Page 28 of No Such Thing as Serendipity

I was embarrassed to admit I stayed in the bathroom for some time.

When I came out, I disappeared in the racks, browsing the books.

Something told me Emma knew I needed space since she didn’t come looking for me.

The bookstore aisles were uncrowded. I suspected most of the women remained gathered in the café discussing the presentation.

Hopefully, they’d get it out of their systems, so we wouldn’t have to rehash it over dinner.

I glanced at my watch. We needed to leave for dinner soon. Following that thought, Emma appeared with Robyn in tow.

“I need your help,” Emma said without preamble.

I tilted my head. “For?” I was cautious, even though her demeanor said she wasn’t here to corner me.

“Relax.” Emma smiled. “I didn’t come to harass you. I’m here so you can help me harass Robyn.”

“Sign me up,” I said with a genuine smile. I knew Emma well enough to know she wasn’t one to end run me.

“No fair,” Robyn said, but her eyes danced.

I rubbed my hands together. “Give me my harassment instructions, and I’m all over it.”

“A participant from another villa can’t make it tonight. We have an extra ticket for Wicked , so—”

“So you’re trying to get Robyn to come with,” I said, finishing Emma’s sentence.

“Yep.”

“But she’s being obstinate.” I glanced at Robyn as I said it.

“Hey, now.” Robyn drew her eyebrows together.

“We’ve been in the café, trying to convince her.”

“Apparently, you’ve been unsuccessful.”

Emma nodded. “But I told them you’re a master at closing the deal, so here we are.”

“Under protest,” Robyn added.

I held my hands up in front of me, took a step back, and framed Robyn between my hands. “Okay, I’ve got this.”

Robyn grinned. “Do you?”

“All over it,” I responded. “Tell me why you object to going.”

Robyn’s grin faded. She turned to Emma. “Damn it, not a single one of you took this approach.”

Emma’s smile widened. “I told you. She knows how to close the deal.”

It didn’t take long for me to persuade Robyn. As she laid out her reasons for declining, I countered each with an alternate way of thinking.

“Damn it,” Robyn said to Emma. “I never should have let you bring me over to her.”

“I think you secretly wanted to go,” Emma answered.

Robyn crinkled her nose, but she didn’t disagree. “I need to change my clothes.”

“You look fine,” I said.

“Right.” A frown line creased her forehead. She motioned from my head to toe. “Says the woman in the knockout jumpsuit. I’m not wearing jeans when the two of you look like you do.”

“Can you make it home and back?” Emma asked. “Or will you meet us at the restaurant?”

Robyn pointed toward the ceiling. “I live in the apartment over the bookstore. But I could use a pug walker. Would you mind walking Millie?”

Emma’s eyes lit up. “I’m all over it.”

Fifteen minutes later, Robyn and Emma returned.

Robyn wore a sleeveless dark denim dress that reached just above her knees with a pair of Roman sandals.

I did a double take. Her toned shoulders and arms rivaled mine.

I’d not noticed with the loose clothing she normally wore.

She had a small charm on her necklace that fell above her cleavage, and a delicate bracelet encircled her wrist. The adornments elevated her girl-next-door vibe into something more sophisticated.

“You look nice,” I said.

She held out the sides of her dress and twisted from side to side.

“Jesus, Blake. Really? Nice ? She looks amazing,” Emma said.

My face heated. She did. But I shouldn’t say it, should I? Well, Emma did, but it was different. “Yeah, yeah, you look great.”

I looked at Emma to see if she approved. By her expression, I couldn’t tell, so I turned back to Robyn.

“I have little occasion to wear a dress, so this is kinda fun.” Robyn’s cheeks held a hint of a blush.

“With the theaters here in the downtown, you don’t go often?” Emma asked.

“Not really. Between the bookstore and teaching, I have little time during the spring and summer. Then in the fall, when the college students return, things get pretty busy.”

I studied Robyn. Something in her words rang hollow. While I didn’t doubt she was busy, there were at least two theaters within walking distance, but I decided not to push the matter.

We arrived at The Chophouse a few minutes before our reservations, so we made our way to the bar area. Annie had already arrived and waved to us. The bar area was crowded with retreat-goers. I wondered if the other villa mates traveled in packs like we did.

“I just got here,” Annie said when we joined her at the bar. “Do you ladies want a drink?”

I’d not drunk any alcohol since coming here, not that I was a heavy drinker, but I declined, liking that I’d remained dry. Emma and Robyn said no, as well.

Robyn’s presence drew attention, and several women made their way over to us. Soon, the group engulfed her. She was a natural as she included everyone in the conversation.

