Page 17 of Battle of the Exes

Jasper lets go of Ivy’s hand and it’s all I can do not to fist bump Rue.

Ivy repeats, “What did Beau not tell us this time?”

Jasper furrows his brow. “This time?”

She means about the time she and I returned from our honeymoon to discover I was already married.

“Forget it,” she mumbles.

Jasper takes a seat, squishing me to the corner of the sofa to make room for Ivy. There is no more than an inch between them. I want to hurl.

Lulu hands out glasses of white wine to the rest of us.

“So, you’ve been in the book business long?” Jasper asks.

Ivy chimes in. “Our parents started The Silver Quill when I was a little kid.”

“Ahh, I see now why you became a columnist.” Jasper grins like a wolf, ready for a meal.

Given that yesterday he had no clue who Ivy was, it’s clear he’s been doing research.

Ivy beams. “You know my work?”

“I try to stay well-informed about my super fans.”

What utter B.S. I’m the one who has to force him to pen quarterly emails to his fan club while he kicks and screams.

“I very much enjoyDear Ivy. You have a good head on your shoulders. Lovely and filled with common sense.”

My jaw tightens. Of the six people inthe room, only two are talking. Gary sips his wine like he’s mentally checked out. Lulu sneaks a sip of her own. Rue looks . . . tense.

I stand. “Can I help with something?” I give Rue a look suggesting I have something to share with her and we go into the kitchen together.

“Does Jasper know our situation?” she asks, fidgeting with the edge of a dishtowel.

“If you mean that the store is in trouble, then no. I thought it best not to tell him.”

She sighs with relief. “Thanks, I don’t want the word to get out quite yet.”

“Not even to the local community?”

She shrugs. “What would be the point?”

It’s time to share my idea. “Maybe they can help save it.”

Rue frowns. “If only. Unfortunately, it will take a lot more than some well-meaning local donations to keep our doors open.”

As good a segue as any. “That’s what I want to talk to you about. I’m?—”

“How did I not knowthat!” Jasper’s high-strung voice carries to the kitchen.

Uh oh.

Rue and I find him standing in the middle of the room, a drained glass once again in his hand.

“What’s going on?”

Lulu says, “Aunt Ivy just told Jasper about the bookstore closing down.”

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