Page 11

Chapter Eleven

I wait a couple of days before I go back to the bookstore. For some reason, I don’t want Brent to know how eager I am to see him. Plus, with Ava and Bek both working, it gives me an entire day to finish the second book in the series and move on to the first book in a rom-com series. Of course, I stayed up too late, but the book had me giggling and snorting and I couldn’t put it down. The couple in this one reminds me so much of Ava and Dylan. I can’t wait to get back to it this afternoon.

When I walk into the bookstore, Brent looks up from whatever he’s doing behind the counter. He smiles, which makes me freeze in place. As soon as his brow knits into his normal scowl, I proceed forward with a little more confidence. I dodge a tower of books made up of what looks like a thriller.

“Why did you stop?” he asks.

I point to the door. “You mean just now?”

“Yeah.”

I laugh. “Because you smiled when I came in. I thought something must be wrong.”

“Why?” He cocks his head and his bangs flop over his glasses. But his brilliantly bright eyes still glow from under his Clark Kent disguise. I almost let my sigh of pleasure escape my lips.

“I’m far more familiar with that scowl.” I point my finger at his face. “When you smiled, I thought maybe someone was behind me or maybe you were sick.”

His mouth drops open. “No way. That can’t be true. I do not scowl at you.”

He’s so emphatic it makes me giggle. “You do too, Brent. Cross my heart.” I draw an “X” over my heart for emphasis.

When he scowls again, I pull my phone out and snap a picture before he has a chance to figure out what I’m doing. I spin the photo so he can see it. “This is how you greet me whenever I come in. Like you’re suspicious of my intentions.”

Brent snatches the phone from me and stares at it. “Nah. That’s not how I look at you.”

“It is.”

He scowls at the picture one last time before handing my phone back. “I’m sorry about that.”

“I’m sure I won’t have to do therapy for too long because of it.”

His eyes bug out until he sees my smirk, and then he narrows them at me. “I see how you are.” Then he jumps. “I almost forgot.”

He strides over to the bookshelf behind the counter and plucks something off the top corner. When he comes back, he plops a copy of Global Lit on the counter in front of me.

“Oh my gosh, you kept one aside for me?”

“I didn’t want it to sell out and leave you empty-handed.”

I’m totally confused. He still doesn’t give off any flirtation vibe. Is this just Brent’s version of excellent customer service? Would he do this for anyone? “That was very thoughtful of you.”

“I actually sold a couple copies yesterday. After our conversation, it hit me that I should send Mrs. K. an email to let her know the store carries the magazine now. A couple students came in to get their own copy. One told me Mrs. K. announced it in class. So, I put one aside for you just in case.”

I affect my best announcer voice. “The bookstore employee of the month award for stellar salesmanship goes to Brent Post.” I clap as he takes a bow. “How about a white chocolate mocha, too, Bookstore Boy? I’ll hang out for a bit and page through the new edition.”

“Sure thing.” He narrows his eyes at my use of his nickname. I’m sure he thinks it’s because I just awarded him the employee of the month award. The corner of his mouth turns up, telling me he likes it. Grabbing a mug, he starts pulling levers and adjusting knobs on the coffee machine. It looks very complicated, but he still seems to have the same pleased look he had when I called him Bookstore Boy. I bite my lip, wondering if I’m starting to get to him.

“Have you read it yet?” I point to the magazine when he glances my way.

“Some. There’s a great story in there about an orphan that I really enjoyed. Gave me a new perspective on the things they face when they switch foster homes.”

My heart breaks a little just from his sympathetic expression. “I’ll check it out.”

I’m wracking my brain for a conversation that doesn’t involve reading when my phone dings. It’s a text from Ava.

Ava: 911! Are you around?

Me: Yeah, I’m here. What’s up?

Ava: I was lifting a bag of dog food and split my pants. [ crying emoji ]

Me: What can I do?

I look up at Brent. “Make that to go. Ava has a wardrobe malfunction I need to help her with.”

“Uh oh. Is she okay? ”

“Yeah.”

Ava: Can you swing by my house? There are a pair of jeans on my bed that I almost wore today, but tossed aside for my favorite pair [angry face emoji]

Me: Is your house unlocked? Do I knock?

“What’s wrong?” Brent asks.

I realize the sides of my mouth are turned down dramatically. “Oh, I’m just unsure of her instructions. I’ve asked for clarification. It’s fine.” Though, by the way my heart races, maybe it isn’t. The last time I was at Ava’s house, I was, maybe, six or seven years old. I know things at her house aren’t horrible like they used to be, but I still never go there.

