Page 66 of Out of Bounds
“Romance, mostly.” She adjusts her sparkly blue readers, her voice deadpan.
“Oh! A romance book club. Okay then.” I swallow down my surprise. “Do you know if they have any book in particular they’re considering?”
“Well, I’m pretty sure they’ve already read the entire50 Shadesseries.”
My face heats at the image of me leading an animated book club discussion with Ms. Mabel and her friends about various fetishes and what exactly goes down in the Red Room.
“Maybe pick something beachy, since it’s summer. Elin Hildebrand has a new one coming out. Or we could go small town and read Melanie Harlow, I know they all love her work.”
“Gotcha. I can find something, I’m sure. Let me finish reshelving these books,” I motion at the books on the rolling metal cart, “and then I’ll go check the catalogue and make a selection.”
“Wonderful. Once you choose the book, we can make up a flyer and post it here and online, maybe around town in a few places.” Ms. Mabel claps her hands together, the apples of her cheeks turning rosy. “The gals will be so pleased. Let’s schedule the meeting two weeks from today.That will give us enough time to spread the word, but also squeeze in at least three book clubs this summer.”
“Wow, aggressive. But okay, I can get it done. Guess I have some reading homework to do.”
Ms. Mabel grins, clearly pleased with her powers of persuasion, before spinning and sashaying back to the Reference desk. I hustle through the reshelving, a little stressed about this whole romance book club thing. I’ve never led a book club before. But it can’t be that tough, right? I’m sure I can come up with a few questions about a romance book and keep a discussion going. I mean, I went to college. This won’t be nearly as tough as Calculus or Chemistry.
Buzz, buzz.
Cam: You busy?
Sloane: Reshelving books. How was practice?
Cam: Tough. That kid Dalton is a real piece of work. But I think I taught Langley some good routes
Sloane: Nice. I’m sure you were fantastic out there
Cam: Hope so. Don’t want to let your dad down
Cam: You have time for a quick break this afternoon?
Sloane: Story Time’s at three, then I can duck out for a minute. Why? What’s up?
Cam: I need to see you
My stomach goes all swirly, fizzy excitement bubbling inside me at his words.
Sloane: I’d love to see you too. Maybe come around four—I should be done by then
Cam: Okay. See you soon
Staring down at my phone screen, I debate for a solid minute before quickly tapping out:
Sloane: XOXO
Then I wait, doing my best not to hyperventilate or let the cell slip through my sweaty fingers and clatter to the ground.
Cam: xoxo
Lightness fills my chest as I beam down at the four letters like a lovestruck idiot.
Cam’s as serious about us as I am. This thing between us could actually work.
Maybe Gracelyn is onto something with this whole manifestation thing. Maybe I need to start lighting candles, journaling, and dreaming of a wedding and babies.
Imagine me being Mrs. Cam Crawford, after all these years of wanting him.
Wild.