Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 130255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
“It was actually inspired by a friend of mine. It happened to her in real life.” I kept my smile in place, accepting the glass of gin and tonic Dawn passed me with a small, “Thank you, Dawn.” I turned back to May, cradling the glass. “She fell in love, but she didn’t get along with his mother. It was a complicated situation, resulting in her leaving. She told me it wasn’t in character for his mother either, but her son’s happiness mattered more in the end.” I sipped the gin. “As it happens, I believe the two of them are quite good friends now.”
“Fascinating,” Susie said, leaning forwards. “Do you often draw inspiration from real-life situations?”
I nodded. “Of course. Sometimes the best stories and scenes come from things you’ve experienced in real life or from the things others have.”
“Does your friend know you drew from her life?” May asked, her lip curling at one side.
“Of course. That’s why I dedicated the book to her.” I held her gaze. “As long as I changed the names and locations, she promised not to tell her future mother-in-law. Although given that she bought a signed copy for her birthday this year, I don’t think she kept that promise.”
Dawn giggled. “What did she say? The future in-law?”
“You know, I’m not sure. I’ll have to find out for you.” I smiled at her. Goodness, she was sweet.
“Okay, so I must know,” Susie said, adjusting her seat. “If you draw from real life experiences, does that mean the, uh… adult… scenes… are also real?”
“Susie!” Esme scolded her. “That’s a very personal question.”
“And more common than you’d think.” I sipped. I wish I could glug. “A lot of people think those scenes are real, but I’m sorry to tell you that I am very much single and I am not getting any kind of sex like the scenes in the book.”
May balked.
“So… the vibrator scenes. Are those accurate?” Dawn raised her eyebrows, tilting her head to the side.
I paused.
Apparently, that was enough for them.
Everyone but May giggled.
Was I in a book club meeting with teenagers or pensioners?
“I feel like that question says a lot more about you than me.” I winked at Dawn and sipped my gin again.
Thank God for the gin I’d sent over this morning.
Thank God even more for the bottle I’d kept for myself.
“So if you’re single, where do you get the inspiration?” Susie asked, opening the gin bottle.
I wasn’t sure they all needed anymore.
“Do you really want to know what inspires my sex scenes?” I asked uncertainly.
Susie and Dawn both nodded.
“All right.” I shrugged. “Porn.”
May spat out her drink.
Esme chuckled from next to me.
And Susie and Dawn both stared at me like I’d cursed Jesus himself.
“You asked,” I reminded them. “Also, they’re quite tricky. I’ve had a few instances of extra hands and feet, and that really kills the moment. Porn helps me figure out where all the limbs are supposed to be.”
Neither of them said anything.
“Well.” Esme shuffled forwards and put her empty glass down on the table. “That’ll teach you to be a pair of nosy old broads, won’t it?”
Dawn slowly nodded her head.
Susie tilted hers to the side. “Any good websites?”
“That’s enough of that,” May said, finally cutting in.
I gave Susie a look that said I had her back.
Hey, what she did in her own time was her business.
Besides, as someone who’d been single for four years, I was pro-masturbation.
Hell, even while I’d been in a relationship, I was pro-masturbation.
My ex couldn’t have found my clitoris if he’d put a Google Maps pin on it.
I liked my independence but come on. There were some things I just didn’t want to do by myself. Or to myself, for that matter.
“I think I’ve had my fill of this romance nonsense for tonight,” May said, standing up. “Dawn, do try not to drink too much gin. We have a meeting with the Reverend tomorrow about the church’s charity sale this weekend, and I’d prefer if you didn’t show up to the church smelling like a cheap hooker.”
Dawn responded by slurping her drink.
May huffed and walked out of the library, leaving us all alone. She shut the door with finality, and a heavy silence hung between the remaining four of us.
Until Susie giggled. “She’s such a prude.”
The door to the library opened, and we all froze.
Max poked his head around the edge of the door. “What did you do to May? She just stomped past the kitchen like you’d all played football with her puppy.”
“We were discussing Ellie’s inspiration for the sex scenes in her books,” Dawn announced brightly.
Thank you, Dawn.
Max cleared his throat. “Is that right?”
I pressed my lips into a thin line and stared at one of the shelves to the side of the door. I didn’t miss the way Max’s gaze lingered on me for a moment too long or how it dropped when I flicked my tongue out to wet my dry lips.