Chapter Eighteen Magic in the Book Room
We have a festival committee meeting the next night, and I seriously consider skipping it because I don’t want to see Miles. But I go. I sit as far as I possibly can from him at the big table at LoveBug, though, and barely look at him when he tells everyone about our meeting with Su Lin.
“This… this is so cool,” Cara says, looking up at me shyly. “I’d… I mean… I can help with the mural… if you want.”
I’m surprised—Cara might love fashion, but she’s not what I’d call artsy .
This is the first thing she’s said to me since the meeting started.
Things have been awkward between us. We haven’t really talked since I called her girlfriend controlling, and she ignored my apology text.
I assumed I’d ruined our friendship. But maybe her offering to help with the mural is her way of asking if we’re still cool.
I give her a genuine smile. “Absolutely. Even though you always say you have the artistic ability of a capybara. It would be great to do it together.”
Cara smiles widely, and I know we’ll be okay. I won’t bring up her relationship with Hannah, but at least we can be friends again.
Miles leaves immediately after the meeting without saying anything. It’s reminding me of the grumpy Miles I first met in LoveBug. I should have listened to myself when I thought he was a douche back then.
“What’s going on with you two?” Cara asks. Jenn, Cara, Julie, and I are still at the table, finishing our tea.
“Nothing’s going on,” I say.
“There’s a ton of tension between you,” Julie says.
“Yeah, I noticed it, too,” Jenn adds. “You guys were great friends. Did something happen at prom?”
No, nothing happened at prom. We had a lovely time.
Something did happen after prom, but I really don’t want to tell anyone that Miles pity kissed me even though he’s dating someone else.
“Prom was fine. But I realized that we’re way too different.
I want to focus only on this festival, nothing else. ”
Cara looks at me skeptically. I know I never confessed that I had feelings for the guy, but she looks like she doesn’t buy any of what I’m saying.
I shake my head and stand to take my mug to the counter.
“Nothing significant happened. We’re just not as tight anymore.
Anyway, I forgot to say, I know a guy who has a T-shirt company.
I could reach out to get a quote on the volunteer T-shirts? ”
When I get to Cosmic for my shift on Friday, Cara and Jenn are both behind the counter. Cara immediately gets her bag to leave, saying she has plans tonight. She’s glowing with happiness. I don’t have to guess who her plans are with.
“Oh, Sana, before I go,” Cara says. She glances at Jenn, who smiles. “Reggie was here earlier looking for you. He bought a bunch more romances in an auction lot. He asked if you can go through them after closing so he can put the good ones on the shelves for the weekend.”
I cringe. I can’t go to the bookstore. I’m supposed to be avoiding Miles. “I don’t know—”
“If you’re worried about Miles being there, he’s not,” Jenn says. “Reggie’s niece Tamara is covering some shifts this summer. She’s going to help you with the books.”
“Oh. Okay, then. I’ll pop by,” I say. I’ve met Tamara before and liked her. She’s a huge romance reader. It would be fun to go through the romance books with her.
When I go to the bookstore after closing Cosmic for the night, Reggie is behind the counter.
“Sana, my dear. Look at you! I always love your colorful wardrobe.”
I smile and thank Reggie. It’s warm now, so I’m wearing purple high-waisted shorts with a sleeveless pink blouse with a lace collar. My hair is pulled back with a pink knotted headband.
“Cara said you had more romances for me to go through?”
Reggie nods. “Yes. As you know, I’m not very versed in the genre… but I’m getting better! They’re on the desk in the back room… You won’t miss them. Unfortunately, I must finish this paperwork or my staff won’t get paid.”
“Is Tamara there now?” I ask.
He smiles widely. “Yes. You’ll have company.”
“Okay… I’ll just put the good books in a pile.”
As I head toward the back room of the bookstore, Reggie calls out, “Thank you, my dear!”
I open the door to the storeroom, and… I freeze. The only person I see is Miles.
He’s sitting at a little desk near the wall, engrossed in a history book. He doesn’t seem to notice me, and Tamara is nowhere to be seen.
Stupid meddling neighbors and friends. Reggie and Jenn lied to my face about Tamara being here, and I can’t believe I fell for it.
I’m about to turn and leave Second Story Books when I realize what book Miles is reading.
It’s Pride and Prejudice —my favorite book of all time.
It’s an old, worn hardcover edition, which is why I assumed it was a history book.
“Miles,” I say, walking into the storeroom and closing the door behind me. “Why are you reading that?”
