Page 121 of Holding on to Chaos
“My Masey just texted and said he was coming to carry me home. I told him to bring the wheelbarrow because I might fall down,” she said, shoving her phone in his face. “See?”
Donovan squinted at the screen that was two inches from his face and burning holes in his retinas. “Actually, you told him to bring your weed whacker because you might have clowns.”
Ellery frowned. “Stupid autocorrect.” She beamed again when she spotted Mason with a weed whacker slung over his shoulder. She sighed the sigh of a woman head over heels in love. “Do you see how great he is? He listens to everything I say. Even the stupid things!”
She skipped over to her fiancé and laid a kiss on him that was NC-17 at a minimum.
Before Donovan could suggest they take it somewhere else, preferably home, Eva appeared on the porch. Her hair was a wild auburn under the soft glow of the lights. Eyes bright, she grinned at him, and if there had been any questions before about being in love, the hot fist to his gut left no doubt. She was beautiful, she was glowing, and she was his.
Eva jogged down the path, arms open wide for him. She tripped over her own feet. He caught her before she face-planted on the sidewalk.
“Careful there,” he said, brushing her hair back from her face.
“Donovan! It was amazing! I said ‘cock’repeatedlyin front of everyone, and no one called me a perv. I signed a whole bunch of books.Andmy wineglass was never empty.” She hazarded a glance around before whispering, “It was magical.”
“It sounds like your first kidnapping was a positive experience,” he teased.
“They treated me like a real writer,” she said, eyes shining.
“Baby, youarea real writer.”
“You’re my crazy boyfriend. You’re supposed to say that. Oh!” Her eyes widened. “I almost forgot, I think everyone knows just what kind of weapon you’re packing if you know what I mean.” She patted him in the crotch and attempted to wink.
“Christ, Eva!” Donovan cringed.
“I didn’t mean to tell them. And I didn’t getreallyspecific, but it’s kinda hard not to brag. I mean, you’re huge.”
Donovan clamped a hand over her mouth. “You are trouble with a capital T, Evangelina.”
“And I’m alllllll yours,” she said, spreading her arms wide.
The remaining Book Clubbers broke into spontaneous finger snaps around them.
“Eva, just a moment please.” Mrs. Nordemann trotted down the walk to them. She was dressed in her traditional black garb. Though, in a nod to the festivity of the occasion, her ankle-length black skirt had a smattering of rhinestones around the hem.
“Thank you again for inviting me tonight,” Eva gushed.
“Inviting. Kidnapping. Basically the same thing in Blue Moon,” Donovan said under his breath.
“Thank you for joining us. It was a real treat. I just wanted you to know how very proud I am of you,” Mrs. Nordemann said, patting Eva’s arm. “You’re a very talented young woman and so dedicated to your craft. I hope you know how much we all truly enjoy your work. And I hope you can take a moment to step back and really appreciate what you’ve built.”
Eva’s hazel eyes glittered with what looked like tears.Yep. That was a tear that just slid down Eva’s cheek. Awh, hell.
“That’s one of the nicest things anyone’s ever said to me,” Eva sniffled. She wiped her nose on her sleeve.
“My dear, just because you haven’t heard the words from someone important doesn’t make them less true. I’m, of course, speaking of your mother who, one can only assume, is a real piece of shit.”
Donovan swiped a hand over his face. Mrs. Nordemann was throwing around swear words in her front yard.Fucking Uranus.
“Eva, I just hope you know how proud we all are of you. And maybe think about naming a character after me.” With a wiggle of her fingers, Mrs. Nordemann scurried back up onto her porch. “Enid, let’s open the tequila! I feel like celebrating.”
Donovan slid an arm around Eva’s waist and half carried, half dragged, her to his car.
“Come on, Ava Franklin. Let’s get you home to bed.”
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
To: Eva Merill
