Page 112 of The One With the Mountain Man

Another bright laugh. "Absolutely not." At my confused expression she explained, "He thinks his sex life is super-secret but there are several of us in the know. He has particular tastes and a system that works for him. He never drinks when it's his night with a certain someone. That happens to be the same night we might need rides home, so he's volunteered to assist. I don't know if we'll need him though. They won't have poker that night so Scottie will drive Mack home. Travis will snag Joanne and anyone else who needs a ride. I assume Jackson will have your back."

"That would be a safe assumption."

She grinned from ear to ear. Everyone seemed to love that we were a couple but none of them could love it more than me. He was mine and I was keeping him.

"Is anyone missing you this summer? We have been trying not to pry and you absolutely don't need to tell me anything, but I thought I'd ask if there's family or friends back home wishing you were there...or maybe you're escaping them?"

The urge to shut down and refuse any meaningful response was so strong, so natural. I could picture Charley snickering, her arms crossed, shaking her head as she chastised me for staying in my box.

And I really couldn't be Aviana's friend if I never gave her anything in return. "It's a little of both, actually. I needed a change more than they needed me there."

Maeve came over, squeezing my arm. "Good to see we didn't scare you off last month."

The TBCIMAs fascinated me. Their passion for murder mysteries was unmatched and their little club was so much fun that even if I would never pick up these books for myself, I read them anyway just to be part of the group. Plus Scottie's affection for them, all while growling about their levels of insanity, had become one of my favorite parts of the month.

"You're an addictive group."

Maeve's eyes twinkled. "And you fit right in, darling. Breakfast this week?"

There was no way I'd drive down to The Green Door every morning, but once a week was very manageable. "You might see me Wednesday morning." Jackson was on Gus-duty that morning, getting him ready for daycare and delivering him to Reesa. Karis had early morning meetings and didn't want to upset Gus's schedule if she didn't have to.

"All right!" Sharon's voice raised above the crowd. "I call to order this meeting of This Book Club Is My Alibi!"

Conversation was replaced by the scraping of chairs over wood floors as everyone took a seat. I sat beside Aviana and Barnaby because I enjoyed giving ear scratches without actually having to take care of a dog.

Would Jackson want a dog one day? I couldn't picture him with a cat, but a dog...that seemed just right. Could I make room in my life for an animal that relied on me? Maybe.

"Does anyone actually need an alibi this month?" Sharon joked. "No? We're a shockingly honest group. We need more gossip. Huk and Marley aren't nearly as interesting as they were when they first came to town." She shot me a wink.

Everyone chuckled. Harrison's hand shot up. "My wife's birthday is in a couple of weeks. Could I use someone's address to have her gift delivered? It's rather large and I want this to be a complete surprise."

"I got you," Liam volunteered. "Just let me know when to expect it."

"Anyone else?" Maeve asked as she came to stand beside Sharon.

At that exact moment Mack came flying in, went straight to the kitchen, most likely to kiss Scottie, and then dropped into a seat. "Sorry I'm late! Did I miss all the talk of murder?"

"Nope," Sharon laughed. "We're just getting started."

"Darn."

They spent a good hour debating the plot of the book, the method of the murder and the cover up, and then another thirty minutes discussing how they'd have done the murder differently. I sat and quietly absorbed all of it. Their perspectives on the characters, their enthusiasm, and how a fiction book was a deeply ingrained part of their relationships.

It was healing. Like someone spoon-feeding my soul.

I was in a dreamy headspace when we adjourned for food and found Scottie had placed out plates of a single meal instead of a smattering of experimental dishes for us to sample.

Blackened fish sandwich and fries. Just like back home.

No,exactlylike back home.

"Don't look so surprised, Kid." He shrugged, hands in his jean’s pockets. "Food is my love language and when someone I care about mentions a food that matters to them, I get a little obsessed until I can give it to them."

He'd heard what I said at lunch...and made it for me? "Scottie this is...this is one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me."

He scuffed the sole of his boot on the floor and shrugged. "Taste it before you get all mushy on me. It's trout instead of grouper, so it's not the same at all, but the essence is there. I used the same spices and sauces and sandwich bread. The fries are close."

"Wait...what do you mean,the same?" I sank my teeth into a bite and was instantly transported home to Calusa Key. I wasn't in the Still Standing Saloon. I was at a lacquered wood booth at The Red Tourist, it was ninety degrees outside with a million percent humidity.

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