straight out of a romance novel
Summary: What if you started a romance book club and Azriel joined? How could the most delusional reader define the line between fiction and reality when it comes to love?
Nesta, Gwyn, and Emerie looked at me expectantly. They had been holding their breath for thirty whole seconds now. I couldn’t back down, not now that I’d told them about it. About… my plan.
I nodded to myself. Time to speak.
“I’m thinking of making a book club. A romance novel book club.”
In the span of half a second, Nesta’s eyes popped, Gwyn squealed, and Emerie fell back in her chair.
Gwyn raised her hands in the air. “A book club?” Whether it was a question or plainly an exclamation, I wasn’t sure. She kept waving her hands in the air. Up and down. Up and down.
“Stop with the hands,” Nesta cut in. She ran a hand down her face. “Y/N, you mean… sharing publicly the type of books we read?”
“Yes,” I said slowly, trying to maintain eye contact with her icy stare.
Like Emerie, the rest of the girls sat back on the couch, taking it in. I mean, I knew they would be hesitant, but the idea wasn’t crazy. It wasn’t the first book club in Velaris. Maybe it was the first dedicated exclusively to romance novels, but c’mon…
“It’s not that crazy,” I said.
Emerie coughed dryly. “It’s actually not.” I turned to watch her, my mouth open. “It’s just a book club, girls.”
Gwyn and Nesta turned to watch her too, but there was no surprise on their faces, just a smirk. A knowing, up-to-no-good smirk.
“Yeah, it is,” Nesta said. “It’s actually a good idea.”
“Yeah, it is,” Gwyn nodded.
I shook my head. “So you’ve just changed your minds? Just like that?”
There was a grin on Emerie’s face that told me there was more to it. Actually, the mischievous look on all three of them told me I should worry.
“Emerie,” I called, and her lips trembled from holding back a smile. “What did you say to them?”
She tossed her head in mock offense. “No - nothing. I just think it’s a great idea.”
“Oh, so now it’s not just good, it’s great.”
“Marvelous,” Nesta said. “We want to help you.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Well, I was going to ask you, but now that you seem to be planning some—”
“Don’t worry about that. We truly want to participate,” Gwyn told me, beaming like she knew I couldn’t say no to her dazzling smile. “Please?”
I took a deep breath. “Yeah,” I nodded. “Of course you are in.”
“Yay!” she yelled as she pulled us all into a hug.
I smiled as I embraced them, but I still wondered what was up with these crazy, mischievous females.
“Look how many people are coming!” I almost yelled to my friends, who were sitting by my side. We were in front of what we thought was going to be way too many empty chairs. But now, they were almost all taken. The book club was… succeeding.
Well, maybe it was too early to deem it that way; today was just the opening day. But, man, I had worried that no one would come.
“And now look at this!” Gwyn said, amazed too by the people still pouring through the door.
Feyre had lent us this place in Velaris. It was supposed to be her new studio, but when she heard about my book club, she said it was perfect for me and that I should take it. My sweet Feyre, she is the best.
I turned to watch the clock. Oh, now it was time.
“Welcome everyone to the Romantics Club. Not romantic as in the human artistic movement,” I laughed, and Nesta mouthed at me to stay on track. Oh, my hands were trembling. “Romance, as in love. That’s, after all, why we are here, because we lo—”
And then the door cracked open. And he came in.
“Sorry I’m late,” Azriel whispered. He was wearing his usual black combat pants and a black shirt. And he was, as he always is, incredibly handsome. As he scanned the room for a chair, I watched all the females run their eyes over his body. His wings, his face.
I needed water. Because of the speech, of course.
Oh. The speech. I wasn’t talking, I realized.
“Because we love - we love.” Azriel realized all the chairs were taken and started walking toward the wall. “We love books. Yes. And we love handsome love interests that court the main character, yes, that too.” I should stop looking at Azriel as I say that.
I’m making a fool of myself.
Yes, you are, Nesta’s voice rang in my head, and I immediately checked my mind shields.
“Azriel, come sit here,” Gwyn, next to me, said, gesturing to her seat. I had to control my impulse to scream. Don’t, Azriel. Don’t. Thank the Cauldron, he shook his head and indicated it was okay.
