Page 24 of Librarian for the Jock

Chapter Twenty-Four

CHET

The library was a hive of activity, buzzing with laughter, music, and the hum of excited conversations. Everywhere I looked, people were smiling, singing, dancing, and just letting loose in a way I hadn’t seen since I got here. The tables were piled high with plates of cookies, homemade pies, and enough food to feed a small army. The whole place smelled like a mix of delicious food, baked goods, and that familiar, comforting scent of old books.

I caught sight of Paige laughing with a few of her friends by the drinks table, her face lit up in a way that made my heart skip a beat. This was her idea—a spontaneous, “Let’s celebrate!” which had turned into this amazing celebration, and I couldn’t have been happier to see it all come together.

I thought the dance-off was the highlight of the night. The kids somehow managed to convince even the most reserved folks to join in, and before long, we had Sheriff Daniels moonwalking and Mrs. Lawson doing a surprisingly graceful cha-cha.

I couldn’t remember the last time I had laughed this hard.

And then, of course, when it was my turn, I gave Paige a mock look of horror, but I knew there was no getting out of it. The music kicked in—a funky beat with a bit too much bass—and I dove into my best attempt at the robot. It was ridiculous, but everyone was cheering and laughing, and for once, I didn’t feel the usual pressure to be “on” or perfect. I just felt… free.

I took a sip of my cream soda, feeling a deep sense of gratitude. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

As the dance-off wrapped up, with Sheriff Daniels somehow winning the title of “Ultimate Dance Champion,” I was still chuckling with Paige when I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was Mrs. Jenkins looking at me with a knowing smile. “You should say a few words, Chet,” she said, giving me a gentle nudge toward the front of the room.

I nodded, realizing that she was right. I owed these people so much more than just a dance. I took a deep breath, stepped forward, and cleared my throat. “Hey, everyone!” I called out, raising a hand. The room quieted down, someone handed me the karaoke mic, and all eyes turned to me. I felt a mix of nerves and excitement—odd for someone who had been in front of thousands, but this felt… different. More personal.

“I just wanted to say a quick thank you,” I started, looking around at all the familiar faces. “When I came back to Hawthorn Hideaway, I didn’t really know what to expect. I thought I’d be here for a bit, lay low, and then head back to the usual madness of my life.”

There was a ripple of laughter in the room, and I smiled, feeling the room’s energy.

“But you all,” I continued, “you didn’t just let me blend in quietly. You welcomed me like I’d always been here, like I belonged. And that’s something I haven’t felt in a long time.”

I saw Paige watching me from across the room, and our eyes met for a moment. I felt a warmth in my chest, knowing that she had been such a big part of why I felt this way.

“And the way everyone came together to help me out with Rigs… I mean, you turned this town into a fortress,” I said, grinning. “You showed him exactly what happens when you mess with Hawthorn Hideaway. He’s gone now, packed up and left, and it’s all thanks to every single one of you.”

There was a cheer from the crowd, people clapping and whooping, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “But more than that,” I continued, my tone turning a bit more serious, “you showed me what it means to be part of a community. To belong to something bigger than just yourself. I’ve traveled to a lot of places, met a lot of people, but I’ve never met people like you anywhere else. You’ve reminded me what home should feel like.”

There was a pause, a moment of quiet, and I felt the weight of what I was saying settle in. I looked around at all the faces—Mrs. Jenkins, Mr. Saavedra, Ms. Smith, Mrs. Lawson, Mr. Parker, April, Mr. Ramirez, Jenny and Brandon beaming up at me, and of course, Paige, whose smile made my heart feel like it was swelling in my chest.

“So, I just wanted to say thank you,” I finished, my voice full of sincerity. “To all of you, for making me feel like I belong, and for throwing the best party this library has ever seen. And for proving that this place is the best town in the world.”

I raised my can of cream soda, and everyone raised their drinks, echoing my words, “To Hawthorn Hideaway!”

The room erupted in applause and cheers, and I took a step back, feeling a wave of emotion that I hadn’t expected. I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see Paige, her eyes bright with laughter and something softer.

“That was a great speech,” she said, looking up at me, her voice just above a whisper.

I grinned, putting my arm around her. “Thanks. I meant every word.”

She smiled back, and for a moment, we were just standing there, surrounded by the noise and celebration, but it felt like it was just the two of us. “You’ve got a way with words,” she added, teasing slightly.

“Just speaking from the heart,” I said, and I meant it.

Before I could think too much about it, Mrs. Lawson shouted from the back, “Alright, Chet! Now that you’re done with the speech, how about a dance with the lady who inspired all this?”

The crowd cheered, egging me on, and I glanced at Paige, who was laughing and a little embarrassed, but also clearly delighted.

I extended my hand, grinning. “What do you say, Paige? One more dance for the road?”

She took my hand, her smile matching mine. “How can I say no to that?”

As the slow, soft tune began to play, I could feel the energy in the room shift, like the whole party was holding its breath, watching us. I took Paige’s hand in mine, feeling the delicate weight of it, and placed my other hand gently on her waist. She stepped in close, closer than I had expected, and suddenly it was like the rest of the world faded into a blur around us.

