Chapter Nine #2
He nodded, not knowing what he was supposed to say in response.
Connie’s gaze moved to the book in his hand, and she arched a brow. “That isn’t your normal genre. It’s good to see that you’re branching out.”
He had no idea what book he had in his hand. He merely nodded and said, “I, uh…like to read different genres.”
“More people should be like you.” Connie smiled at him. “By the way, the book you ordered is at the counter when you’re ready to check out.” Her gaze lowered to the book in his hand. “Would you like me to take that one for you?”
“Uh… No.”
She nodded in understanding. Once she was out of sight, he lifted the book and looked at the cover. There was a shirtless guy with a cowboy hat. Justin inwardly groaned before he stuffed the book back onto the shelf. Of all the books for him to pick up.
He glanced toward the front of the shop to get a glimpse of Felicity, but he couldn’t see her. He changed rows. He still couldn’t see her.
He kept moving and trying to catch sight of her. He had so many questions for her. But instead of going to the front and having a conversation with her, he stayed in the back.
Just then Connie appeared again. Her gaze narrowed on him. “Are you sure I can’t help you find something?”
He shook his head as he pretended to look at another book. “I was just looking around before I pick up the book I ordered.”
“Okay. If you’re sure…”
He nodded. Once she moved on, he looked down at the book in his hand. The cover was of a shirtless man with a trim waist and bulging arm muscles. He found himself sucking in his stomach.
He continued staring at the cover. There’s no way that was a real photo. There had to be a lot of airbrushing. No one had such a perfect physique. He rolled his eyes as he put the book back on the shelf.
It was definitely time to go. He swallowed hard and moved to the checkout counter.
Ding.
He reached for his phone. It was a message from his brother Michael.
There’s been a dognapping.
Wait. What? He must have read it wrong. But after a second perusal, he found that there really was a dognapping. His fingers moved rapidly over the screen of his phone.
Justin: Whose dog?
Michael: Belle Sinclair. It’s one of the dogs that Candi brought to town for adoption.
Justin: What can I do to help? Make flyers? Spread the word around town?
Michael: Nothing. Don’t want to spook the person. Parker is investigating.
Justin felt better knowing his brother, the town’s sheriff, was involved. Parker wouldn’t rest until he found the puppy. Still, a dognapping in Kringle Falls? Things like that didn’t happen in these parts.
“Can I help you?” The familiar voice came from behind the checkout counter.
Justin kept his head lowered as he focused on the messages. “I just need to pick up a book.”
Justin: Keep me updated.
Michael: Will do.
His family was really good about keeping each other informed.
“Is this it?”
When he glanced up, his gaze met the most striking green eyes. They drew him in and made his heart thump.
It took him a moment to realize he was staring at the woman who once upon a time had broken his heart. It was the end of summer, and she was just about to head back to college in New York when he’d gotten down on one knee and proposed.
He remembered everything about that moment with crystal-clear clarity. They’d been by the falls. The sun was setting, and he’d finally worked up the courage to ask her.
The memory still stabbed at his heart. He remembered how she’d tried to let him down gently, but all he heard was no. And then she’d walked away without a backward glance.
Now how was he supposed to act normal around her? He told himself that it was a long time ago. It shouldn’t matter to him any longer. So, then why could he still feel the pain of that rejection?
“Justin?” Felicity’s voice drew him from his thoughts.
It took him a moment to realize she was expecting an answer. He didn’t recall the question. He merely nodded his head and said, “Y-Yes.”
He lowered his gaze to his phone once more. There weren’t any new messages. He just needed a moment to pull himself together. He couldn’t believe Felicity was back and working her old job.
He remembered the countless times he’d meet her here on a Friday evening and wait around for her to finish working. Then they’d go grab something to eat at the Kringle Cup Café before going to the movies.
In the subsequent eight years, they’d barely said more than a dozen words to each other. He supposed it was well past time to let all of that stuff go. And he had, he thought. But being this close to her made all of the old stuff come floating to the surface.
She’d said something, but he hadn’t caught it. “Uh…” He glanced up and found himself staring directly into her eyes again. “What?”
“I was just wondering how you’ve been.”
“Uh, good.” He didn’t believe it was possible, but Felicity was even more beautiful now. His gaze might have strayed to her left hand, and he was surprised there wasn’t a wedding ring there.
“Is this all you’re getting?” She held up a book.
He nodded. While she checked out the book he’d ordered, he pretended to be busy on his phone while he tried to think of something to say to her. All he could come up with was, “Did you just get back in town?”
He inwardly groaned. Of course, she just got back. She’d had her suitcase when he first saw her.
“Um… Yeah.” She looked as awkward as he felt. “So, uh, you still live here?”
Was that disapproval he heard in her voice? Did she think he should be like her and move away? Maybe he should have left Kringle Falls, but his whole family was here. And for whatever reason, they were freakishly close.
He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “Uh. Yeah. I have a place at the Evergreen Apartments.”
Her eyes momentarily widened. “That’s, uh…great.”
Enough of the awkward conversation. He paid for the book. “Well, I’ll see you.”
“See ya.”
The muscles in his neck and shoulders were stiff as he walked away. He worried about the way she could still get to him. Hopefully, she wouldn’t be in town for long. In the meantime, he was making a wide berth around Jingle Bell Books.