“No, no. Really. Sit,” she insisted as she got up and walked toward Emerie’s chair. Our Illyrian friend instantly made room for Gwyn to sit, smiling toward me. Then her eyes moved to Azriel, who was, reluctantly, coming to sit in Gwyn’s chair. Next to me.
I turned back to Emerie, her eyes still on me. Her mischievous eyes.
Nesta and Gwyn shared a knowing look, smirking.
Now I was truly containing my internal screams.
But I didn’t scream. I just turned to face the whole group and resumed my speech.I only allowed myself a few glances at Azriel once in a while. But whenever he caught my eye, I promised myself I wouldn’t look back again.
Why did he have to be so handsome? And such a good listener.
“What do you think of romance?” Nesta asked him well into the session. She gave me a quick smile that infuriated me.
“Oh,” he said, quickly glancing my way. “Romance novels, you mean?”
“Yes,” Nesta answered, though it still sounded like a question.
“I think they are great. They combine entertainment and knowledge.”
“Knowledge,” she tested the word. “Knowledge in… love?” She made sure to look at me while saying that word.
Azriel glanced down at his feet, thoughtful. Then he met her eyes. “Yes. I think they teach many ways someone can love.”
“And many ways to have sex,” a female in the group said, earning a laugh from everyone. Everyone but Azriel, who just smiled. He caught me watching him, and I swiftly looked away.
Nesta opened her mouth again, but I was quicker.
“Okay, well,” I said to everyone as I got up. “That's two hours for today. Thank you, everyone, for coming. This has been truly special. Hope you enjoy Love and Other Pastimes. We’ll see you next week.”
I spared Nesta a triumphant look, and she shook her head, smiling.
This battle, maybe, but you haven't won the war, she spoke into my mind.
This is winning? You’ve just made Azriel come to my book club, where I talk about romance books. Are you crazy?
Before she could respond, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned to find him staring at me with a beautiful smile on his face. “That was a great session. You’ve done a great job.”
I wanted to thank him, but my mouth wouldn't cooperate. I was frozen in place.
“Sorry, did I say something bad?”
“No, no, sorry, I was… I didn’t recognize you for a second.” I laughed nervously, already regretting what I’ve just said. He looked momentarily hurt. Oh no. “I mean, you look different. More… handsome. Have you done something to your hair?”
He opened his mouth as I tried to keep mine shut. Forever. How could I have just made it worse?
I swear his face flushed a bit. Well, suck it up, because I’ve probably gone full red right now.
“Thank you, Y/N,” he said. “But no, I haven’t cut my hair. But I actually need a cut. Seriously,” he laughed. And it was so odd how much he was… talking. He is the spymaster, after all. Always silent, always composed. Cauldron, I’ve broken him with my stupid comments.
“I can't find a good place to cut it, so it’s just grown too much.”
“Oh, well.” I turned to glance at the room; everyone had left. Even my friends. Was this their plan too? My hands started to sweat as I realized I was alone with him. He noticed too. What was I even talking about? Oh, Cauldron, don’t freeze again. Oh! Hair! Yes!
“I actually know how to cut hair. Pretty well, actually.”
He tossed his head back. “Oh, you do?” I nodded. I am stupid. “Well, and, could you…”
“Great. Thank you so much.” He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “And when could you?”
“Now? Really?” he asked, rubbing his chin.
“Yes!” Stop yelling. Learn a different word. “Yes, now. If - if you can.”
He stopped to think. “Umm. I mean, yes. I can, but… I have to pick up something nearby. Would you - can you wait for me at home? I’ll get there in no time.”
“Sure,” I said, still not sure of anything we were saying.
Am I really going to cut Azriel’s hair?
“Okay, great,” he beamed. “Then I’ll see you soon.”
“You have a beautiful smile,” I said.
“Thank you,” he reddened.
Yes, I said it out loud! Oh, Cauldron, please stop me.
“You have,” he said, looking at his feet. “You are beautiful.”
My jaw dropped. He looked up and saw it. I closed my dry mouth, nodded tightly, and muttered, “I’ll see you at my place.” And I exited the book club. I walked two streets away and hid in an alley.
One big breath in, and I was myself again.
Until I realized I was meeting with Azriel in a few minutes. The same Azriel who just said I am beautiful. Yes. The Azriel I’ve had a massive crush on since forever. That one. Yes. Great. Marvelous.
Time to learn how to cut hair.
