Page 61 of Crazy In Love

“Already? Alana’s okay? And the baby?”

“Everyone is good. Alana was already having contractions by Saturday morning, was in labor all day, and then spat that baby out by three o’clock Sunday morning.”

“Girl or boy?”

“Girl,” I happily sigh. “And get this! Her name is Hazel Fox.”

“No shit,” he exclaims. “Awesome name to honor an awesome woman. Bet you cried, huh?”

“No. Misty eyed,” I clarify. “I was surprised and got in my feels a little bit, but I didn’t sob or anything weird like that.”

He chuckles. “Strong name from a strong woman. Mom and baby are healthy?”

“Uh-huh. I spoke to Alana this morning before dropping Franky at school, and I’ll take him over to the hospital this afternoon once I close the shop. She said Hazel’s starting to wake a little bit more, and breastfeeding is going well. They expect to be able to come home either tomorrow or Wednesday at the latest.”

“Why Wednesday if they’re healthy?”

“Hazel’s a little yellow,” I shrug. “Doctor said it’s normal and expected. And Franky was the same, so they’re just keeping an eye on it. Otherwise, everyone is passing their tests and doing amazing.”

“Send me an address.” I don’t have to be in his office to know he sits in his chair and grabs a pen. “I wanna send a gift.”

“Or…” I tease. “You could hop a flight and visit. I’m throwing a little party for Alana and Hazel in a few weeks, and seeing as how I have no friends and could do with fattening the guest list a little…”

“What date?”

“Uh…” I pull the phone from my ear and quickly flick to my calendar app. “June seventh. I’ll send you a formal invitation once I’ve designed them.”

“Don’t bother.” His voice turns sad in an instant. He clicks his computer mouse, checking his schedule. “I have Rome on my calendar for the week leading into the seventh, then London right after for the Maher Conference. I have no room to sneak over to Bumfuck Idaho, not even for a day.”

Disappointed, I flatten my back against the wall and exhale. “That’s shitty. How dare they plan an annual event that clashes with my hastily put-together baby shower for a baby who has already arrived?”

He snickers. “Those inconsiderate bastards. Send me her address so I can have something delivered. Let me buy her forgiveness.”

“Fine. But don’t mention the party while you’re asking for mercy, since she doesn’t actually know about it yet.” When the silence of the bookstore grows heavy, and that silence taps at the side of my brain, I snap my lips closed and angle away from the wall. Just like I knew I would, I lock eyes with the book club bitches and send them scrambling. They spin and whip books open, plopping back into their seats and juggling coffee cups.

“She’ll know soon.” I roll my eyes, bringing my attention back to Booker. “Since the gossip vines here are more active thananyone’ssex life. In fact, she probably heard about it before I even thought it.”

He snorts.

“But if, by some miracle, she’s too tired and hasn’t been paying attention, I’d like to keep this a surprise for as long as possible.”

“My lips are sealed,” he promises, sitting back again so the groan of his chair announces his movement. “It’s too bad you’re not here for Rome, Fox. That’s our tradition.” He pauses before adding, “It’s your dream.”

“It’s really inconvenient that Alana had sex when she did,knowingmy butt had plans with those business class seats. She’s rude and inconsiderate.”

“Tell her we said so,” he chuckles. “What are you up to today? Tipped any cows?”

“Not this week. But it’s only Monday, and my schedule is wide open. I’m working at the bookstore today. It’s my first day alone, and I haven’t broken anything, so I guess I’m off to a good start.”

Well… except for a shower rail. My stomach tumbles with remembrance. With nerves and a strong side-ache tinged with desire.None of which I wish to experience while on the phone with my boss.

“Sounds like you have a promising career in small-town bookstores if Gable or Gains ever tire of you.”

“And I note that you didn’t mention Hemingway growing bored. That guy is a total puppy dog. He won’t ever fire me.”

He laughs. “Not even when you accidentally set the office sprinklers off and destroy tens of thousands of dollars in technology.” He reaches across with a grunt I know too well and grabs a cup of coffee. Next, he’ll sip andahhhh. “We learned a lesson that day, didn’t we, Ms. Tatum?”

“Yes. The lesson wasnotto light too much incense in the office, and that hot yoga is better left for actual yoga studios. But ya know what? We live and we learn.”