In a Book Club Far Away(28)

“Okay, so maybe not two books, but one. Something fun and quick.”

“You’re not hearing me. No, Ad.”

“C’mon. You said you’d do anything. And this is easy. It’s nothing really. I know you already have a Kindle full of books, and admit it, you probably have at least two paperbacks in your suitcase.”

Sophie flattened her lips together. Damn it.

“So what’s one more book? Pretty please with sugar on top.” Adelaide’s gaze strayed over Sophie’s shoulder. She tugged on Sophie’s hand. “Look, I’ve had to cancel Genevieve’s party because of this surgery. And because I’ve been in pain, I haven’t been out and about. Book club for the three of us—I want to look forward to that before we all go our separate directions once more.”

“All right, Mrs. Wilson-Chang, we really must get going.” The doctor approached her bedside.

“Say yes, Sophie,” Adelaide said, as the room was rearranged, and the commotion began. “Say yes!”

And because her friend was about to go under anesthesia with all the uncertainty of surgery ahead of her, Sophie did what good nurses did. She gave her patient some peace. “Yes, fine. I’m in. I’ll tell Regina. I love you.”

“I love you, too!” Sophie said, waving like a pageant queen.

But as Sophie was escorted from the room, she wondered if this intervention Adelaide was planning, and which she had just agreed to, was a disaster waiting to happen.





CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Regina




“Genevieve, your mama’s seeing the doctor now.” Regina looked up from Sophie’s text update, which said that if there were no complications, the two would be home by dinnertime.

Regina texted back:

She’s okay?



Yes, but we need to talk.



About what?



She wants us to do book club while we’re together.



Regina guffawed. Adelaide couldn’t just leave well enough alone.

“Mama’s with doctor?” Genevieve, next to Regina at the toddler-sized table and chairs, smashed a hand against the homemade Play-Doh, interrupting Regina’s train of thought.

“Yep, and soon she’s going to feel so much better.” Regina tousled Genevieve’s dark wispy hair.

“No more cry.” Genevieve shook her head. “Mama no crying.”

“No, no more crying.” She stood, eager for some space. It broke her heart how much Adelaide had endured on her own, without family nearby. She knew what it felt like to struggle with something painful while alone.

The phone rang in Regina’s hand, surprising her.

Henry.

She stared at his name.

She’d been meaning to text him, but the last day had been consumed with getting settled and avoiding Sophie. And normally, unless it was Miko, she didn’t take phone calls. Who had the time these days?

“The phone’s ringing,” Genevieve said pointedly. And she was actually pointing at the phone.

“Do you think I should take the call?”

Genevieve answered by grabbing the Play-Doh and squeezing it through her fingers.

“Okay, then.” She pressed the green button. “Hello?”

“Hey, it’s Henry.”

Was it possible for his phone voice to be sexier than his DMs and his in-real-life good looks? According to her legs, which had turned to jelly, yes, it was. Regina swallowed her giddiness. “Hi. How are you?”

“Good. Great, actually. I was just thinking of you.”

He was thinking of her. Of her! “Oh?”

“And I know you’re busy right now.”

Regina knew what was coming. He was going to ask her out. She hung on to the kitchen counter for support. “I am. Busy, that is.”

“Oh, well… never mind, then.”

She hit her forehead with a palm. “No, I’m sorry, I didn’t let you finish. What did you want to say?”

“In one of our DMs, you mentioned how much you love cheese. And there’s a restaurant in Old Town with your name on it. I thought… that when things settle down…”

Genevieve was staring at her with this goofy smile, and Regina realized the toddler was mimicking her own goofy smile. Then, Genevieve started to kiss the Play-Doh, which escalated to licking it, and then opening her mouth so wide Regina could see her back teeth…

With speed she hadn’t deployed since she was in her twenties chasing around Miko, Regina leaped across the kitchen to snatch the Play-Doh from Genevieve’s hand, and the little girl’s mouth promptly clamped on her wrist with a vampire’s sting.

“No!” she yelped.

“Oh… okay.” Henry stammered. “No worries, I—”

“No!” she objected. “I wasn’t talking to you, Henry. Sorry, I’m with Genevieve, my friend Adelaide’s daughter, and… anyway, cheese sounds wonderful. But can I get back to you with times? Adelaide’s in surgery, now actually.” She wiped the drool around her wrist against her jeans.

“Of course. Can I call you in the next couple of days?”

“Sure.” She bit her bottom lip. “That sounds great.”