Page 51 of Booked on a Feeling

Alex spewed water out of his nose.

“What the hell is wrong with my smile?” Jack threw up his hands.

“You guys are acting really strange today,” Tara observed. “Then again, that’s nothing new.”

“Jack and Lizzy are dating,” his brother announced, sniffing loudly.

“It’s about time,” his sister murmured, tapping the menu into a neat stack. “I mean, you’ve had it bad for her since you were ten.”

“You knew, too?” Jack stared bug-eyed at his siblings. “Did everyone expect this to happen except for me?”

“No, I don’t think Lizzy had a clue,” Tara said.

“Oh, God.” He wanted to find a hole to hide in. “Do Mom and Dad know?”

“About your crush? Nah.” His sister shook her head, saving Jack from having a heart attack. “Just some wishful thinking that one of you boys would snatch her up.”

“Oneof us?” He glared at his twin.

“Whoa.” Alex held up both his hands. “I can’t help what Mom and Dad think. I never once thought about snatching her up.”

“Besides, I think they gave up hope a long time ago,” Tara added.

“That’s good,” Jack said, nodding. “And let’s not rekindle their hope. I don’t want to complicate things by having the parents involved. If Dad finds out, then so does Mr. Chung. And Mrs. Chung would probably get on Lizzy’s case for dating someone beneath her.”

“She wouldn’t dare,” Tara growled fiercely. “Lizzy is lucky to have you, Oppa.”

“Quite frankly, Mrs. Chung is a piece of work.” An outraged frown darkened Alex’s face. “But even she wouldn’t consider the mastermind behind Weldon Brewerybeneathher daughter.”

“It’s your talent as brewers that’s putting Weldon Brewery on the map.” Jack was touched by their loyalty, but their thinking was biased. “I just do the numbers.”

His brother and sister exchanged concerned glances.

“You can’t possibly believe that,” his sister whispered.

“Yeah, Jack.” Alex put a hand on his shoulder. “You’re taking the humility thing a bit too far.”

Maybe he’d said too much. He didn’t want to worry his siblings. “All right, all right. I’m awesome, and you two could beat up anyone who says otherwise.”

“Damn right, we will.” Tara cracked her knuckles.

“That’s one ass-kicking I’ll relish.” Alex flashed a sinister grin.

Not wanting to linger on the subject, Jack tossed out a distraction. “Please don’t be obnoxious to Lizzy about the whole dating thing. Like I said, we’ve only gone on one date.”

“He’s talking to you, Alex,” his sister said dryly.

“Yeah, I’m talking to you, bro,” Jack confirmed. “Anddo notunder any circumstance tell her that I had a crush on her since elementary school. I don’t want to weird her out.”

“Are you serious?” When Jack and Tara nodded, Alex continued, “I’m going to adult the shit out of this situation and shock you both. I’ll be so respectful and supportive that Lizzy will come to me for relationship advice.”

Jack threw a piece of orange peel at him while Tara snorted eloquently. But when it came down to it, there was no one he trusted more than Alex. If he needed someone’s shoulder to cry on, it would be his. Hopefully, he wouldn’t have a reason to anytime soon.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“I can’t believe he’s still reading,” Shannon whispered, staring at her son sprawled out on the bookstore floor. “I’m not even sure if he has homework, but I don’t want to ask him. I’m afraid if he stops reading, he’ll go back to hating books.”

Lizzy smiled and fanned out the cute journals on a small table near the front of the store. Customers could browse them much more easily than from their prior position behind the counter. Hideaway Bookstore sold journals, too, but Beverly could use an update on the selections. Lizzy should add that to her suggestions list.

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