31. Seraphina
31
Seraphina
“Don’t forget to request time off for the weekend of the Fourth, Seraphina,” Bianca reminds me as she slips into her room.
“Remind me one more time, just in case I forget.”
“Sarcasm is the lowest form of humor.”
Shaking my head, I walk into my own room, closing the door lightly behind me. The remainder of our brunch was filled with lighthearted moments, Ava spilling a bottle of water all over the table and seventeen reminders for me to request time off for the Fourth. It seemed that regardless of the conversation, someone would slip it in as if they knew I would avoid asking for any concession from a job I had just started—but not caring about the inconvenience and asking me to anyway.
Stripping out of my dress, I pull an oversized ivory pleated pants set from my closet for my shift at the library. The lightweight fabric is breezy enough for the hot temperatures while sufficiently formal for my job. Throwing my hair up in a low ponytail, I twist the ends of my strands until they coil and then round it into a bun at the base of my neck. I don’t bother checking my reflection and slip into a pair of Veja sneakers before I grab my backpack and race back out the door.
Our brunch ran over the time I expected, and while I won’t complain about the company, the laughs, or even the annoyance of my sisters and friends, I don’t have much time before my shift starts.
“Leaving, see you tonight,” I call out to Bianca as I open the apartment door.
“Wait!” she yells, forcing me to halt my exit.
“What?”
“Meet me at Olivia’s bar after? I feel like annoying her.”
The last thing Olivia needs today is Bianca’s unique brand of annoyance, but I won’t lie and say that visiting Liv at work doesn’t sound like a good idea, even if I know she’ll balk outwardly at the intrusion.
“Okay. Should I pick you up?”
“No. I’m going to go there early with a friend, so I’ll see you there.”
“Be safe.” I point at her, not liking the tone she’s using on the word friend.
“Yes, Mom.”
Shaking my head, I slide out the door and shut it firmly behind me. I make it a few steps before my phone goes off. Assuming it must be my mother or something else from Bianca, I answer it without looking.
“Yeah?” I ask, jogging down the stairwell.
“That how you normally answer the phone, cierń?”
“Lincoln? What— Oh shit,” I mumble as I miss a step, falling into the railing to catch myself.
“Are you okay, Seraphina?” Lincoln’s voice is worried on the line, and I wince as I stand upright, not from pain but embarrassment from being caught off guard and stumbling because of it.
“Yes, sorry, I was just surprised that it was you and not my mom or sister.”
“Don’t you have caller ID? I’m pretty sure Mrs. Gregori’s number wouldn’t come up as ‘Lincoln’ in your phone.”
I roll my eyes at his teasing and resume my descent downstairs. “I didn’t look at the screen before I answered. I just left my apartment, and I’m heading to the library for a few hours.”
“To work or to study?”
“Work. I’m on until six.”
“Hmm. Say hi to Ms. Frizzle for me.”
“Oh my god.” I laugh, shaking my head at the nickname for May. “I will absolutely not tell my boss you’re calling her Ms. Frizzle or that you’re asking about her.”
“Hmm,” he hums into the receiver. He’s silent for a moment, just the sound of his breath filling the line. I don’t make any noise or any attempt to fill the air between us.
“Should I come see you, cierń?” His voice deepens, sounding velvety and smooth, and I can’t help but inhale sharply at the sound. “I haven’t been able to get you out of my goddamn mind, Seraphina. So you tell me when. When I can come and see you. Hell, I’d settle for fucking staring at you across the stacks like a stalker at this point.”
“I-I,” I stumble out, pressing a fist to the butterflies swarming in my stomach. “Lincoln—”
“My name on your lips is sinful, cierń. Something I still can’t believe I get to hear again.”
“Lincoln,” I repeat, my voice sounding breathless to my ears.
“What are you doing after work, Seraphina?” he asks, and I shake my head, clearing the filthy thoughts that just bombarded my vision.
“I’m going to the bar Olivia works at after my shift. It’s called Legends. I’m not sure if you’ve ever heard of it, but—”
“Sweetheart, half of my junior year was spent in Legends, drinking just to forget you.”
“Oh.” I clear my throat, unsure how to respond after that confession.
“Maybe I’ll see you later, cierń. Be safe at the library and at the bar. Call me if you have any issues, yeah?”
“Okay, Lincoln,” I whisper.
“Bye, my little thorn. I’ll see you tonight.” I hang up on him before I can say anything else. Or worse, he can.
Sliding my phone into my bag, I jog down the rest of the stairs in a daze, both from Lincoln’s threat of seeing me later and the way I hope his prophecy comes to fruition. I let his words guide me across the lot and play on repeat during my short drive to campus, playing and replaying it like a cassette in my mind to derive a clue or meaning.
