Chapter 5
NIX
Isent Chase a message asking him to come see me when he got a chance.
Honestly, I have no idea what he does all day.
I’ve never managed more than two days off in a row without going completely stir crazy.
It’s none of my business how Chase spends his time.
Not really. Even if I’m a bit overly curious.
Some people would call it nosy, but I choose to believe it’s part of being a good friend. Which we aren’t. Yet. But Russ had a point. We could both use a friend.
Wow. If I could go back and tell the thirteen-year-old version of myself that someday we’d be real friends with Chase…well, needless to say, it would’ve been a dream come true. Of course, he’d want to know why the two of us didn’t end up falling madly in love.
Ah, teenage dreams.
“You wanted to see me?” Chase appears in front of the checkout stand, wearing yet another pair of those teeny tiny shorts. Apparently, they come in multiple colors and patterns.
“Hey, Chase. How’s the apartment working out?” I force myself to keep my eyes fixed on his face. If I don’t look, then they can’t bother me.
“It’s great. Thanks again.” He shoves his hands into his pockets. They can’t possibly be big enough to hold anything of value, yet he’s somehow managed to fit the majority of his fist in there. “I’ve been meaning to check with you about a couple of things.”
“Shoot.” Having an honest tenant check the place out and provide feedback that isn’t publicly available on the rental website is perfect.
“First, I need the wi-fi password.” He pauses for a second before a look of pure terror crosses his face. “You do have wi-fi here, don’t you?”
It’s too easy. “Well, the town did finally get together and get an internet cable installed in town, but it only works at City Hall. You can go there anytime…well, between ten and two on Mondays and Wednesdays. It’s really fast, too.
I even managed to use it to watch a video. Have you heard of YouTube?”
“I…you’re messing with me, right?” He narrows his eyes, but I can see the panic across his face.
It’s so tempting to keep up the ruse a little longer.
I mean, Sleighbell Springs might not be a bustling metropolitan area, but we’ve managed to keep up with the times.
Mostly. “Of course. Do you think I run this store without internet?” I wave my hands around.
Look, I know it’s not Barnes and Noble, but I think that’s part of the charm.
Nothing against the big stores, but part of the charm is having someone who can point customers in the right direction.
I know the kinds of things everyone in town likes to read, can make recommendations, run summer reading challenges, and serve as a community gathering place.
All with the help of broadband internet.
“I just thought maybe…you know, I’m going to stop digging myself a hole.”
“Here, I’ll write it down for you.” I grab one of the sticky notes with the Tannenbaum Tales logo that I keep on the counter to write down customer recommendations and scribble the network name and password. “There. Let me know if it gives you any trouble.”
“KirithKirin?” He attempts to pronounce the password.
“Yep, all one word. Don’t forget to capitalize the Ks.
” Most people have no idea that the reference is a fantasy novel that I read as a teenager.
Probably one of those that parents now would screen and keep their children from reading.
Mine were just happy that I was focused on something school-related instead of partying or drinking.
It was the first time I saw a queer character portrayed on the page in a positive light.
“Is it from a book or something?”
“Something like that. Was there something else?” I don’t want to explain my love for the character or the book to anyone, especially not to Chase.
“Oh, is it okay for me to get curtains?”
“Curtains?”
“Or blinds? Shades? Anything to keep the sun out of my eyes in the morning?”
“Right. Of course.” Yet another thing that should’ve been obvious to me.
“I can grab some later today and then install them whenever is good for you.” The hardware store should have something in stock that works for me.
Later, I can check online and find something more on-brand.
Maybe someone makes curtains covered with books or words. Someone must make something like that.
“Nick got in again.”
I blink a few times, trying to process the information. “Are you sure he wasn’t there when you went to bed last night?”
“Positive. You were down here with him.”
That part I can’t argue with. Both Nick and I were down here, staring at each other.
“And you made sure to shut the door? He’s pretty sneaky and knows how to push them open if they aren’t closed tightly.
” That one has been a bit of a problem. He pushed open the door a few times when one of my seasonal employees was in the bathroom.
That ended with a lot of shrieking, a few scared customers, and one very smug cat.
“Does he pick locks, too? Because it was still latched from the inside this morning.”
