I sat forwardto refill Jeanine Sorrento’s wine glass, then topped off my own. “This is great Sauvignon Blanc. Can I order it from them?”
“Yeah, the winery has a wine club. But I can keep you supplied if you really want it,” Jeanine said, taking a sip. She pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them on my overstuffed couch. Jeanine Sorrento, Mara Leroy, and Violet Gennari, captain Colton Jones’s girlfriend, sat in my living room. I rarely made it to our alleged book club and was honored they still invited me. Violet and Mara took a liking to me after I helped them out with various schemes with their partners, and they tried to include me in their non-hockey fun. I’d missed the last several months of book club, partially because of Liam’s hockey schedule, and partially from not reading the books, like ever.
This time, though, I held myself accountable by hosting the gathering, knowing that would make me read the book.
Violet chose an alien romance for us, and at the moment, she looked like she was on Mars herself. “Do you guys think aliens are real?”
While Jeanine and I drank wine from her family’s vineyard, Mara had talked Violet into one of her weed gummies. Violet’s was clearly kicking in.
“I hope so,” I said. “Then I’ve actually got a shot at this grade of fancy peen.”
“They do make toys like this.” Mara picked up her phone. “Let’s see if this book has a coordinating peen.”
“I think I like human peen,” Violet said, then blushed. “Or I guess, one human’s peen.”
“We get it, you’re madly in love with Colt,” Jeanine said.
Mara pursed her lips, scrolling through whatever sex toy listings she’d found. “I wonder if Jack would wear this thing that gives him a tickler thingie right where you’d want it.”
“You know I have to work with your husband day in and day out, right? Please ensure I can still look him in the eye.”
Mara put her phone to the side, tapping her lips. “That’s a good idea. Do you think you could report back to me if he doesn’t look you in the eye?”
“Poor Jack,” Jeanine sighed. “Doesn’t even get a break at work.”
The front door handle jiggled behind me and my darling son walked through the door.
“Hey, Li,” I said, leaning back over the couch. “Everybody, this is my son, Liam.”
His cheeks turned a deep crimson. “Is this your book club?”
“Yeah, join us!” Mara said. “Pull up a chair! We were just talking about?—”
Jeanine lunged to put a hand over Mara’s mouth. “Nothing. And we will continue talking about nothing if you choose to join us.”
Liam’s lips flipped into a grimace. “Ew. No. I’m going to bed. With earplugs.”
“Smart choice,” I said. “I’m having to hear about my coworker’s habits and I don’t necessarily want that information.”
“Oh, lighten up,” Mara said. “Just date one too and then it won’t be weird for you anymore. Who’s single on the team?”
“Just,” I guffawed. “I’m all set, thanks.”
“Isn’t Rice single?” Violet added. She opened and closed her mouth a couple times like she was chewing on the word. “Rice? Royce? Reese?”
Oh, lord. It hadn’t been but a couple of days since I was at Amarillo Steakhouse with Harlan. I didn’t really want the girls knowing about our cooking lessons. They’d read into it, and I didn’t feel like dealing with it.
“That’s the one you saved from the bus, right, Mom?”
The din of giggles came to a halt.
“Saved from the bus?” Jeanine inquired, crossing her legs and propping her chin on her fist. “Do tell.”
“It wasn’t a big deal,” I started.
“Yes, it was,” Liam objected. “You hurt your back to save him.”
“Hang on, now,” Mara said. “Backs are important.”
