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“It’s about female empowerment.” I ended up saying and he quirked a brow. It’s not technically a lie, it is about female empowerment. It is about a woman choosing to take charge over her own sexuality and her body. It might be a half truth but it is a truth nonetheless.

“That sounds good; you wouldn’t mind if I borrowed it after you were done, would you?”

“I only give my things to people I actually like.”

He held his hand against his chest in mock hurt, “I’m wounded, I thought we were already becoming friends. We are reading together after all.”

“I would be able to read if you didn’t talk so much.”

He held up his hands in mock surrender and made a show of opening up his book and reading. When I was sure he wouldn’t speak again, I opened mine and continued from where I had stopped .

I tried my best to enjoy the book, and I did, but the store was crowded, and every time someone stopped at the window or stared a little too much, I thought they were staring at me and would start up a scene.

It actually began to piss me off because for once, I wanted to enjoy me time without having to worry about work, the media or anything else. For once, I was having fun as Adira and the impending news on my neck was bearing down on me and freaking me out.

I could almost imagine how it would go. They would recognize me and text their friends to say they had seen me. Then they would start asking stupid questions and ask if the news is true. I would ignore it and try to leave but by then the media would have been alerted and would be waiting outside.

From there, it can go either of two ways.

If they are of the nicer breed, they would leave me alone.

But if they are of the meaner breed, they would harass me until I reached my car, try to trip me, and call me names and shit.

By tomorrow, I will be on another magazine being labeled as a bitch or being labeled as rude and disrespectful.

I didn’t realize I had started tapping my foot anxiously until I felt Nathan’s hand rest on my knee.

My movements ceased almost immediately and I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye.

He didn’t make it known that he was watching me, in fact, he didn’t even act as if he had done anything.

He just kept his eyes on his book but they were stationary so I knew he wasn’t reading.

I let out a heavy exhale and decided to leave the moment as peaceful as it was. For once, we weren’t bantering or fighting, or even trying to piss the other person off. We were just two people sitting in a bookstore and reading books .

With one last glance at him out of the corner of my eye, I picked up my book and continued reading.

Nathan and I stayed like that all day; one hand on my knee that both of us were doing well to ignore and books in the other hand.

I finished my book around four p.m. and that girl was right, I actually loved it.

It was cute and the girl didn’t have to change herself to fit into the guy’s perfect mould.

I actually found myself tearing up a little at some parts.

I looked over at Nathan and realized I was about to break our little bubble that we had somehow secluded ourselves into. I cleared my throat and as if reading my mind, his hand left my knee and the spell was broken.

He took a bookmark out of his bag and put it in the book before closing it. I narrowed my eyes at him when I saw it.

“You had a bookmark in there all that time and you let me go through the stress of having to find my page every time I closed the book?” I whisper yelled.

“If you had asked, I would have told you that I had one.”

“You absolute di-,”

“Language Adira; we’re in a place of education.”I let out a mini growl and forced back an eye roll.

He stood up from the seat and I followed suit.

I thanked the baristas for the coffee and made sure to tell them how much I loved it and trashed the cup in the appropriate recycle bin.

Nathan watched me the entire time but I ignored him.

I just wished I was able to see the girl who recommended the book to me so I could tell her how much I loved it .

As we were walking to my car Nathan spoke, “I don’t understand you sometimes.” I waited for him to elaborate before responding, “One minute, you’re rude as hell, and the next minute, you’re complimenting people on their coffee.”

“I believe in tough love Nathan,” I kept my eyes forward as I spoke, “I give credit where credit is due and I give harsh criticism when needed.”

“That’s the first time you’ve called me Nathan to my face.”

“My apologies, Mr. Cowe,”

He smiled at the mention of his last name and I found myself smiling back at him.

We got to my car and I stopped in stride. I thanked him for walking me but neither of us moved from our spots; me by the driver’s side and him standing opposite me.

“Did you enjoy your book?” he asked and I was unwillingly thrust back to a particular NSFW scene in the book.

I thanked God for my inability to blush and cleared my throat as I responded, “I did, and it was very- enlightening.”

“Women’s empowerment, you said,” I nodded, “I’ll be sure to check it out some day.”

“You should,” the words came out calm and collected while I was anything but.

“Then again, if I’m not mistaken,” he began, “Isn’t that the book about the autistic econometrician and the escort?

” I was frozen in shock as he continued, “And if I remember correctly, they end up fake dating just because- and just to be sure that I’m getting it right, there was a scene where she visits his mum and manages to unknowingly upset her. ”

I opened my mouth and closed it numerous times. Unable to fathom the fact that he knew I was reading actual sex scenes right next to him and he said nothing about it.

“Close your mouth Adira, you’ll catch flies.”

“You’ve read the book,” I finally got out and he shrugged, “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“You were enjoying it. Enlightening, you said,” I mentally face palmed myself as he used my own words against me, “I must say that I am impressed at your ability to read smut with a blank face.”

“Smut?”

“Obscene content, kind of like the one in the book you just read.”

“I didn’t know it was smut.”

“That’s what they all say.”

“Oh my gosh,” I groaned, “I’m leaving now.”

At my words he laughed. Not a small smile or a sarcastic chuckle but a full blown, out of his belly laugh and I found myself staring as smile lines took over his features. I also noticed the small dimple on his left cheek.

I recovered quickly when he caught me staring at him. But it was already too late, he had seen me staring.

“I’ll see you on Monday, Adira.” His voice was smooth, almost teasing.

“You too, Mr. Cowe,”