“I do. But you’re just as important to me, Lily, and I realize that decisions like this should be made by both of us.”
She looks pleased by this response, and when the server brings us our food, some of the strain seems to ease from her face. We eat in companionable silence, and when we get back on the road after splitting a slice of cherry pie, she threads her fingers through mine. “Zander’s important to you,” she muses, her head resting on my shoulder. “Did you spend much time with him growing up?”
“A lot,” I hum, thinking back. “My mom was on set most days and my dad’s pack relocated to New York when I was a kid. After he passed away, I didn’t have anywhere to go over the summer, so she took me to meet Zander. He put me to work mucking out the stables and that was it. I’d found my home sweet home.”
She chuckles softly. “I want that for Leo, too. Not just the happy place, but the look in your eyes when you talk about Zander.”
I open my mouth, but I’m not sure what to say. I’ve always idolized Zander, and despite being a man of few words, he’s never given me any reason to doubt that he cares about me, too. Could I become that for Leo? I mean, Logan is already a tight-lipped grump of a father figure, but maybe I could be his loveable sidekick. Whatever role I get to play, I just hope I’ll make Lily proud.
We chat about Leo until we arrive home, but as we pull up at the manor, I’m surprised by the number of brightly dressed women milling around. I’m starting to wonder if my security accidentally let a fan group past the gates when Lily lets out a groan. “Crap. I just remembered it’s book club tonight. It’s my turn to host, so Kaysie must have redirected them here.”
“Book club?” I perk up, and if I had a tail, it would probably be wagging. “I’ve always wanted to join a book club.”
To my delight, Lily goes bright red. “Not this one. Our members are obnoxious, and our reading choices questionable.”
Sounds perfect to me, but then I remember the little knot in our plans for tonight. “If you’re hosting, does that mean no Lovers’ Lane?”
It’s flattering that she looks as disappointed as I feel. “Can we take a raincheck? I mean, I’d be happy to sneak out after it’s over, but book club is kind of a mood-killer.”
I smirk at the pained look on her face. I’m starting to get the impression that Lily doesn’t play that well with others. Luckily, mom says I came out of the womb looking for a posse of playmates. “Then why don’t I co-host? I’ll distract the obnoxious ones, while you dazzle everyone with your in-depth analysis of… ”
I leave the title of the book hanging and she groans again. “Something about a hot rancher and his big-city omega.”
I bit my lip so hard, my dimples ache, but Lily just rolls her eyes and climbs out. She’s met by a swarm of women decked out in sequined vests and cowboy hats, and a single male omega in his early twenties, who is wearing an enormous pink Stetson and tasseled chaps. I assume he’s fanning himself with a copy of their Book of the Month, although I still can’t quite catch the title.
They greet me with a mixture of awe and amusement, especially when I turn to Lily and gasp, “You didn’t tell me it was a book clubanda costume party!”
“That’s because Lily always ‘forgets’her costume,” the male omega, who’s called Beau, informs me with exaggerated air quotes and a smirk in her direction. “But don’t worry, I brought extras.”
He plops a bedazzled Stetson on Lily’s head, just as Leo comes tearing onto the porch with his own cowboy hat held aloft. “Beausays we’re rhinestone cowboys,” he tells me as he leaps down the stairs and barrels into me for a hug. When he’s done, he turns and asks the male omega, “Have you got a hat for my dad, too?”
Beau’s eyes widen, and the chatty group suddenly goes deathly silent. I don’t think it’s shock as much as respect for Lily’s privacy that has them averting their eyes as I crouch down next to Leo. “That’d be great, but if we can bend the rules a bit, I think I might have something to wear upstairs.”
“Bend away!” Beau hoots, still clearly listening in on our conversation. “And have as many wardrobe changes as you like, Mr. Castle.”
“Ellis is fine,” I grin, while Lily rolls her eyes at her smirking friend. “Leo, do you think you can come help me pick something out?”
“Sure can!” he chirps, grabbing my hand and pulling me towards the porch stairs. “And if you can’t find something good, don’t worry. One Halloween Mom stuck chicken feathers and tree branches on me and told everyone I was a tornado.”
That earns him a groan from Lily and another round of spirited cackling from her friends.
“Well, my mom once wrapped me in tinfoil and called me a disco ball,” I tell Leo as we head inside. “My friends kept spinning me around until I puked on my shoes.”
“Ew!” He makes a gagging sound, but he’s grinning from ear-to-ear. “I would’ve told everyone I was a fork, and I’d stick ‘em like a hotdog if they tried that on me.”
“I’ll have to keep that in mind for next Halloween.”
“Don’t worry, Dad,” he says, giving my hand a squeeze. “I promise I’ll remind you.”
CHAPTER TWENTY – LILY
Despite the impression I’ve given Ellis, I actually enjoy book club. We get together once a month, so my turn at hosting only comes around a couple of times a year. Given we’ve known each other since high school - with the exception of Beau, who moved to Knotty Falls a year ago – they don’t expect a lot from me. A few bottles of wine, some snacks, and a little ambiance is usually enough to keep everyone happy, and they don’t even seem to care if I only have a hazy recollection of the book, given that sometimes I don’t get further than reading the blurb on the back cover.
But the costumes are a different matter. Whatever the genre, and no matter how obscure the theme, we’re expected to accessorize accordingly. When I forget, which admittedly happens a lot, I either scrounge something from Leo’s room or Kaysie and Beau come to the rescue. Case in point, the hot pink rhinestone-embellished Stetson that’s now perched on my head.
But the last thing I’m thinking about is sparkly accessories now that Leo has publicly claimed Ellis Castle as his dad. Myheart stopped for a moment, until I remembered that we’re in the company of my closest friends. And it’s not like it was going to be a secret much longer, given that anyone with eyes can see the family resemblance.
“Leo, do you think you can come help me pick something out?”
