Page 52 of Book Club Confidential

Chapter Fourteen

Tessa woke feeling rested the next morning. The night out with friends and many hours of uninterrupted sleep were exactly what she needed. This, she thought, is what weekends are supposed to be about. When was the last time she slept until she woke naturally? Had she ever?

She needed to make this a habit. She felt at least ten years younger.

If she hadn’t promised to have dinner with her dad and Devin tonight, it might’ve been the perfect day. Thankfully, nearly ten hours stood between this moment and that one.

She swung her legs over the bed’s edge and stretched, pushing thoughts of her childhood and trauma aside. Then she went to make coffee and enjoy the beauty of solitude on her deck.

The heroine in her story would absolutely approve of spending a crisp fall morning outdoors. Sitting on her balcony, feet up, with steam rising from the mug in her hands, she let her eyes close and inhaled deeply, being present in the moment.

Her eyes opened when her phone buzzed against the table.

“I knew I should’ve left you on Do Not Disturb until I finished my first cup of coffee,” she said, raising the device to peer at the screen.

A series of texts from her dad knocked the wind from her sails.

Dad: OMW to the grocery store

Dad: Confirming dinner at 7

Dad: I love you

Dad: See you soon

Tessa let her head fall for a moment of acceptance, then sat taller and forced a smile. She loved her dad, and she loved her brother. She wanted to see them, and it was wonderful that they could be together.

Tessa: Great! See you tonight!

She pulled the notification bar down from the top of the screen and perused what she’d missed this morning. Peaceful coffee time had been short but sweet. Now, what’s everyone up to?

Tessa grinned at the sight of Kate’s face on-screen. She wore a pair of denim overalls with a tank top and sat on a stool with an artist’s palette and paintbrush, perfecting images of trees in the Pacific Northwest, shrouded in thick mist or fog. She often forgot what an incredible artist Kate was. There was so much more to Kate than the former debutante persona she’d built a career on. Hopefully her followers would appreciate a closer look at her life beyond the filters.

Tessa hit the sound icon and laughed when the familiar hoa, hoa, hoa chorus played. As much as she loved seeing Kate paint again, the reminder of her Twilight obsession was perfection. The only disappointing thing about the post was how little engagement it’d gotten. Only a few dozen reactions so far and even fewer comments. Tessa added a heart, then tapped into the comments section and added a paintbrush and little vampire emojis before scrolling onward.

Tessa had never seen Kate online without her usual designer clothes, coiffed hair, and dramatic makeup. For Kate, it must’ve felt as if she were naked, revealing so much more of who she was than any of the usual images she posted. The realization hit Tessa like a punch. Kate wasn’t facing off with nasty coworkers or bullying bosses like Tessa and Hallie, but what she did today was just as hard and twice as risky.

Tessa made a mental note to tell her how much she liked the post the next time she saw her.

A few scrolls later, an image of Hallie and Bryce at a bakery appeared on-screen.

Tessa frowned. Bryce was a nice enough guy, but knowing Hallie didn’t want to marry him and seemed afraid to call off the wedding bothered her deeply. The photo didn’t help. Hallie laughed openmouthed, hands clasped before her as if she’d seen something remarkably funny, but he just looked at her. And not in a romantic way. More like he felt embarrassed and a little irritated that she was making a scene. Or maybe he hated the dramatic change in her hair.

It only took a moment to see it wasn’t Hallie who posted the photo. It was Bryce’s mother. The caption she’d chosen to share with the world was as annoying as Bryce’s expression: Cake tasting with someone who fancies themselves a chef but looks more like a pastry? Bring plenty of patience and remember to tip well.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Tessa grumbled. “Chefs don’t bake cakes. Bakers bake cakes.”

Tessa opened the comments section, noting a list of female names she hadn’t seen before. Friends of Bryce’s mom, no doubt.

Karen_Robbins replied, Marcus married a preschool teacher, now we’re always sick.

Mrs.Dr.Beauford added, Think of the delicious homemade birthday cakes you’ll soon receive.

“She’s not a baker,” Tessa complained. “Jeez.”

Did Bryce’s mom think chefs and bakers were interchangeable? Did she somehow not know Hallie wanted to cook, not bake, in her own restaurant one day?

Or did she just not care?