5. Emma
Emma
The mayor left his chat with Carson and went directly to the candle shop.
I wasn’t spying. I was walking back to the library after getting my pastry pick-me-ups and caught them chatting.
I wouldn’t normally care…except it was the third time I’ve seen the mayor visit that particular store in the last week, and the man doesn’t leave with merchandise.
Yes, he could totally be discussing the upcoming Fall Festival with the shop owner—he came into the library to discuss the road closure for the festival with us once—which is why I’m not putting all my money on a potential romance with the shop owner, Ms. Hazelton.
Yet.
It’s a toss up, really. At this point, it could be anyone. He was also seen sitting awfully close to Sharon Price in church a few weeks ago, and I’ve heard whisperings about him and Lisa Ellis, his secretary.
Okay, not whisperings. The Ednas don’t know how to do anything but shout.
This is why we’re setting a vote. I sit at my computer, putting together a flyer about the subject.
Seth wanted something for the bulletin board that would bring people in?
Oh, this will definitely bring people in.
Who in town isn’t talking about the mayor’s potential girlfriends? Might as well capitalize on it.
A heavy presence settles right behind me, and I can feel a set of eyes looking at my computer over my shoulder. I’d put money on it being Seth. Ever since the bachelorette party last weekend, he’s been around…a lot.
I don’t think we’ve worked together so much in years. Weirdly, I haven’t had a single shift with Dale all week.
“This is your plan?” Could Seth possibly sound more judgmental?
I blush slightly, despite myself. “I think it’s a good idea. Do you know how many people are talking about this right now? It took up half the conversation at book club this month. The Ednas were wild with speculation.”
Those two are always peddling gossip, and it’s clear from Seth’s disbelief this is not a point in my favor.
“The Ednas, yeah,” he says. “Not the general population. What will you do if he comes in and sees it?”
“Do you know Mayor Monroe? I’m sure he’ll find it hilarious.” I hope so, at least. His daughter, Juliet, will definitely find it funny. Besides, if we get a solid vote in, maybe we’ll get some answers. Cut me some slack. I can’t stay away from a good love story, especially not one in real life.
Blame my mom for introducing me to Little Women in ninth grade.
“I don’t know, Em.” Seth lets out a long sigh.
My muscles squeeze in frustration. He can’t be serious right now, trying to get all familiar with my name?
He hasn’t earned that. A false sense of closeness won’t make us actually close.
Besides, I’m pretty sure this is a case of him wanting what he thinks he can’t have.
He didn’t care about things not working out at all before he saw me kissing Carson at the bar last weekend.
This is part of the reason I ended things.
Seth doesn’t want me specifically. He wants a relationship.
He might not even want that as much as he likes the idea of wanting one—someone to keep in his back pocket for emotional support and make-outs.
We had fun, but it was a shallow connection. I don’t have time for that anymore.
I pick up the finished components for the bulletin board and log out of the computer, carrying them away to start my set up.
Seth follows me. “Isn’t this a little…I don’t know…immature?”
“You asked me to drive in readers. That’s what I’m doing.”
The doors to the library open, letting Maggie in.
She’s a little late for her shift, but I say nothing as she passes me, reaching to give Seth a hug.
Her dark hair is sleek and shiny, her shirt barely acceptable for the workplace.
We’ve never allowed crop tops, and the only reason she won’t be reprimanded is because her pants are high enough to hide how short her shirt is.
“Hi, friend,” she says, her voice annoyingly high. “How busy has it been today?”
“Not bad.” Seth leans against the front desk, blocking me. “There’s a huge stack for you to check in and re-shelve. I left the bin over by the computer.”
Her smile stiffens. “Fun.”
Am I not here? Invisible. I staple the corner of my Who’s the Mayor Dating?
sign with too much force, then step back.
I’ve printed out three images—one of each woman in question, and it’s obvious the man has a type: beautiful middle-aged moms. Sharon Price is one of them, and I feel slightly disloyal putting her up for a vote.
I could just ask her, and I don’t think she’d lie to me.
We’ve grown fairly close since I bought the house across the street.
But if I know…then I won’t be unbiased about the vote.