That one I have a harder time explaining.
Nick is smart, but without thumbs, he’s slightly limited.
At least I think. Maybe he’s been practicing when I’m not around.
“I don’t know. When I put in the curtains, I can have a look around.
” I almost promise to give Nick a stern talking-to, before I realize how ridiculous that sounds.
I’ll have that chat with him, but I suspect it won’t make a difference.
“Okay.” He turns to head back toward the stairs to the apartment. Russ’s words circle in my mind. It would be nice to have some extra help around here. With the summer reading BINGO challenge in full swing, there will be an increase in foot traffic.
“Chase?” I call after him.
“Yeah?” He turns back toward me, his body twisting so I can see even more of his amazing thighs and that stupid owl tattoo.
“I was wondering…well, I was hoping that maybe you might…”
“Just spit it out.”
“Do you want a job? It’s not much, only about ten hours a week, but I could use the help.”
He takes a deep breath, obviously winding up to turn me down. That’s what I get for listening to Russ.
“Yeah, that would be great. Plus, I can’t imagine I’ll find anywhere with an easier commute.”
“Great. When can you start?”
Chase snorts. “Literally any time. I’m basically just sitting around doing nothing.”
“Okay, well, if you show up at nine tomorrow, I can get you oriented and do the paperwork.” My least favorite thing about being a business owner. Apparently, it’s a necessary part of owning a store. At least that’s what my accountant tells me.
“Thanks. I appreciate it. I’ll make sure to tell my brother that you offered.”
“Oh, I didn’t…Russ, I mean…”
“It’s okay. I can sense his meddling from a mile away. I’m appreciative. Of both of you.”
For once, I don’t sense any sarcasm in his voice. Maybe being friends isn’t that crazy of an idea. “Great. I’ll text you when I have the curtains for your room.”
He gives me a curt bro nod before he walks off.
That went well. At least I think so.
CHASE
When I said curtains, I thought Nix would go out and buy a simple set, probably in a shade of tan or taupe. They’re curtains, how complicated could it be?
Very is the correct answer. Nix sent me no fewer than thirty text messages from the hardware store, all with different options. For a small town, they have a wide assortment. While some were clearly out—no thank you on the pink ruffles—the vast majority looked basically the same.
Like. Curtains.
As long as they let me sleep past sunrise, I don’t really care what color they are or what’s on them. Eventually, I resorted to simply using the thumbs-up and thumbs-down reactions. That seemed to slow him down a bit at least.
When he arrives at my front door, he looks a little worse for wear.
“Tough day at the hardware store?”
“You would not believe how many people are in the middle of big projects right now.” Before I can snatch some of the bags from his hands, he stomps across the room and dumps his haul on the bed.
Given that I expect this town to be home to approximately a hundred people, I really can’t.
“And everyone is frantic. I think it’s because of the Pride celebration coming up next weekend. My friend runs the craft store, and he said things have been bonkers.”
Bonkers. I don’t think I’ve heard someone use that word in years. “Well, I’m glad you were able to find something.” I desperately need to get real sleep tonight. No sunshine. No cat.
“Oh, yeah. It’s great having someone to test the space out. I know some people are super picky, and while it’ll never be a glamorous hotel, I’m hoping people will like the idea of sleeping over at a bookstore.”
“It’s a great location.” Based on what I’ve seen, it’s close to everything. However, that can’t be hard around here. It must be fifteen minutes from one town line to the next. At twenty miles per hour. “Not sure I’m your target demographic for the rest of it. Reading isn’t my thing.”
“You don’t like books? At all?” Nix looks like my head just spun around in front of him.
“It’s nothing personal. I can’t get into it.” Unless it’s to get information that I desperately need. Even then, there’s probably a YouTube video I can watch instead. Even when there have been those big crazes, and everyone is screaming about a new series, it doesn’t work for me.
“Okay, well, then in addition to being my test tenant, I’m going to make it my personal mission to find books for you.”
“That’s really not necessary. Really.” I tack the second really on in hopes that it will keep him from getting carried away.
My life is just fine. Always has been. That part isn’t going to change.
Besides, that’s why I have subscriptions to eight streaming services.
There’s no lack of entertainment around here.
Except when I didn’t know the wi-fi password.