Page 41 of Just for the Plot

I chuckle. “It’s really not like that with us.”

“Which is a damn shame.” She sets her phone down. “I feel like this is a big mistake on your part.” Her eyes meet mine. “Do you two get along?”

“We do,” I say, almost feeling dumb from her judgment. “But I’d nevergo there. I care about my friendship too much, and I know she wouldn’t be okay with it. We…we have a really important pact that we made, and boinking her brother doesn’t fall in line with that. Plus, he’s just…he’s Bennett. I don’t see him that way.”

“Well, if he’s single, ask him if he’s interested in a woman forty years his senior.”

I laugh and pocket my list. “I’ll see what I can do.”

With that, I take off to the car waiting for me. The one plus about doing all these errands is that Adalade allows me to use her driver, Mark, so I don’t have to worry about parking or navigating the city. If I didn’t have Mark, I’m not sure I’d be as thrilled to be running errands.

“Where are we off to first?” Mark asks as he pushes off the side of the car and flips the toothpick in his mouth.

As he opens the door, I say, “Texting you details now.”

“Sounds good.”

He shuts the door and I pull my phone out just as a text comes in from Bennett. Speak of the devil.

I quickly copy and paste the itinerary of errands for the day and shoot them off to Mark before looking at the text from Bennett.

Bennett:Eight-year breakup? What the actual fuck?

I let out a loud laugh before texting him back.

“Everything okay?” Mark asks, looking at me through the rearview mirror.

“Everything is great.”

“Then if you’re ready, we can take off.”

I buckle up and say, “Good to go.”

As he pulls out onto the road, I text Bennett back.

Bower:Brutal, right?

Bennett:What on earth would possess an author to do such a thing?

Bower:Daring and bold, but also psychotic.

Bennett:But also, why did I like it?

Bower:SAME! Ugh, see, this is what I need in my life, someone to talk to about books. What about the sex scenes? Did you like them?

Bennett:Honestly, at first, they made me feel weird.

Bower:Tingly weird in your private parts? Yeah, that happens to me too.

Bennett:No, LOL. Although…sort of.

Bower:HAHA. Did you get hot and bothered?

Bennett:On a fucking plane with a bunch of dudes sitting around me. Nolan asked why my cheeks were red.

Bower:Why can I see that in my head so vividly? So, do you think you will read the second one?

Bennett:Already started it.