Page 38 of Sweet Oblivion

Ryker sits down next to me, a bowl of popcorn in hand, and picks up his tablet.

“Do you want me to change the channel?” I ask, pausing the newest season of my favorite Netflix show.

“Nah. I’m just going to read.” He holds the closed tablet up as if to say,Hey, look. I’ve got an ebook.

I take a moment to think about my question and try tosign the words, hoping I don’t mess them up.“What are you reading?”

He opens the cover and powers it on, then flips it around.

“Wait—that’s a romance book.” I study the cover and the familiar name at the bottom of it. “A spicy romance book.”

Seriously, you could knock me over with a feather right now.

What the hell is he doing reading a spicy romance book?

Ryker’s cheeks pink, and it might just be the most endearing thing I’ve ever seen. “Hasn’t Ashton told you about book club?”

“She has.” I take the device out of his hand and skim the synopsis. “But...”

“But what?” he asks and takes it back. “Are your reading tastes too elevated for romance? Wait—you’re not a reading snob, are you? Because I’ve got to tell you the guys and I didn’t expect to like them, but they’re pretty good. I like the fantasy ones better than the sports romances though. I like the action, and half these authors get the sports wrong.”

Huh. That was not what I was expecting.

“We just started this one,” he adds. “You should read it too. We meet for drinks and food and talk about them after.”

I’ve heard about book club. Ashton was adopted into it and has been bugging me to join. Maybe I should have asked more questions.

“Who else is in this book club?” I pull my feet up beneath myself and study his expression. He’s completely serious. And there goes that beautiful smile again. “Wait, let me guess. Ashton and Dillan and Lexie and Kaleigh.”

“Yeah. And the guys too. They conned us into it last year, and it kinda stuck. Hendrix even got suckered into it, and he’s barely been back in town a week.” He tosses a piece of popcorn into the air and catches it with his mouth. “Do you have an iPad or a Kindle? Jamie likes to read them in paperback. Dillan always gets them for us if we want.”

“I have a Kindle.” I don’t tell him it’s ancient. It doesn’t matter. It still works just fine.

“Then welcome to book club.”

Why do I feel like I don’t know what I’m getting into?

My phone vibrates on the coffee table as Ryker pulls his from his pocket.

Lenny

I hope you don’t mind I’m texting you both this information.

**Group name has been updated toWEDDING OF THE YEAR**

Oh, sweet baby Jesus.

“Is she serious?”I ask and sign and maybe smile. I think I got that right.

Ryker closes his eyes and shakes his head for a hot second. “She’s serious. Mom’s a little... extra.”

Lenny

I spoke with Aunt Jules, and she put me in touch with one of the Chase daughters over at Cherry Creek Vineyards. They had a cancellation at the end of the month, and you, my darling son and future daughter-in-law, have a Monday night game that weekend. Which works perfectly for a candlelit Friday night wedding at the vineyard.

He lifts his eyes to mine. “Want to get married at the vineyard?”

“I guess so.” In all fairness, I never thought about getting married, so it doesn’t really matter to me where we do it. Just that we do it, and Ryker’s protected.