Isn't It Bromantic (Bromance Book Club #4) by Lyssa Kay Adams

            “You’re pretty damn good at this, you know,” Alexis said a few minutes later, adding sliced strawberries to each pastry. “Can I lure you to work for me?”

            Elena smiled at the praise. “If I could work in America with my visa, I would be a journalist. But I appreciate the offer.”

            “So, what are you going to do now that you’ve decided to stay?” That was Andrea. “Can you do any kind of journalism?”

            “Only on a volunteer basis maybe. I met with Gretchen Winthrop, and she said she has some ideas for me on how I can help. I think I’d love to tell the stories of refugees and asylum seekers who are stuck in the immigration system.”

            “You’d do it for free?” Linda said.

            Elena nodded. “The stories matter more than me getting paid for now.”

            Claud snorted. “No one is that pure.”

            Michelle and Elena looked at each other and spoke in unison. “Vlad is.”

            Alexis smiled and hugged herself. “I can’t help but notice your ring.”

            Elena blushed.

            Andrea sighed. “I miss being in love.”

            “What happened to Jeffrey?” Elena asked.

            “It fizzled.”

            Elena bit her lip. “But, like, he’s alive?”

            Andrea sighed. “Alive. Just boring.”

            “This means you’re definitely staying, right?” Michelle said, redirecting the conversation to Elena.

            “I am. I have some loose ends I need to tie up, but yes. Vlad and I are staying together.”

            No one asked her what she meant by loose ends, and she was relieved. She still hadn’t even told Vlad about the loose ends yet.

            Alexis hugged her and squeezed. “I am so glad. You two belong together.”

            “Should we head over to Colton’s?”

            Andrea did a little dance. “I cannot believe I’m going to Colton Wheeler’s house.”

            Alexis and Elena carefully boxed up the pastries in pretty pink boxes emblazoned with the logo for ToeBeans and then loaded them into Alexis’s car behind the café. Elena was parked up the block in the public lot. Michelle had driven the Loners in her own car and had already headed out.

            As Alexis and Elena walked back into the café, Elena’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and checked the number on the screen.

            Her skin turned to ice.



* * *



            * * *

            Vlad curled his phone into his hand as Elena’s number went straight to voice mail again.

            “She did not say who was on the phone?” he asked.

            Alexis hugged herself and shook her head. She’d arrived at Colton’s fifteen minutes ago and told him Elena had gotten a strange text and quickly left. Now, she wasn’t answering his call.

            “It shook her up,” Alexis said. “She tried to act like it didn’t, but I know it did. I hope I’m not being too nosy.” Noah rubbed Alexis’s back.

            “No. Thank you for telling me.” Vlad dialed Elena’s number again.

            Again, it went straight to voice mail. Something was wrong.

            “I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about, dude,” Mack said. Everyone was gathered in the kitchen, smiling at him with varying degrees of reassurance and concern.

            “Can you give me a ride home?” Vlad asked. “I just want to check on her.”

            Colton nodded, already digging keys from his pocket. He looked at Mack. “You guys hang out here. We’ll be back in a few minutes.”

            Mack nodded. “Keep us posted.”