I found myself annoyed by the others who’d horned in on her. After all, we invited her. I stepped back beside Helena, who stood apart from the rest of the group.

“How are you doing?” I asked.

She smiled at me. Her eyes were still clear with no sign of pain. “Remarkably well. The day has been amazing so far. And Mary Lou’s talk, so much food for thought.”

Mary Lou’s class was the last thing I wanted to revisit, so a change of subject was in order. “Will the long day affect you?”

Helena’s eyes softened. “That’s the thing with this stupid illness. It keeps me guessing. If I don’t get proper sleep or push myself too hard, it can flare up, but nothing we’re doing is strenuous. I’ve found emotional stress spirals me the most, so it’s simple. I eliminate all emotional stress.”

She laughed, so I joined her.

“That should be easy.” I gave her a wink. “I see Katlynn’s been keeping an eye out for you.”

“She’s been a godsend.” Helena grinned.

It still struck me how her smile changed her entire face. It was more pronounced since her sour expression remained etched on my mind. Once I learned her story, I felt guilty for giving her the nickname of sad sack.

“We’re quite the odd pair, aren’t we?” Helena said.

Earlier, I’d thought the same, but how should I respond?

Helena grabbed my arm and laughed. “It’s okay, you can admit it. Katlynn is the ultimate free spirit, while I can be a bit uptight.”

“Maybe you both need a balance.”

“That’s what we think, too.”

I bit back the question I wanted to ask since it was none of my business.

I knew Helena was a lesbian or at least bisexual since she’d mentioned her ex-girlfriend cheating on her, but Katlynn hadn’t spoken of any romantic involvements.

Perhaps I imagined lesbians around every corner, but their chemistry was off the charts.

“It’s nice that we’ve been able to connect with each other—make friends,” I said.

“Speaking of making friends,” Helena said. “You’re being watched.”

“Who?” I started to turn and look, but Helena put her hand on my shoulder to stop me.

“Don’t let her know you notice.”

“Who?”

“Come on. Dana looks like she wants to devour you every time you’re near.”

“Oh, her.”

Helena chuckled. “Don’t sound so enthusiastic.”

“Uh, she’s a nice woman and all, but, uh, I just mean she can be a little intense.”

“A little?”

“It’s nothing.” I shook my head. “Besides, she seems to have hooked up with Noelle.”

“Possibly, but women like her love the challenge. It’s all about the conquest.”

I swallowed hard. I was once like that, or was I still? Doubtful I’d changed in a week, but I couldn’t imagine acting that way here. But what would I do as soon as I returned to New York?

I didn’t have a chance to respond since the hostess entered the bar and called for our party. In a flash, Katlynn was beside Helena to escort her to the table. Lesbian or not, there was something there.

Emma came up beside me. “Let’s go find a seat.”

I glanced over my shoulder at Robyn, who was still surrounded by several retreat-goers, before I followed Emma.

After we sat, I felt a hand on my shoulder. “Mind if I sit next to you?” Robyn asked.

I smiled up at her. “Be my guest. I thought you’d be a while.”

“In my business, I’ve learned the fine art of making a polite exit.” She smoothed out her dress before she sat. “After all, you invited me, so I wanted to stick with you.”

“I’m glad.” And I meant it. I found it easy to talk to Robyn, so she saved me from having to make awkward small talk with someone else. Emma relished the opportunity and dived into a conversation with the woman beside her.

I picked up the menu. Before opening it, I glanced at Emma and cleared my throat to get her attention. “Should I bother looking at this?”

Emma smirked. “I’ll give you the night off. Order whatever you want.”

“Gee, thanks.”

Emma flashed me a smile and went back to her conversation with her seatmate.

I grinned at Robyn. “The pressure is on. I haven’t picked out my food for over a week. I’ve likely forgotten how to do it.”

“It’s just like riding a bicycle. You’ll do fine.”

I could tell by the twinkle in her eyes she was messing with me. “One of everything it is.” I plopped the menu on the table and sat back in my chair.

When the waiter came, I ordered cacio e pepe, my favorite Italian dish. “I’m surprised they have that here,” I said to Robyn.

“We’re not as backward as you think,” she responded.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be offensive.”

“No. I suppose I’m a little protective of our little corner of the world. Vera draws people from all over the country. I know some believe we’re a bunch of backward hicks.”

Had I been one of those people? If I were honest with myself, I had been. “Were you born in Wisconsin?”

“Nope. California.” She must have seen the surprise on my face because she said, “You weren’t expecting that, were you?”

Something about Robyn inspired me to be truthful. “No, I wasn’t. You seem to, uh, fit in here well.”