“Great idea, but I’m not sure if I’d even want to see myself in a swimming suit right now. Beyond the fact that I hate leaving the Y after swimming when it’s cold out. Blah.” Maggie shook her head. “Ignore me. I’m a grump right now.”
Emma leaned over and squeezed Maggie’s hand. “Babe, you’re growing my niece. You bitch all you want.”
I laughed as I began to stretch a bit, tilting one shoulder forward, pulling back with the other. So much tension in my upper back. Looking over the books and planning out how much inventory to have for the holidays did not make for a relaxing afternoon.
Glancing over at Maggie, I asked, “How are the seventh graders? Ready for the holidays?”
Maggie rolled her eyes. “Middle school children are a bit stir crazy midyear. Love them all to pieces, but I am absolutely fine having the third quarter off to stay home with this peanut. Luckily, it’s a great class. My sub should do fine.”
“Well, I certainly love having you at the bookstore on Sundays. We’re going to miss you when this beautiful babe makes her way into the world. And just a reminder, you promised to put up some recommendations sometime soon.” Maggie had worked in my store part-time this summer and continued with a shift on Sundays this fall. It was a huge help, letting me give Addie some time to sleep in this summer and a person to bounce ideas off of all fall. We’d found that when Maggie left book recommendations, many of her former students gravitated toward them. I knew she wouldn’t be working for me again, or at least not for some time, once the baby came. Her life was about to get a whole lot busier.
“You bet. I’ve read a few great young adult books lately. I’d be glad to recommend them.”
Emma had a bit of a twinkle in her eye when she spoke. “So, how was Jake’s afternoon with Addie?”
I had filled Maggie in on Friday’s festivities yesterday. “I’m assuming Maggie already told you what went down this weekend.”
“Heck yeah she did. I’m floored that Jake’s house is still standing.”
I reached overhead, then dropped a hand to the side and leaned into it. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Maggie hooted. “Sure, sure. You and Jake are super calm and rational around each other all the time.”
I shook my head as I switched sides. “Come on. I’m a pretty calm person.”
Emma nodded as she began some light stretches as well. “Yeah, you absolutely are except when you are around Jake Spencer. So, how the heck did the two of you survive the night?”
I let a small smile slip out. “I know you’re right. I have no idea why we seem to argue so much.”
Emma and Maggie looked at each other, then back at me. Emma laughed before speaking. “You read just as many romance books as we do, my friend. You know that super-hot chemistry is often covered by a whole lot of denial. And here, in this situation with Jake? The denial is strong in both parties. I, for one, can’t wait to watch this all unfold.”
“And I hear he has your daughter now at dinner with my in-laws.” Maggie grinned at me. “I would have loved to have been there to see that, but I needed this more.”
I shook my head at both of them as Kristine called everyone to focus and begin class. Chemistry. Sure. I mean, he was unbelievably gorgeous. I did often want to slide my hands through that tousled hair or over the scruff covering his face. And I might or might not have fantasized about Jake in those glasses and gray sweat pants a time or two since Saturday. Though that was completely normal, right?
Crap. I looked over to Emma and Maggie. We’d moved to child’s pose, and Maggie was doing the best she could, but they were both watching me.
“I think I might be in some trouble here,” I whispered.
Maggie raised a brow; Emma giggled.
“Ya think?” Maggie asked.
My head plopped down on the mat. I could resist this man, right?
* * *
An hour later, my body felt far more relaxed than when I’d began. “Let me give you a hand.” I held a hand out to Maggie who was still down on the mat, looking like she was going to give up the ghost and just stay down for the next eight or nine weeks.
“Yeah, I think I’m going to need a boost from both of you.” Maggie raised a hand to me, and Emma grabbed the other.
“Count of three,” I said as we got it together and pulled her up. Emma reached over to roll up Maggie’s mat for her. There was simply no way she was reaching that.
“Homestead?” Maggie asked, sliding the mat into the bag at her shoulder.
“Sure. Ivy?”
“Let me check and see if Jake’s texted.” I pulled my phone out of my purse and saw a few texts from Jake.
