Page 52 of Over the Moon

Clark hadn’t texted me since I saw him at the ice rink yesterday, which was a first.

We normally texted throughout the day, and I hadn’t heard a word from him.

And it bothered me.

It really bothered me.

“I wish you could go with me,” I said, as I sat on Emilia’s couch.

“You couldn’t pay me to go sit at a table with Bridger Chadwick. I ran into him at the diner this morning, and if looks could kill, I’d be three feet under.” She held her hand up as if she were slicing her throat, and I chuckled.

“He is convinced you’re writing that column, which, by the way, did you read it yesterday?”

She rolled her eyes. “No, but I heard about it.”

I fell back in laughter. “I don’t even know these people, and I’m invested. I’m guessing they were talking about the mailman because, according to theTaylor Tea, he delivered a lot more than the mail to his much younger lover.”

Now Emilia was laughing, too. “Yes. Apparently, Harvey Lawson, our local mailman, who happens to look like George Clooney if you haven’t run into him yet, has knocked up Cara Carmichael, who’s twenty years his junior.”

“Scandalous. But at least it wasn’t about the Chadwicks this week, right?” I shrugged. “You would tell me if it was you, wouldn’t you?”

She sighed. “Yes, which I assume goes against the code of being an anonymous reporter, but seeing as I’m a florist and not a reporter, I don’t care. But I sound guilty when I continually insist it isn’t me because then everyone assumes I’m staying loyal to my journalistic integrity. But I don’t have any journalistic integrity because I’m not a journalist.”

I leaned my head on her shoulder. “I believe you, Em. I’m sorry you have to deal with this.”

“It’s fine. Most people in town have known me my entire life, and they don’t think it’s me. Actually, the only one who’s ice-cold to me about it is the grumpiest Chadwick,” she chuckled. “So I just avoid him. I can’t believe I used to have a crush on that guy. He’s so rude, but he is hot in the broody, alpha sort of way.”

“You had a crush on Grumpy Smurf?” I fell back in laughter. “And you just described a fabulous book boyfriend. We love a broody alpha.”

“Yes. But we don’t like a broody alpha who glares at you every time he sees you. We can live without that.”

“I meant to tell you, Henley and Lulu saw the book I was reading, and they wanted to read it, too. How do you feel about starting our own little book club? We can meet when we all finish.”

“Oh, I’d love that. Let’s do it,” she said.

“Okay, I’ll set it up. I’m going to get going. They just texted that they are on their way. I’ll see you later.” I gave her a quick hug and stopped by the guesthouse to grab the bottle of wine I got to bring to dinner.

I walked the short distance to the Chadwicks’ home, and my stomach was in knots because something seemed off with Clark. I checked my phone one more time, and he still hadn’t responded to my text.

It was a ridiculous text of course, because I just wanted a reason to message him.

I asked if I left the notebook there, even though I already knew I’d left it there.

But he hadn’t responded, which was unusual.

Before I even knocked, the door swung open, and Lulu and Henley were standing there smiling.

“We have a lot to discuss,” Lulu said, pulling me inside.

“Yes, we’re already addicted to the book. How have I not been reading romance all these years?” Henley said as they led the way inside. “I mean, this guy is one smoking-hot hockey player.”

“Right? It’s addicting. Emilia and I were thinking maybe the four of us could do a book club.”

“Yes!” Lulu shouted, before bursting out in laughter. “Booze, brunch, and books. Let’s make it our thing.”

“I’m in,” Henley said, just as we stepped into the kitchen.

I quickly assessed the room, noting that Clark was absent.

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