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Rome: Totally.
Declan: Can you pick up the new Stephen King for me while you’re there?
Me: Yes, D. And you’re all useless. What do I say to get him to relax more around me?
Rome: Ummm…you don’t fucking follow him in a bookstore.
Pierce: That.
Declan: Dating your assistant is dangerous.
Rome: They’re not dating.
Pierce: They’re just friends.
Rome: With a little light stalking.
Pierce: So harmless. So reassuring. Not threatening at all.
I rolled my eyes and turned away from my phone for a second. Even without them in the store, I could hear the two hyenas howling with laughter at my dilemma. When I spotted Byron moving away from the bargain bookshelves to the business section, I turned my attention to my phone.
Me: I hate you both.
Rome: You love us because we’re all that remains of your common sense.
Declan: You’re doomed.
A snort jumped out of me. It wasn’t often that Declan sneaked in a burn on Pierce and Rome. That was a good one, too.
Me: What should I do?
Pierce: Go upstairs and look at the fantasy books, just like you do every damn time you’re in the store. You want him to feel safe and relax? Give. Him. Space.
Deep down, I knew Pierce was right, but I didn’t want him to be right. I might want to wrap myself around Byron, cover us in a blanket, and listen to him tell me all his problems, dreams, and hopes, but we were so far off from that day.
Besides, he’d clearly had a shit day on Friday, and the best thing I could do was give him some space to breathe and get his bearings.
Me: Fine.
Pierce: I don’t believe you. Send a pic of the fantasy aisle as soon as you get there.
With an irritated grunt, I headed to the escalator, leaving Byron on the first floor. This was what I got for taking Pierce along on my trips to the bookstore. The man knew my reading habits. The moment I reached the second floor, I snappeda quick picture of the great expanse, knowing Pierce would recognize it, and sent it to the group.
Afterward, I tucked my phone away and let myself get lost in books. It might have taken a little while, but I forgot about my crush on the first floor.
I didn’t know how much time passed before I caught sight of slacks and a familiar shiny shoe in my peripheral vision. My head snapped up, and I found Byron standing over me, wearing borrowed clothes. Sadly, he was too small to fit in my clothes and he’d had to settle for a pair of slacks and a dark-blue collared shirt Rome had forgotten at my house.
“I was beginning to think someone had kidnapped you,” Byron teased.
“Huh?” My brain had stopped. I was incapable of thought. Byron was smiling at me.
In fact, all the lines of tension that had pulled his lips tight, furrowed his brow, and surrounded his eyes were now gone. He appeared so much better than he had this morning. Space combined with quiet and books was a wonderful thing.
“I’ve been searching everywhere for you. I didn’t expect to see you sitting in the middle of the fantasy aisle with a stack of books.”
“Oh! Yeah. Kind of got lost in these.” I shoved to my feet with only a soft groan from stiff muscles and creaking knees. I picked up my stack of books and paused when I saw just one book tucked under his arm. “Are you done, or are you still looking?”
“I’m done. I’m good,” Byron answered quickly, hugging the book to his chest.