He looks up at me, startled. He’s wearing his Second Story Books T-shirt, the same yellow shirt he had on the last time I was in this storeroom with him.
That feels like so long ago. That was our first argument…
or maybe our second if I count the original BOA meeting where we met. We’ve argued so many times since then.
I can’t believe I’m feeling nostalgic thinking about our arguments.
I take a step closer so I’m a few feet away from his desk.
We’ve also bonded many times. Over our family issues, our love of good food, and our love of this community.
We’ve laughed about those terrible dates I set him up on.
We’ve watched a sunset together while eating cheese and strawberries.
We’ve ate red velvet cake at midnight in the flower shop.
We’ve brainstormed and collaborated and built an entire festival together.
And we’ve kissed.
He looks at me with those rich brown eyes and doesn’t say anything for a beat before he puts down the book and runs his hand through his hair. “Sana, what are you doing here?”
“I have no idea.” There are no books on the only desk here—only Miles’s laptop. “I think Reggie and Jenn made something up as a ploy to get me to talk to you.”
Miles frowns. “Oh. That’s why he told me to stay back here.”
I lean closer to see the book. “So… are you actually reading Pride and Prejudice ?”
He nods. “Yeah.”
“It’s my favorite book, and you mocked me for that. And now you’re reading it?”
“I didn’t mock you.” He sighs. “Sorry if I did. It’s a good book.”
“Why did you even start it?” I pick the book up from the desk. It’s an old edition, probably from this bookstore.
“Because you said it was your favorite, and… you said I was a cold fish.”
“I said you were a frigid fish,” I say. Which is really the same thing. But since I said that, Miles Desai has kissed all coherent thoughts out of me, so now I know he’s the furthest thing from frigid. “So, what, you’re reading Pride and Prejudice so you’ll learn how to be less cold?”
He shrugs. “You said I don’t know a thing about love and romance—and you’re right,” he says. “Although, if Mr. Darcy is your idea of a romantic hero, I’d say that I come pretty close already.”
“Yeah, no, I’ve seen you dance. Fitzwilliam Darcy has nothing on you.”
That makes him chuckle, and it’s adorable as always. I shouldn’t have said that. I forgot that I’m mad at him. I still have no idea whether he’s dating my stepsister. Maybe it’s time I asked him.
“Do you want to be more romantic so you’ll be a better cochair of the love festival or so you’ll be a better boyfriend to my stepsister?” I can’t help the hurt seeping into my voice. Because yeah… Miles and Sarina together would sting. A lot.
But he recoils at my question. “Why would I want to be your sister’s boyfriend?”
“ Stepsister . You went out with her Sunday night to a place on College Street, right? I saw your text to her at brunch. And Sarina was so grateful that I introduced the two of you.”
Miles shakes his head, a look of confusion on his face. He gets up from his chair and walks around the desk so he’s standing in front of me. He exhales. “So that’s why you’re mad. I did go out with Sarina on Sunday. But it wasn’t a date. At least not with me.”
That doesn’t make sense.
“Sarina told me after High Park that she was really into someone,” he says. “And it’s someone I conveniently know. So I invited them both out, hoping sparks would fly.”
My eyes widen. “Seriously? You were setting Sarina up with someone? Like I was doing for you?” That… was not the explanation I expected. Like, at all.
He nods, a tiny smile on his face. Now that I know the truth, I’m allowed to think he’s cute again. Because his tiny smiles are too adorable.
Fighting my blush, I ask, “Who is Sarina into?”
He shakes his head. “She asked me not to tell you. She doesn’t want her parents finding out.”
I almost ask him to tell me anyway, because I wouldn’t tell Dad and Noureen. But if Sarina asked him not to tell me, then I’m not going to force him. It’s probably someone from Vaughan or King City anyway. Or maybe someone in his university program.
And it’s definitely not Miles.
“So, you and Sarina didn’t hit it off when I set you up?”
He smiles, shaking his head. “No, we did hit it off. She’s cool. We’re friends.”
“But not dating.” I need him to say it clearly.
He takes a step forward so now there’s barely a foot separating us.
He takes his book from my hand and drops it back on the desk.
“Sana,” he says. His voice is smooth and sure—all his shyness from a few moments ago long gone.
He’s right here, and I’m surrounded by the comforting smell of old books. “I kissed you on Saturday,” he says.
I blink. “I remember.”
“I admit that I’m utterly clueless when it comes to relationships,” he says, “which explains the last few days. But do you really think I’d kiss you on Saturday and then go out with someone else the next night? With your sister ?”