Page 46 of The Autumn Leaf Bookshop (Everly Hollow #1)
Raene
“ S o, let me get this straight,” I say, placing my honey bun down on my plate, “you’ve been on two dates so far and both of them ended badly? What in the world!”
Jas sighs and frowns slightly, bringing her mug to her lips for a sip. “The first guy was handsome, seemed nice, but he couldn’t stop talking about himself. The second guy was nice…and cute, but during the date, he picked food out of his teeth…looked at it, and ate it.”
Gross. We all shudder at that.
If anything, Jas wants love. She wants companionship. She wants sex. She’s a woman who wants a good guy with a heaping side of sex, but I understand her taking things slow with someone who doesn’t know her history and has yet to meet her daughter.
“Some men give me the ick,” Oriana says, in between taking bites of a buttery, flaky croissant.
I may need to get a few of those to box up to take home.
“Yeah,” Jas nods her head in agreement, continuing, “you’re not kidding.”
“Have you had any more matches?” Elora asks .
“A few, but I feel I have a right to be picky, especially being a single Mom,” Jas says.
“That is true,” Oriana murmurs.
Jas perks up in excitement. “Elora, you should totally do this with me! Find a cute guy to date?”
Oriana’s eyes light up. “Yes! What do you think, Elora?”
We turn to her, putting her in the spotlight. She giggles slightly and blushes. “I don’t know…it just sounds too weird.”
“Well,” Jas starts, crossing her hands on the table, “I have to make a list of the pros and cons of each guy based on their interests, differences, and similarities. It helps, somewhat. Maybe they need to add their weird quirks to their profiles.”
I laugh. If only it could be that easy to weed people out.
“Do you have one of those serial killer webs in a spare bedroom…a headshot of all your dating aspects pinned to a wall with all their darkest secrets, their accomplishments and hobbies?” Oriana asks, tilting her head in question.
“You know that’s not actually a bad idea,” Poppy says, drinking the last drop of her tea.
“Ohh Raene, give us a hint on the surprise bonus chapter for your new fall romance that comes out in August!” Oriana claps her hands and bounces in her seat.
“Do they have sex in a pumpkin patch?” Poppy asks, smirking.
“And the FMC is screaming, ‘Oh my gourd!’” Jas snickers.
We all cackle, a few patrons turning their heads to look in our direction.
I love these girls .
Sipping my coffee, I look around at my girls. They’re part of my family.
I’m home.
“Hi Nim!”
He chirps out a welcome as I go up the winding staircase to our apartment.
I love our cozy Sundays.
Shutting the door, I pull off my shoes and jacket. “Ash, babe, I’m back!”
“Be right there!”
“I’m going to get started on these scalloped potatoes we have to bring to my grandma’s for dinner.”
I pull out my ingredients—a block of cheddar and gruyère, milk, garlic, a yellow onion, salt, pepper, fresh thyme, butter, and flour.
“Hey, baby.” His arms wrap around me, pulling me against his chest. “Just had a shower, let me know if you need any help?”
“Why is it always sex with you?” I joke playfully.
He turns me around. “I mean, if we can squeeze it in, I can squeeze it in.”
“Stop!” I laugh, rubbing my hands on his biceps as he holds onto my waist.
He studies me quietly, his eyes tracking the grin growing on my face.
“What?” I ask.
“I’m thinking,” he says, voice dropping to a whisper, “how I’m going to keep you forever.”
I laugh softly. “Well, for starters…I already moved into your apartment.”
“For now,” he says. “But I want to give you more than that, Raene. A promise, the ring, the family, and a beautiful home surrounded by trees for Nim’s hoards.
I laugh, ending with a sniffle, feeling his thumb brush away the tear from my cheek. My heart swells so full it aches, but in the best way possible. This male makes me feel everything. He makes me want everything.
“That sounds…perfect,” I whisper.
Fall may have changed me, but love is keeping me here. I finally know where I belong.
THE END