Scripted to Slay

by ACF Bookens

  Her speech was brief but rousing, and I could see a lot of people nodding their heads around the room. I knew St. Marin's was going to be a more accessible place from now on, and I was glad to be a small part of that work. But when Segarra was done speaking, she said, "Now, let's skate!" and I couldn't wait to get moving again.

  Elle, Mart, and I laughed our way around the rink a few times, and eventually, Mom and Henri joined us. Soon, we were a full-on Red Rover line of women rolling our way around the rink. Small children skated under our arms, and not a few men our age tried to break our line, sending us spinning and tumbling with laughter. I hadn't had that much fun in a long time.

  But then, the lights dropped and "Hold On" by Wilson Philips came on, and I realized we were about to enter a Couples' Skate. The idea had terrified me when I was young, and I wasn't much less fearful now. I was making my way to the edge and aimed for my now watered-down soda when a hand grabbed mine and spun me around.

  There I was, face to face with Max, and I was so exhausted and giddy from laughter . . . and well, from his presence, that I felt light-headed. "Skate with me," he said.

  I nodded and let him pull me to the floor. We held hands like we were twelve and made our way around the ring in silence until the song ended. Then, he looked at me and said, "Thank you," before skating off to help with the DNRN information table.

  Mart didn't waste any time skating over. "A Couples' Skate with Max? Well, well, well."

  I smiled. I had no idea what was going on, and for once, I was okay with that.

  And when "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" came on, my girls and I headed onto the floor again to let Will Smith dance us into the night.

  * * *

  To stay up to date on Harvey’s latest adventures get notices about ACF Bookens’ news series, and get weekly recommendations on great cozy reads, Cozy Up with ACF here - https://andilit.com/CozyUp

  Harvey and Marcus’s Book Recommendations

  Here, you will find all the books and authors recommended in Scripted to Slay to add to your never-ending to-read list!

  Babel Tower by A. S. Byatt

  A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond

  Being Heumann by Judith Heumann

  Black Magic Kitten by Sara Gorgeous

  Blue Highways by William Least Heat Moon

  Brother Odd by Dean Koontz

  Burning Your Boats by Angela Carter

  Calypso by David Sedaris

  Cat of the Century by Rita Mae Brown

  The Center Cannot Hold by Elyn R. Saks

  Chocolate Chip Cookie Caper by Joanna Fluke

  Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

  Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner

  The Dirty Life by Kristin Kimball

  Falling for your Best Friend’s Twin by Emma St. Clair

  The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

  Glittering Images by Susan Howatch

  Laughing at my Nightmare by Shane Burcaw

  Mandala Coloring Books by Dover Press

  A Pedigree to Die for by Laurien Berenson

  Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor

  Sanctuary Highway by Ellen Hopkins

  Self Storage by Gayle Brandeis

  Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

  There There by Tommy Orange

  The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

  The Watchman of Rothenburg Dies by Adriana Licio

  We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faizal

  The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny

  Want to Read about Harvey’s First Sleuthing Expedition?

  Join my Cozy Up email group for weekly book recs & a FREE copy of A Novel Crime, the prequel to the St. Marin’s Cozy Mystery Series.

  Sign-up here - https://bookens.andilit.com/CozyUp

  Also by ACF Bookens

  About the Author

  ACF Bookens lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, where the mountain tops remind her that life is a rugged beauty of a beast worthy of our attention. When she’s not writing, she enjoys chasing her son around the house with the full awareness she will never catch him, cross-stitching while she binge-watches police procedurals, and reading everything she can get her hands on. Find her at bookens.andilit.com.

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