I’ve heard of a lot of ways to forget about a breakup. One way I didn’t know—and still wish I didn’t—is your grandma’s friend telling you that she knows you’ve been getting some good, good loving.

Kill me now.

“Mona!” I bury my face beneath my hands. I will never be able to look Mona in the eyes ever again. “I can’t believe you said that.”

“I don’t know why not.” She sounds offended as she peels my hands from my face. “I know not everyone needs it. However, since you’ve taken some time away from the store and spent time with a man who clearly adores you, the Drew you were before Alice left us has returned to us. So we might have meddled a little bit, but when you’re our age, you know how to decipher what someone needs. And you, my lovely girl, needed the love of a good man.”

Oh no.

This is why I didn’t want to come out here with them. Because now I’m going to cry . . . again. And they’re going to pester me until I tell them everything that is going wrong.

My eyes start to well up with tears—from sadness at losing Jasper and gratefulness for the love I receive from these women—but before they fall, Vivian drops her copy of the book they’re discussing on the table.

“Oh good.” She stands and crosses the small space to stand beside us. “We’re finally telling Drew that it was really Alice who was behind introducing her to Jasper? I was wondering when we’d let that cat out of the bag.”

“Wait.” Ice runs through my veins, turning my blood cold. “What did you say?”

Vivian tilts her head to the side and the fine lines across her forehead deepen as she registers the change in my tone.

“Your gran was the one who initially came up with the idea to introduce you to Jasper. She was part of a group of small bookstore owners who heard him speak, and after that, she was convinced that he was perfect for you.” Her eyes flicker between me and Mona as she speaks. “She told us she was close to getting him to come into the store for a speaking arrangement, but after she passed and we forgot about it.”

“And then one day when I was in the back doing inventory, I found a little scrap of paper with his name and phone number scribbled across.” Mona grabs the baton and carries the conversation with flawless execution. “Alice very much wanted you to be happy, so we knew it was up to us to help with her matchmaking efforts. When I reached out to Jasper, he was very upset to hear about Alice; they must have been closer than we knew.”