is a weak asshole. And has a dead wife. Mine is very much alive.” Asher lifts a brow.
“He also has a lot of secrets,” Hudson remarks.
“And a lot of money,” Parker adds, grinning at Asher.
“Plus he spends a lot of time pushing the woman he loves away,” West adds. “Ring a bell?”
“Shut up, Gatsby,” Asher tells him.
I lift a brow. West is Gatsby? Now I’m really intrigued.
“The more you react negatively to it, the more convinced I am,” Romy says. “It’s hitting a nerve.”
“I didn’t kill anybody,” Asher points out.
“But you did kill the part of your soul that you needed to,” Romy tells him. “The part that kept pushing your wife away.”
Asher blinks. For a second there’s silence, like everybody’s taking this in.
“Fuck,” Asher finally mutters. “I am him.”
Romy gives a satisfied nod on the screen. I look around, trying to see if anybody else is finding this funny. But they’re all completely absorbed, leaning forward like Romy is the font of all knowledge.
Hudson lifts his beer. “Welcome to self-awareness, bro. It only took gothic murder and a creepy housekeeper to get you there.”
“Remind me why I come here again?” Asher mutters.
“Because we get free therapy under the guise of literature,” Parker tells him.
“And our wives think we’re just drinking beer,” West adds.
Romy laughs. “And because you all keep showing up means it’s working.” She looks at Hudson. “After last time, how did things go?”
I tip my head to the side. This is fascinating. My rich, over-controlling brothers are actually paying attention to a twenty-something influencer like she’s the goddess of all things emotional.
Hudson lets out a breath. “I talked to Skyler. Told her how much I appreciate her.”
“And did you find out her love language?” Romy asks.
Does she mean sex? I grimace, because nobody wants to hear about their brother’s love life.
“She’s doing the test tomorrow. I already did mine.”
“And what was it?” Romy asks him.
“Acts of service,” he says.
“That tracks.” Asher shrugs. “You always like to make sure everybody’s happy. Even if it drives us up the damn wall.”
I can’t help it. I let out a laugh. This is really happening. It’s not some kind of ruse. My brothers are actually talking about their feelings in a group setting.
“Do you have something to add, Zach?” Romy asks, sounding every inch of a school teacher.
“Uh, no.” I shake my head quickly. I’m not sure I’ve been this scared since sixth grade.
“Good. Because we’ll get to you next time.”
The guys all laugh. I don’t like this at all. It’s funny when it’s my brothers, not so much when it’s me.
“Whatever,” I say, shrugging. “I’m not afraid of my feelings.”
Hudson snorts. “Everyone in this family hates feelings.”
“Not me,” Parker says. “I overshare.”
“True,” Asher replies. “And we’ve all suffered because of it.”
Romy grins. “Then it’s settled. Zach gets the next book.” She lets out a slow breath. “I think we’ll do Jane Eyre for you. Same time next month.”
I shrug. Never read it. Probably won’t for this either. But all of the men around me – men I’ve grown up with, men who are stoic and strong – look like Romy’s just announced the second coming.
Asher claps me on the back, laughing. “This is going to be fun. Welcome back, man.”
Hudson raises his beer. “To personal growth.”
“I like my height exactly as it is,” I mutter.
The others laugh, and though this whole thing is a mindfuck, the sound feels good. Familiar.
Until I glance at the book tucked under my chair.
The Hunting of Red.
Well, that’s one book I will be reading. Mostly because Sadie tried to hide it from me.
And I don’t like secrets. Unless they’re my own.