“Okay, boys, I’m serious about book club now.” He looks around the room. “Who wants in?”
Theo stifles a laugh. “I’ll do it if Shaw’s doing it.”
“I’m in.” Shaw shrugs his shoulders. “I like to read.”
I stare at the two of them in disbelief. No way is this actually happening right now. “Isn’t this weird, to read one of her books?”
“Why would it be weird?” Cross counters, pushing his dark blond hair away from his face. “She’s an author, she writes to provide an escape and entertainment for other people.”
“Does she write under her real name?” Theo asks as he pulls out his phone.
“I don’t know,” I admit with a shrug. “I never thought to ask.”
Shaw cocks an eyebrow. “Did you even plan on reading any of her books?”
“Well yeah. I was waiting until she finished the one she’s working on.”
Shaw clicks his tongue at me, shaking his head. “That’s not very supportive of you.”
“Okay, Dr. Shaw. Would you suggest I read one of her books?”
“Absolutely.”
“We can all read it together,” Cross says with excitement in his tone.
Theo lets out a laugh. “I don’t know the last time I read a book.”
I huff. “Probably don’t know how to, illiterate asshole.”
“Love you too,” he coos, blowing me a kiss before turning to the rest of the guys. “If Matty doesn’t want to join the book club, I’ll figure it out and we can all read it to show our solidarity and support.”
I narrow my eyes on him. “You’re on their side?”
“Come on, it will be fun.” He smiles, his green eyes shining back at me.
My chest deflates as I give in. “Fine. Let me check with Jade first. I don’t want to make her uncomfortable at all.”
“Brilliant,” Cross smiles, bobbing his head. “I’ll start a group chat in the meantime.”
“We already have one,” Theo reminds him. “I don’t think we need another.”
“Sure we do,” Cross says as he collects his belongings from his cubby. “That way we can keep things separate. Book stuff in one, real life in the other.”
Cam contemplates his words, nodding his head along with it. “That makes sense.”
Theo laughs as Cross heads in the direction of the washroom and Cam starts putting his gear away. I look over at Theo, shaking my head. “What the hell?” I chuckle. “For the record, I was going to read her book. I just didn’t think it would need to be a group thing.”
“It’s always a group thing.” Theo laughs as he hangs up his helmet.
My phone vibrates, pulling my attention away from Theo. My stomach does a somersault, half expecting it to be Jade. My chest tightens when I see another name instead.
Dad.
Dad
Good game tonight, bud.
Matteo
