She waves a hand at me, and I sink back into my seat, defeated.
Oh my God, how stubborn can this girl get?Sucks to be her, though—I’m even more stubborn, and I’m already thinking about what tactic to try next. I’ll need to speak to Becca, figure out where Carrie likes to hang out, gradually wear her down.
Just as I’m about to pull out, something catches my eye. There, on the seat—Carrie’s book. A smile spreads across my face.So there is a God after all.
I reach for the novel, and a leaflet flutters loose.
RAUNCHYROMANCEBOOKCLUB—
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER10, 7:00P.M.
Little Miss Sunshine goes to book club, huh?
I skim the flyer, then look back at the book. This is the exact novel they’ll be discussing tomorrow night. An absolutely brilliant idea strikes, and I can’t hold back a snicker.
“Couldn’t have planned that better myself.”
5CARRIE
I push open the clubhouse doors, whistling as I go. I’ve been looking forward to this all day, and it doesn’t take me long to spot my friends clustered around the coffee machine.
“Carrie!”
I’m greeted by four smiles—Shelby, Amanda, Lynn, and Eleanor, all bookworms like me. Scratch that—we’re professionalbook boyfriendhunters and die-hard defenders of the romance genre.Bookaholics unite!
Otherwise, I’m kind of a loner, and so are they. And that’s okay with us. We meet up once a month for our book club, and that’s all the socializing any of us need.
“Hey, girls!”
As we walk into our usual room, I listen to them swap vacation stories and list the novels they’ve been reading. I spent two months at Mom’s, and the truth is I read more than the other four combined. Losing myself in the pages of a good book is how I unwind.
We settle down at the table, and Amanda fishes out her notes along with a couple of cartons of lemonade. I scrape back my hair, and I’m just stirring a little sugar into my cappuccino when I hear a door squeaking behind me. Eleanor squeals.
“Can we help you?” Lynn sounds girlier than she usually does.
Footsteps sound behind my back. I scour my friends’ faces, trying my best to ignore the sense of impending doom swelling in my chest.This cannot be happening!I’m paranoid, that’s all. I need to get it together.
“I’m here for the book club?”
I nearly choke on my cappuccino. I recognize that voice.Someone please tell me this isn’t happening!
“Really?” Lynn is practically drooling.
This is unreal. It would be funny if it weren’t so incredibly annoying.
I smooth my palms over the table and slowly turn to face my worst nightmare.Yup. It is happening after all. Donovan Wolinski, in the flesh.
“I’m going to count to three,” I say to the others, “and by the time I get there, he’ll be gone.”
A swift kick to my shin beneath the table. Then a second.
“She’s only kidding!” Amanda giggles. “Pull up a chair!”
“I didn’t know if I needed to sign up or anything, so I thought I’d just swing by.” He looks me square in the eye and smirks.
“We’re full, sorry.”
“Don’t listen to her! You definitely did the right thing, coming by!” Lynn coos. “Take Carrie on the chair!”
