Page 64 of Love Off-Limits
I tapped my phone against my palm. We’d talked about a lot of things the night of the wedding. It’s possible we’d talked about books, but nothing specific came to mind. My hunch was that she read fiction over nonfiction. I remembered how much she hated horror movies—we had talked about that—so it was safe to guess she felt the same way about books. But she loved watching old episodes ofMurder, She Wrotewith her dad, so maybe she liked mysteries?
Tyler: Agatha Christie. Murder on the Orient Express.
When I looked up, Olivia had left the dining room without me noticing. Kelly had likely warnedherto be discreet too.
Olivia: Good guess. Very good guess, actually. But the top spot goes to Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca. Strike one.
I groaned. This was an impossible game.
Olivia: My turn. South of Broad by Pat Conroy.
Or...maybe it wasn’t so impossible. You didn’t grow up in Charleston and not know of Pat Conroy. My junior English teacher in high school had used the opening pages ofSouth of Broadas an example of imagery and ‘setting as character.’ I hadn’t read the book. But I didknowof the book. And I was pretty sure if Ididread it, it would be one of my favorites.
Olivia: Do not, under any circumstances, cheat, Tyler Marino.
I groaned even louder. “Fine,” I said to myself as I typed out my response.
Tyler: Strike two. Never read South of Broad. My favorite is probably The Way of Kings. Brandon Sanderson.
Olivia: Haven’t read it. It sounds like fantasy. Or... something medieval?
Tyler: Fantasy. I’m not a fantasy reader, generally. But this series is worth trying something new. It’s enormous. Just to warn you in case you decide to read it.
Olivia: 1007 pages. Call me intimidated. Just ordered the eBook. Link to your gifted copy of Rebecca will follow shortly.
Olivia: The second question will happen after we finish the books.
I guess I knew how I was spending my evening.
Chapter Eighteen
Olivia
Tyler probably thought I was being ridiculous. Or cruel.
Neither was true. Mostly, I was just trying to exercise some restraint. I really did tend to fall hard and fast. If I had any hope of balancing “trusting my gut” like Mom suggested with holding on to what I wanted to achieve when it came to Stonebrook, Ihadto have restraint.
ButThe Way of Kingswas an enormous book.
Two hundred pages in, I was rethinking my entire plan. It might be Christmas before we even made it to the next question, much less an actual date.
Still, the texting was almost as good as dating. We talked about everything.
I told him all about the restaurant and what I believed it could mean to people. About the necessary expansions. About Lennox’s ideas regarding the type of food he would serve.
He talked about his sister and how much he missed her. About his desire to do more than just shoot video, to use his editing skills to create stories that mattered to people.
We talked about books we’d read and places we’d like to visit and food we loved to eat. We talked about the things that scared us, that motivated us, that kept us awake at night.
It had only been a few days since we’d first started texting again, but already I felt like I knew him as well as I did anyone.
My phone chimed and I dropped the catering menu I’d been reviewing and scooped it up.
Tyler: Sassy asked me to tell you hello. She thinks you look really good in blue.
Tyler: I, on the other hand, have bad news. I can’t actually go on a date with you even if you finish Way of Kings. I’m taking Baby Penelope, and we’re running away together.
A selfie of Tyler and Penelope, their cheeks pressed together, popped up on my screen.
