“Not all the time,” Jena said, reaching for the wine.
“I don’t understand,” Abby said. “Why are we watching our men watch a game? I was promised a night out. This isn’t a night out. I already do this at home. Every time I walk into the living room, Flynn is talking Katy through yet another football game. I don’t need to hear that crap from other women’s husbands too.”
“Pregnancy really does dull the brain,” Jena said. “They aren’t watching a game. That’s just what they told us. They’re doing secret stuff, and we’re going to find out what.”
“I already know,” Helen said. “That’s why you’re here. You can’t miss this. It’s priceless.”
“Where did that fried chicken come from?” Caroline said. “Josh isn’t supposed to be eating fried anything. He’s got to get in shape for his tour.”
She felt a tug on the back of her dress. “Sit down,” Helen hissed. “Worry about the chicken later.”
As they peeked through the ornamental trees, the men trailed into the conservatory and sat on the well-padded sofas. Mitch, Josh’s best friend and the only single man among them, put a six-pack on the coffee table before sitting.
“Right.” Andrew McInnes, Helen’s husband and Josh’s father, looked around the group. “Have you all got your books with you?”
“Books?” Jena whispered, her eyes wide.
“Sh,” Caroline hissed.
Mitch, Josh, Flynn, and Matt all held up their phones, while Andrew held up a paperback.
“You’re reading on your phones?” Andrew said in disgust.
“It’s the only way to make sure the wife doesn’t know what I’m reading,” Flynn said.
“Or that you can read,” his cousin Matt grinned at him.
“That too, dickhead.” Flynn threw a cushion at Matt. “Remind me, why are you here again?”
“Someone’s got to keep you out of trouble. I’m pretty sure that’s the same reason Mitch is here. As Josh’s keeper.”
“I don’t need a keeper,” Josh said, and everyone burst out laughing. He rolled his eyes at them. “Can we get on with this? The kids could get back up at any minute.”
“Katy will settle everybody down again,” Flynn said with confidence.
“Katy’s five,” Josh said.
“And already a genius,” Flynn said.
“The kids will be fine,” Andrew said. “We’re no’ here to talk about them. We’re here to talk about the book. Now, have you all read it?”
They nodded.
“Good,” Andrew said. “What did you think?”
“I had a problem with the hero,” Mitch said. “He turned into a cat. That’s deeply disturbing. Did anyone else worry about that?”
“I had a look online,” Matt said. “There are millions of these shifter books.”
“Do you think it’s a bestiality thing?” Flynn said. “Because I work with animals, and that’s seriously, disturbingly wrong.”
“They don’t have sex with the men while they’re in animal form,” Andrew said. “Mainly, they just pat them when they’re cats. I think it’s a comfort thing. I think this author is trying to tell us that women want to snuggle.”
“With someone furry,” Josh said. “I don’t do furry.”
“You don’t have to be furry.” His dad scowled at him. “If you’re worried about the soft, furry part, get one of those fuzzy blankets and wrap Caroline in that before you snuggle.”
There was a choking noise from beside Caroline.