By the time I finish stapling the decorations on the bulletin board—heart filled border included—there’s a familiar woman standing at the desk, checking out a stack of romance novels.
I tap the hardback on top. “Loved that one.”
Barb Langford shoots me a delighted smile, and not a blonde hair moves out of place. Her eyes crinkle kindly. “No spoilers!”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“How is the new bathroom coming along?”
“It’s coming,” I say vaguely. I’m not about to admit that it’s been nothing but subfloor and sink-less for a month now. At least the upstairs toilet is still hooked up.
She hands over her library card to Maggie but looks back at me. “My nephew isn’t too far away. I’m sure he’d be willing to come in and help you.”
Because nothing says romantic first date like grouting my tiles.
Maggie rolls her eyes. “Emma has a boyfriend, Mrs. Langford.”
“Oh?” Barb glances at me over the rim of her readers while stuffing her paperbacks into a canvas bag.
“Only if book boyfriends count.”
“They don’t,” Maggie says. “I was thinking of the guy you were with when we all went out.”
Barb laughs uncomfortably, giving me a look. Maggie usually loves pushing her perfect relationship and incredible fiancé in my face, but this is a weird, pointed statement I don’t know what to do with.
“You have romance fever from planning your daughter’s wedding, don’t you?
” I ask Barb, trying to lighten the mood.
Too bad Demi is on her honeymoon, because I’m sure Barb would want to chat weddings with her.
I’ve come to learn that people who are preparing for the big day will talk and think about nothing else in the months leading up to it.
“Maybe I do.” She smiles. “Speaking of my daughters, I’d better get out of here before Ari shows up with her English class.”
I laugh politely, waving as she leaves. How did I end this conversation feeling like a loser when nothing negative was directly said to me?
Maggie is a master at the Mean Girl craft.
Once Barb is through the doors and we’re alone, I head for the back to get away from Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Ruthless.
But Seth, who graciously sat back and eavesdropped on that entire conversation, follows me into the processing room. “High school English class will be here soon.”
“I’m ready for them.”
He nods, looking around like he might find a purpose for being in the back room if he searches long enough.
The pause draws out. “Is there something else I can do for you?”
Seth’s gaze zeroes in on me. “Dinner.”
This is the last thing I expected, so I have no immediate response. He’s waiting for an answer like he cares, but the second I agree and we’re out, he’ll be bored. He’s a chaser.
And I’m not running just so he can try to catch me.
“We’ve been there already,” I say gently, repeating what I said to him last time. “I think we’re better as friends.”
“Maybe a few months ago, but I’ve done a lot of soul searching, Emma. I can see some of the things you didn’t jive with last time we dated.”
Dated is a stretch, but okay. “I don’t want to mix my personal and professional lives like that anymore. It’s a me thing.”
“But you are dating.” He says this like he’s caught me.
Maggie pokes her head in. “The English class is here.”
I jump up and head for the door. Saved by the students. High school kids file into the building and group awkwardly around the front desk, many of them with a single earbud in as they half-pay attention to what’s going on around them.
Deep breath.
I spot the teacher, Ari, pull up the rear of the group and make my way toward her while she counts the kids.
The high school principal, Wade Stevenson, steps in behind her.
His hair is pushed to the side and his mustache looks neat.
I’d heard they started dating, but I didn’t quite believe Ari would go for a guy with a reputation for not taking relationships seriously.
“Hey guys,” I say, sidling up to them.
“All here,” she says, shooting me a smile. “Glad we didn’t lose anyone to the bakery on our way in.”
“Like anyone would ditch a field trip about books. I can’t wait to get going.”
“You’re such a nerd,” Ari says, laughing.
“Okay, English teacher.” I grin. “You just missed your mom, by the way. She was stocking up on romance novels.”
Ari nods like this is no surprise. “Something has to help her escape all the wedding planning. Otherwise, she’ll think of nothing else until Landrie’s married.”
I’ve been around Demi for the past six months while she’s prepped for her big day so I have an idea of how all-consuming it can be. Poor Barb. Poor Ari.
The volume rises as the kids begin to talk. “I’ll get started.”
“Let us know how we can help,” Wade says.
“Want to get them wrangled?” I nod toward the ones who started wandering off.