I’m still stumbling over his words, butterflies dancing in my stomach at the thought of seeing him tonight and what that might mean while simultaneously worrying about how Olivia will react to me and Bianca showing up at the bar.
My head is in turmoil, my stomach in knots as I walk through the heavy doors of the library, and I almost slip past May on my trek across the lobby and toward the employee break and storage room.
“Hi, Seraphina,” she chirps, bringing me out of my daze. “You look lovely this afternoon.”
“Oh.” I look down, surveying the set I’m wearing and relieved that it doesn’t look disheveled. “Hi, May. Thank you. How are you?”
“I’m well, I’m well. The schedule for July is posted in the break room. The library will be closed the week of the Fourth.”
“I didn’t realize it would be closed the entire weekend,” I murmur, simultaneously relieved I don’t need to request time off but also annoyed that I don’t have an excuse to avoid the lake house. “Thank you for letting me know.”
“I’m sure no one wants to hide in a library when they can be watching fireworks. Any fun plans for next week?”
I smile at her inquiry. “A get-together with friends.”
“Lovely. Well, you’re in the archive room today; thank you for coming in. I know you were supposed to be off, but the sooner I can get those boxes out of here, the sooner you can come to the desk and help Julie.”
“Of course.” I nod at the mention of the other full-time librarian. “I’ll be downstairs if you need me.”
With a wave, I turn and start walking toward the basement, sweeping my eye over the floor to ensure there are no signs of Mitch anywhere. When I don’t see his unwelcome form, I release a sigh, breathing easier as I make my way downstairs to get lost in the monotony of scanning and renaming periodicals and newspapers.
—
“God, that hurts,” I mumble, twisting my torso to work out the kink in my back from the two hours spent hunched over the computer and scanner. Releasing a sigh at the popping sound and immediate relief, I gather my bag and double-check the space, making sure all the boxes are neatly closed and stacked in their appropriate sections.
Satisfied with how I’m leaving the room, I walk to the stairs and flick off the lights, knowing that no one will come down here after I go, and take the stairs slowly. I’m careful with my movements, making sure that I don’t step on my slightly too-long pants as I ascend the staircase to the first floor of the library. I stop short when I exit the threshold, surprised to find May standing in front of a window with a roll of paper towels and a spray bottle.
“May?” May whirls around, her face set in an irritated scowl. “Everything okay?”
“You would think adults would know not to touch glass, but of course, they don’t,” she seethes, gesturing to the window with the paper towels. “Some aberrant felon thought it would be funny to lick the window. Do you have any idea how many germs are on that glass, Seraphina?”
“A lot?”
“Disgraceful. That’s what this is. And I caught him doing it too. No doubt he’s a student in that Professor Reddenbalm’s class.”
“Right. Uh, do you need help with that?”
May shakes her head, turning back to the window as she does. “No. Go home. I’m going to spray this window down and call the maintenance staff and ask them to give me that sour apple spray for dogs. I never thought I’d have to spray repellent on windows to prevent students from licking them.”
My eyes tear from the effort to hold in my laugh. It’s not funny—it’s actually extremely gross, but the absurdity cannot be denied. “Okay, well, have a nice evening, May. I’ll see you on Monday?”
“Yes, yes. And don’t forget, we’re closed the week of the Fourth.”
Nodding, I smile at her back and pull my phone out of my pocket. There are a slew of text messages on the screen, but one name sticks out to me. Unlocking my phone, I click on the thread with my best friend.
Olivia: Bianca is here sucking some guy’s face off.
Olivia: She just ordered shots.
Olivia: I’ll kill her if she throws up at my job, Seraphina. I swear to God.
Olivia: Come get your sister.
Olivia: Never mind, she just left.
Concerned, I swipe up from the thread and click on Bianca’s contact icon, bringing the phone to my ear as I wait for her to answer her phone. After three rings, my sister’s voice slurs over the line.
“Are you calling to yell at me?”
“Where are you?” I ask, my voice worried.
“In our apartment with Kev.”
“Who is— You know what? Doesn’t matter. You’re safe?”
“Yes, Mom. I’m safe. But go to Olivia’s bar. She seemed bitchier than normal,” Bianca says with a note of lucidity before hanging up. Lowering my phone, I scowl at the device.
“Of all the annoying things she has ever done,” I mutter, shaking my head as I continue walking through the library and out the front doors. My mind is still on Olivia’s texts and my sister hanging up on me as I cross the parking lot.
It’s not until I’m in front of my car, keys in hand, that I realize I’m not alone. As soon as I register the sounds coming from behind me, the heavy footsteps following me stop, and I grip my handle, pulling my door open just as I hear a voice that haunts me in every nightmare I’ve had since I was eighteen years old.
“Long time no see, Fin.”