Page 37 of Cupcake of the Month
Brandi waved a tablet at Jordan, and Sebastien’s face smiled at her from the display. He waved and blew her a kiss.
“Hey, you!” She took the device from Brandi. “It’s good to see you. What’s going on? Where are you?”
“At home in my old, drafty castle,” he said.
“Geez, isn’t it late for you?”
“Nearing eleven. We have visiting dignitaries here so I can’t stay away for long.” He leaned away from his phone. “I’ve missedmy favorite threesome.”
“We’ve missed you, too.” While having Sebastien there in person would have been better, seeing him on the phone was a close second.
Brandi picked up a bat from near Jordan’s feet and flipped it in a circle. “I love when our guests want to share their days, but I swear, the Lingards take more pictures than Annie Leibovitz. They act like I’ve never seen hand-made quilts before. I mean, geez, Grandma used to take us to that festival all the time.”
“Really? I thought the one with the rainbows was fascinating,” Rob said. “The intricate patterns, the way it traced the family history. You don’t find it interesting?”
“All someone has to do is say ‘history’ and you’d be enamored with a macaroni sculpture.” Wendy held out the tray so he could pour. “After the seventeenth picture, it gets old.”
Jordan cast a surreptitious glance at Wendy’s left hand to see if an engagement was the cause of the impromptu celebration, but it was difficult to see beneath the tray. “So why are we getting drunk before batting practice?”
“Oh, we’re drinking? Isn’t it too early for the drink hour?” Sebastien asked. Brandi took the tablet from Jordan and positioned it near her shoulder so Sebastien could be part of the circle.
“This is an addendum to. We need to celebrate!” Wendy said.
Sebastien’s display became a view of his ornate ceiling with a massive chandelier before switching back to him. He held up a glass. “My last bottle of your medicinal brew.”
“You’ll have to come back and get more.” Brandi turned to her cousin. “What are we celebrating?”
Jordan had been wondering the same thing.
“Rob has news.” Wendy nudged him with her shoulder. “Tell them.”
He grinned down at her and stroked her hair.
“What is it?” Jordan took one of the mason jars.
“My agent called. She’d been gushing about my book to editors at a couple of the major publishing houses.” His voice was calm, but a huge smile graced his face. “The editors are both interested in buying the rights. It looks like I’m selling my book.”
“This is great!” Brandi brought her jar to his, making a dull clank. “It is great, right?”
“It’s definitely great.” Wendy leaned into him. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Mazel tov!” Jordan clanked their jars as well. Her small sip of whiskey burned a path down her throat. She didn’t usually drink unless it was nicely watered down with ice, but she’d make an exception here.
“Congratulations,” Sebastien said.
“Now we get to discuss the offers and see which one I want to go with. I couldn’t have done any of this without all of you.” Rob raised his glass in Sebastien’s direction. “Even you.”
“You better believe it,” Sebastien said.
“Rob, this is great.” Jordan meant it, even as a smidge of jealousy snuck its way into her mind and made itself at home. She was the one that was supposed to have her life together, and look at the situation she was in. “Really great.”
Rob kissed Wendy’s forehead. “Bringing the story of our ancestors to life was more than just writing a book for me.”
“For me, too,” she said.
They took a few moments to finish their drinks. Rob held out the tray and they put their jars down.
“Okay,” Wendy said. “Let’s get this girls’ night started.”
