Page 26 of My Book Boyfriend
“Not even for you, mate.” Sebastian grimaces. And hits another drop shot. I run for it and slice it back to him.
“So, Grandpa’s not happy about that bad press,” I say. “And …”
“There’s more?”
Should I even bring up Lily? What’s the point? It’s not something that is ever going to happen.
It’s my serve. I focus on the red line on the front wall.
“There’s a woman,” Sebastian says, a note of surprise in his voice.
For a guy who doesn’t date anymore, he’s remarkably perceptive.
“Yes, there’s a woman.”
He tilts his head. “Shouldn’t that be good? Consoling hugs at the end of a hard day at the office? Why are you here playing with me?”
“She’s the co-director of the garden we’re considering destroying.”
“That does make it difficult.”
He doesn’t say anything more, but I feel better.
I raise my arm to serve. My head is back in the game. The squeak of our shoes on the wooden floor, the sound of the ball hitting the wall, the exertion, the twist of my body to get a shot … there’s nothing like squash.
We play five games. Sebastian wins.
Sebastian takes a swig from his water bottle as he wipes the sweat off his brow. “How’d you meet?”
“She’s a librarian at St. Agnes. I met her at the library when I checked out a book. I didn’t know who she was.” My lips curve up, recalling the quiz outside. “But she was cute and smart. This other patron tried to set me up. Elderly guy. I walked him home, and he couldn’t stop singing her praises for two blocks. How she’s a good person. Described all the programs she’s set up at the library. ‘A catch,’ as he said.”
“I didn’t realize you were in the market for dating advice.”
“Obviously, that alone wouldn’t have swayed me. If I hadn’t already met her.” I towel the back of my neck.
“Let me get this straight. You met her once at the library while checking out a book, and you’re still thinking about her?”
“I saw her again at a book club discussion she hosted at Banter & Books.”
“You’ve been busy.”
“I should be busy focusing on how to become co-CEO with Rowena,” I say grumpily.
“You definitely should,” Sebastian says. “Maybe that’s why you think you like her. You need something to take your mind off the stress of this decision, and she’s perfect. Because ultimately, she’s unattainable. Thus, you can think you like her, but once the deal goes through, you can forget about her.”
“That’s some great psycho-babble bullshit right there.”
“I thought it was pretty good myself,” Sebastian says.
“I’d be a lot less stressed if she wasn’t posting videos about how horrible Strive Developers is.”
“You’d still be stressed. You’ve only been working for this for ten years, fifteen years if you count summers during college.” He tips his water bottle toward me. “Your uncle is brilliant too.”
“Thanks. This is helping so much.” I can feel my shoulders and neck tensing. I roll my head and stretch my arms again. So much for this being a good idea.
“But he does have a weak spot,” Sebastian says.
“Rowena,” we say together.