Ava: You can knock. Grandma should be home. Let her know I sent you. She won’t go upstairs, so you’ll have to run up there.

Me: On it.

Ava: Thank you soooooooo much! [multiple heart eyes emojis]

Brent’s ringing up my magazine and coffee. The mocha is in a to-go cup on the counter in front of me, complete with latte art.

“Oh my gosh, look at you go. You made a stack of hearts for me.” I don’t tell him that I’ve always thought this particular latte art resembles a male’s anatomy. I bite my lip when I see the stack of hearts curves to make it look even more so like…well, that.

“A tulip. I’m just learning. I swear I’m not trying to send any subliminal messages. It’s a tough design to make. I should have stuck with a single heart. I’ve got that one down. To think, I was worried about what message that would send.”

I laugh, relieved to know he sees the same thing I do.

“If you weren’t in a hurry, I would never have given that to you.”

“As much as I would love to see this each time I take a sip, maybe a lid is in order so I don’t get mocha all over Sunny.”

“A lid.” He hits his forehead. “I could have spared myself the embarrassment if only I’d thought of that first. Who’s Sunny? A new boyfriend?”

I narrow my gaze on him. He’s avoiding eye contact as he secures a lid to my cup. Is he worried I have a boyfriend? He’s impossible to read. It’s so aggravating. “Sunny is my car.”

“Oh, that makes sense. Yellow, like the sun.”

A little thrill courses through me that he knows what car I drive. I insert my credit card into the card reader and add a tip when it prompts me.

“Want a receipt?” he asks.

“No thanks.”

“Then you’re good to go.” He presses a button on his register screen with a flourish. “I hope everything is good with Ava.”

“I’m sure it will be. Thanks.” I’m bummed that I can’t hang out, but Ava or Bek will always come first before any boy. Regardless, I’m not exactly excited about having to stop at Ava’s house. I wave the magazine in the air and back away slowly, not wanting to give up this pleasant rapport with him so soon. “Thanks for saving this for me.”

“Of course. Let me know what you think about that art…watch out!”

Just as he yells it, my heel full-stops against something. My momentum keeps me traveling backward though, and I feel my body tumble through the air. On instinct, I hold my coffee away from my timbering body. I hear the cascade of books before I feel my rear end join the avalanche and I slide to the floor.

Brent dashes out from behind the counter and skids to a stop in front of me, mouth agape .

I pick up a book and turn the cover toward him. “What a thrill ride.”

He slams his mouth closed, pinching his lips together. When it appears he’s mastered his reaction, he holds out a hand. I drop the book I’m holding to take it and a new kind of thrill runs through me. My feet slip as I try to find purchase so he can pull me up, but my butt slides as much as my feet do when he pulls.

Finally, a laugh bursts out of him. He’s laughing so hard, he has to bend forward. I continue to shuffle my feet, trying to sift them underneath the lake of books I’m sitting in to set my feet on the floor. The only good thing about all of this is that he’s still holding my hand.

At last, a foot finds purchase. “Okay, try again.”

He yanks and I’m finally able to lift off the continuously shifting pile. I’m still carefully holding my cup away from my body to avoid any sloshing. When I’m standing, I can’t help but brag. “No coffee was harmed in the destruction of the book tower.” I look around at the mess and groan. “I’m sorry, Brent.”

I think he actually wipes away tears. I narrow my eyes at him.

“No harm.” He takes a big breath, and his grin finally relaxes into a smile, which makes the whole embarrassing incident worthwhile. “It happens at least once a week.”

“Really? Then why do you keep building them?”

“Because of the entertainment value.” He shakes his head when I scowl. “I’m kidding. We have a lot of free time to do stuff like this.”

I find the magazine that got swept into the avalanche and pull it out. Brent takes my hand again to keep me steady as I pick my way across the ruined display. I wish I could think of a reason for him to keep hold of it. His is so warm and envelops mine completely.

“Are you okay?” he asks when I’m finally out of the mess.

“Just embarrassed.”

He levels his megawatt smile on me and I’m ready to dive back into the display if it will keep his attention on me.

“Don’t be.” He waves my concern away. “Go take care of Ava.”

Oh right. That friend I swore always came before a boy. “See ya, Bookstore Boy.”

Brent cocks his head, his eyes alight. “See ya.”