We started to move, swaying slowly to the rhythm of the music. For a second, I was afraid I’d step on her toes or mess this up somehow, but Paige was a natural. She moved with a kind of grace that I had never noticed before, her body flowing in perfect time with mine. I found myself relaxing, letting the music guide us, my thumb lightly brushing the back of her hand.

“You’re a good dancer,” she said softly, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips.

I chuckled, “Thanks to my grandmother and mom, I’ve had a lot of practice. Just not usually in libraries.”

She laughed, a soft, musical sound that sent a shiver down my spine. “Well, I think Grandma would be proud of what kind of dancer you’ve become. The library has definitely never seen this much excitement.”

“I’m glad,” I said quietly, meeting her eyes. “I’ve never seen you smile this much.”

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she looked down for a moment, then back up at me, her eyes softening. “Well, you’ve been giving me a lot of reasons to smile lately.”

There was something in her voice, a hint of vulnerability, and it made my heart thump harder. I swallowed, trying to keep my own nerves in check. “I’m glad to hear that. Because… you make me feel like I belong here, Paige. Like I’ve finally found a place that feels like my forever home.”

She looked up at me, her eyes searching mine, and I saw something flicker there—surprise, maybe, and then a soft warmth. “You do belong here, Chet. More than you know.”

She laughed, and the sound was soft, like music itself, something that filled the space between us. I felt a pull in my chest, a quiet magnetism I couldn’t ignore. I let myself get lost in the moment, in the feel of her hand in mine, the warmth radiating between us.

As we moved, I gently twirled her, watching as she spun, her hair catching the light, her laughter ringing out, bright and free. I pulled her back in, her body moving effortlessly with mine, and I was struck by how natural this felt. How right.

Our eyes met, and there was a look in hers—a mix of surprise, wonder, and something deeper, something that made my heart race a little faster. I felt the music slow, the beat steady and soft, and I decided to take a chance.

Without thinking too much about it, I stepped back slightly, giving her a quick spin, and then, with a little grin, I guided her into a gentle dip.

For a split second, I worried she’d lose her balance, but Paige surprised me. She moved with me, her body leaning back gracefully, her hair falling over her shoulder like a curtain. Her eyes were wide, her face lit up with a mixture of delight and maybe a bit of nervousness, but she trusted me to hold her steady.

I felt her grip tighten on my hand, and I leaned in just a bit closer, our faces just inches apart. There was a moment, a beat, where I could feel her breath against my skin, and everything else seemed to disappear. The music, the room, the crowd—it all faded into the background.

I held her there for a second longer than necessary, savoring the moment, the closeness, the way she looked up at me with a softness I hadn’t seen before. I couldn’t help but smile, my heart pounding in my chest, knowing that right then, this was exactly where I wanted to be.

Then, slowly, I pulled her back up, steadying her on her feet. She was still smiling, her cheeks flushed, her eyes bright with a kind of happiness that made my own smile widen. The crowd around us erupted in applause, but all I could focus on was her—how she was looking at me like she was seeing me for the first time.

“That was… unexpected,” she breathed, still a little breathless from the dance, or maybe just from me.

I chuckled, my hand still resting on her waist. “I like to keep things interesting.”

She laughed, a genuine, warm sound that sent a shiver through me. “Well, you certainly succeeded.”

We stood there for a moment, the applause and cheers ringing in our ears, but all I felt was her. Paige. Close, smiling, and somehow more beautiful than I had ever seen her.

I realized, as the music faded and we were still standing there, that I didn’t want to let her go. I didn’t want this moment to end.

And then, just as I was about to speak, we were interrupted by a commotion near the back of the room. I turned to see Brandon and Jenny, arm in arm, spinning each other around in a goofy dance, clearly trying to mimic what Paige and I had done, but with a lot more flailing and dramatic flourishes.

Everyone started laughing, and Paige shook her head, her eyes full of affection for her kids. “Oh no, here they go,” she said, chuckling.

I grinned, watching them with amusement. “They’re quite the little performers.”

Jenny twirled Brandon around, nearly colliding into a bookshelf, and Brandon caught himself just in time, striking a ridiculous pose. The crowd cheered and laughed, clapping along with the music.

Paige turned back to me, still smiling. “They’re always like this. Full of energy, but usually in public, they’re shyer. It’s fun to see them so comfortable with the whole town in the room.”

“I love it. I really love your kids. They’re great kids. Knowing who their mom is explains everything.”

There was a moment where our smiles softened, and I felt that pull again, that quiet magnetism that had been building between us.

But before I could say anything else, the music changed to an upbeat tune, and Brandon and Jenny came rushing over, grabbing both of us by the hands.

“Come on, Mommy! Chet! Dance with us!” Jenny shouted, pulling us into the center of the room.

I laughed, feeling the joyful chaos return, and we were suddenly spinning around, caught up in the kids’ wild dance moves. Paige was laughing, her face lit up with pure joy, and I realized that this, right here—this mix of fun, laughter, and connection—was what I had been searching for.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted between us in that dance. Something real. Something worth holding onto. I wanted to tell her more, to say what had been on my mind, but I didn’t want to rush it. Not here, not now.

And as the night continued, I couldn’t stop thinking about how right it felt to hold her close, to spin her around and feel her laughter against my chest. I couldn’t stop wondering what it would be like to have more moments like this. Moments that were just ours. I knew one thing for sure: whatever happened next, I was exactly where I was supposed to be.