Page 17 of Wish For Me

I glance at my watch. I texted my cousin Enzo from the market. He confirmed Book Club doesn’t start until five, so I’ve got just enough time to change and head out again before anyone gets here.

“Great,” I set Floof down and wash my hands.

“Your father said he had to go out shopping or I’d rope him in too. Did you see him downtown at all?”

He says it in such a way that I wonder if Dad specifically went down there to look for me.

“Nope. Can I take my pick?”

Grandpa looks concerned, and I know it’s not about me eyeing up the Santa-shaped sugar cookie done up in colorful sprinkles.

But when I reach for it he says, “Not that one.”

“Book club?”

“You know about that?”

“Unfortunately.”

Grandpa guffaws. “Connie’s very excited.”

Guilt twists my stomach as I reach for the broken candy cane cookie that looks to be from the same batch. “I’m sorry to miss it.”

I wish I had a better plan than just hiding until book club is over. Enzo invited me to hang out with him and his friends when I called, but the last thing I want to do is go out with a bunch of dudes who are probably mostly looking to hook up with women. Dad offered to go to dinner, but I’m not ready for a heart-to-heart right now. I’ll just get out of here and then call some of my other cousins to see if they’re around.

Grandpa raises a brow, waiting for my assessment.

The cookie melts in my mouth. “I think these are your best yet.”

He lowers his voice. “It was your grandmother’s recipe.”

I don’t understand why this is a secret until he gets that wistful look on his face. He’s talking about his first wife; my dad’s mom, who died before I was born.

I don’t know why Grandpa feels the need to whisper—Connie doesn’t mind when anyone talks about Shannon Kelly. In fact, she encourages it. She’s a widow too—she and Grandpa met when Grandpa was in his sixties, she in her fifties.

“Leif, honey!”

I spin around to see Connie in the doorway, as if summoned.

“Hey Connie,” I say, instantly cheered by Connie’s warm smile. Her short white hair is perfectly styled, her thick glasses on a Christmas-light chain.

“Perfect timing.” She bustles over to the island, pausing only to give me a kiss on the cheek, then loads a plate with cookies and thrusts it into my hand. “Our first member’s just pulling up!”

My stomach plunges. “What?”

I grimace. Enzo. Either he pulled the later start time out of his ass, or he tricked me so I’d be here when it started.

Out in the living room, Floof barks wildly as the doorbell rings.

Panic claws at me as I think of the hundred different conversations Connie’s friends are going to corner me with. “Connie, I’ve got plans—”

“Don’t fib, sweetheart. You’re too sweet for that.” Connie hooks an arm through mine. “Besides, we read a spaceman book for you!”

I gape at her. “You planned this? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Would you have stuck around if I did?”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Enzo was in on it, wasn’t he?”

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