Ari claps her hands twice. “Alright everyone, focus. This is Ms. Harper, one of the librarians, and she’s going to walk us through different ways you can research here. Let’s listen up and be respectful.”
The kids turn their attention to me. “First, show of hands. How many of you have a library card?”
A handful of arms go in the air.
“Who knows if you have to have a library card to use the facilities or study here?” I ask.
The silence that meets me is littered with fidgety hands and the sound of a patron in the back on one of the computers.
“The answer is no,” I tell them. “You don’t have to have a card.
We’ll distribute guest passes for the computers today for anyone who needs one.
You’re welcome to use them anytime you need to—just ask the front desk.
But if you want to take books home, you need a card to check them out, and having one makes logging in to the computers simpler. Any questions?”
“Can we get a card today?”
“A parent or guardian needs to sign for it, so if you don’t have one today, come back and visit and I’ll help get you set up. Now, you’re here for research projects, right? So let’s move on to the computers and go over how to look up books that fit your subject matter.”
The full tour didn’t take very long, letting the kids get to work pulling books and sitting at the computers as they research what they need for their assignment.
Maggie is sitting at the front desk, helping a family check out a stack of picture books, and Seth is in the back, doing who-knows-what.
Ari and Wade walk through the students with me, offering help to those who need it.
Ari rounds the tables, her arms folded patiently over her ruffled white shirt.
I lean against an empty table in the back and she comes to sit next to me. “Great class,” I tell her. “One of the better listeners this year.”
“They’re pretty cool.”
Maggie shoots us a look as the family leaves with their bulging bag of books, then turns her attention to her phone.
“Why does she work here?” Ari whispers. “Does she even read?”
“Yes.” Honestly, I’ve wondered the same thing, but Maggie shows up to book club ready to chat about the book. “Convenience, probably.”
“It’s shocking she can go anywhere without bringing along her fiancé.”
“Oh, he’s in every conversation, never you fear,” I say.
Ari shoots me a smile.
“How is everything going at the high school?” I look pointedly at Wade as I say this. He’s leaning over a boy, reading something in his open book, and his smile is handsome even from here.
She tracks my gaze to Wade, cheeks pinking. “Oh, you know. It’s going.”
“Lucky.” It’s okay that she doesn’t want to give away anything about their relationship. I know it’s new, so I redirect the conversation. “I’ve been in a man-famine lately.”
“A man-ine?”
I bark a laugh and clarify. “Well, that’s not entirely fair. There’ve been dates. It’s more like a good boyfriend-worthy man famine.”
“This town isn’t lacking in eligible men.” Ari scrunches her nose. “What about Archer? He runs the stables. Or Nate…he runs the hardware store.”
Pretty sure Nate has a girlfriend, and Archer…I haven’t been around him much.
Ari must sense my hesitance. “Have you met the new dentist?” she asks. “My mom said he’s really cute and a total gentleman.”
“He’s also a dad.”
She gestures to the group in front of us. “You’re good with kids.”
“Right. Yeah, I like his daughter. She’s so cute. But I don’t think he’s looking for a lady right now.”
Ari gives me a slow blink, dipping her chin. “You know more than I do, and my mom’s his secretary.”
“Psh, they haven’t even opened yet. I only know anything because they’re my neighbors. He’s living with his mom, and she’s right across the street from me.”
“Sure.” Ari’s smile is wide, showing her straight teeth.
“I’m serious.” My blush is probably giving me away. I should hide under the table until I can no longer roast marshmallows against my cheeks.
She pulls her long, dark hair over her shoulder. “Oh my gosh, do you have a crush on the good doctor?”
“No, of course not.” I totally do. “Enough about me. I want to hear more about this thing you’re doing with Wade.”
“Oh, is that the time?” She pushes off from the table. “I need to round these guys up and get them back to school.”
“Deflection,” I say, but she walks away, wavy dark hair swinging.
Wade looks up, glancing between us, which makes me suppress my laugh and head to the front of the building to find the stickers and library card applications to hand out to the kids.
While I’m searching, a single thought plays on a loop in my mind. It jumps back to my conversation with Seth earlier and the potential I might be overlooking. How do you get rid of a crush?
Date someone else.