An hour is a long time for the four-year-old crowd. But they’re pretty easy to please. At least they are, so far, thankfully.
And lucky for me, in typical Kyrie fashion, she’s already fallen in love with Annabelle because my little sister falls in love with something or someone new every day. She’s even begun to tolerate me. Although Jamie still seems to be her favorite person, so there’s still no accounting for taste.
Once I’ve got the room straightened up for the next round of classes starting later this afternoon, I make my way into the room Annabelle has dubbedthe fishbowlto find my sister. She’s been extra fussy this week, so I’m expecting to find a cranky baby, not the happy one in Belle’s arms, smiling and cooing. But even more so, it’s the group of women fussing over her who I don’t recognize that catches my attention.
Women who all stop and stare at me as I walk into the room, making it more than obvious I was the topic of discussion.
Great. Mean girls.
I guess they’re everywhere.
These three are beautiful, making me wonder just how bad I look when they see me. Except the sneer or look of disgust I’m expecting never comes. There’s no judgment in their eyes. No sense of competition rolling off them in waves, and I’m forced to remind myself this isn’t an audition. This isn’t a ballet company. I didn’t just get a role they all want. They’re not wishing a broken ankle on me. But there’s something there.
Interest... or something else. Something that’s got the hair on my arms standing on edge.
I try to brush off the unsettling feeling and step next to Annabelle, then reach for Kyrie. “Thanks, Belle. How was she?”
Annabelle kisses the top of Kyrie’s soft blonde hair before sliding her into my arms. “Perfect, as always. I miss my grandbabies being this small. I need the kids to give me more.”
The women surrounding her laugh.
“I mean, either of you could feel free to add to the family baby count, ladies.” She looks between the two blondes, a beautiful smile sliding into place, challenging the women.
“Lilah’s due soon. I’m sure she’ll be happy to give you all the baby snuggles you want, Aunt Belle,” one of the blondes says with a cheeky smile.
“I’m counting down the days,” Belle teases. “I’ve got some bookkeeping to do in the back. I’ll catch up with you later, ladies.”
The slightly taller of the two women turns my way. “Hi. I’m Dillan, and this is Lexie. You must be Ashton.”
Aunt Belle . . .
It only takes me a moment to place their names. If Annabelle is their aunt, that makes these women Finn and Jamie’s cousins. Now that makes sense.
“Hi.” I adjust my hold on Kyrie, who’s decided to yank on my sweater. “I’m Ashton, and you seem to have met, Kyrie. I’m guessing you’re Finn and Jamie’s cousins.”
“Oh, we’ve met, haven’t we, sweet girl?” Lexie coos at my sister as she drags a finger down her nose. “She’s such a cutie. Jamie told us all about her.”
“He what?” I question, more than a little surprised.
“At book club last week,” Dillan adds, shocking me.
“I’m sorry, did you say book club?” Seriously... did I hear her wrong?
Jamie Murphy at a book club?
“Yup.” Lexie laughs, looking at her cousin. “Dillan owns the romance bookstore a few shops down from here, and we got the guys into a book club with us a few months ago. You should come to the next meeting.”
“I’m sorry. I swear I’m usually not this dense, but you have Jamie Murphy in aromancebook club? Willingly?” I want to say there’s no way, but these women nod, like it’s the most natural thing in the world. “Is that code for something else?”
“I mean, we do typically meet at West End for drinks and dinner when we get together for it, but nope. No code. We really do talk about whatever we’re reading,” Dillan assures me, and I want to shake the cobwebs from my head to make sure I’m hearing her right, but I don’t want to insult Finn’s cousins. “You should come next time. It’s a lot of fun and a great excuse to get out of the house and away from work once a week or so.”
I kiss the top of Kyrie’s head. “West End is that bar down the street, right?” The women nod. “I’m not so sure that’s the best place for Kyrie, and I don’t exactly have babysitters at my disposal. But thanks for the invite.”
I’m also not the greatest at making new friends, but I leave that little nugget off.
“Don’t worry about that, Ashton,” Lexie beams. “That’s why we’re going to bring book club to you.”
“Um... what?” I squeak and want to crawl in a hole at my complete lack of any kind of cool factor.
