Chapter 21 #2
‘I remember,’ I say, offering her a reassuring smile. ‘You were brilliant.’
She flushes slightly, then straightens her posture. ‘Have you ever taken on students for work experience? I need a placement, and well, I love books and this place kind of feels like magic.’
It’s that same quiet honesty Lilah had in her voice when she spoke her poem into the mic, like she isn’t sure she’d ever talk aloud again. ‘I think we can figure something out,’ I say gently. ‘Come by Saturday morning. We’ll get you started on restocking and maybe help host another poetry night.’
‘Omg yes, thank you,’ she squeals. ‘Sorry, you won't regret it.’ She turns away quickly as if I might change my mind.
I watch her disappear into the shelves, her braid swinging. This feels like something Carol would do and be proud of me for offering. I’d always imagined building a life around words. I never thought it would feel so much like living too.
The shop fills in waves, with teachers on lunch, a retiree with a crossword, and two teens who orbit the poetry shelf and pretend they’re not.
Jasper shoulders in, drops his backpack behind the counter, and does a quick scan like he’s clocking exits and plot twists.
‘You started without me,’ he mocks offence, then grins. ‘The crowd looks good.’
‘You’re early,’ I say.
‘For me, this is record-breaking.’ He fans through a stack of catalogues, then starts a neat pile like it’s a competition only he knows about. ‘Any dramas? Lost children? Someone demanding the exact book they saw on TikTok with a blue cover and “a vibe”?’
‘A girl wanted dragons without the cheesy stuff. Found her one.’
He gives me a small, respectful nod. ‘Service to the people.’ He slices open a new-arrival box with the box cutter he insists is “his” and glances over. ‘So… poetry night.’
‘Yeah.’
‘She was good,’ he confirms. ‘Lilah looked… beautiful up there.’
I nod, pretending to focus on the stack of catalogues. ‘Yeah. She did.’
Jasper lets it hang for a second, then taps the box with the cutter. ‘Unrelated, but my investigation into who Lola really is has entered phase two.’
I smile. ‘Still on that, huh?’
‘Always.’ He flips a copy of The Year Before You, thumb braced in the margins. ‘Okay, listen to this.’ He reads a line about beginnings, then glances up. ‘Tell me that doesn’t sound like something you’d say when you’re trying to pretend, you’re not saying something.’
I keep my face neutral. ‘Sounds like a writer who overthinks.’
‘Exactly my point.’ He taps the page. ‘Same dry humour. Same dig-you-in-the-ribs metaphor situation. If Lola ever wanders into this shop, I’m getting her to sign the romance shelf.’
‘Ambitious,’ I say, shelving a stack that doesn’t need shelving.
Jasper watches me too closely to be casual, then lets it go with a half-smile. ‘Relax. I’ll figure it out eventually. I always do.’ He wedges the book back and straightens the row. ‘Window display after lunch? Three “fresh start” titles and one wildcard.’
‘Done.’
We get back to it. He hums a bar of something under his breath, mouth quirking when a spine lines up just right. No performance, just work. It’s good.
Tuesdays we close the store at 3pm. I lock up and meet Jasper outside when my phone buzzes.
EZRA: Hey, I am walking toward the bookstore, you still there?
I glance at Jasper and he shrugs.
LUCAS: Just about to lock up, but we can stay.
Less than five minutes later Ezra pushes through the door, with a six pack in his hands. ‘Wow, mate this place looks great. Can’t even remember the last time I was in here to be honest.’
‘Yeah, you don’t really scream “I go to bookstores regularly,’” Jasper says.
‘What are you trying to say?’ He hands me a beer.
‘Nothing! You having one’ Jasper offers.
‘Nah mate, I am all good.’ He folds his arms and wanders down one of the isles, ‘So, you and Lilah seemed pretty close at Trivia Night. What's going on there?’ Ezra asks.
‘Wow, don’t beat around the bush,’ Jaspers jabs.
‘Look, I’m not sure. There’s no labels yet.’ I try to play it cool. ‘We have been on a couple of dates. Well one really, and some coffee at the shop.’
‘Just one? You should take her out to dinner, mate. I bet she’d love that. Women always do.’
Laughing at him, I say, ‘Is that your best advice? Take her to dinner, women love it?’
He grins, but it fades almost as quick as it comes. ‘Take it with a grain of salt. I’ve been single since I moved over here.’ His voice is steady but thinner at the edges. ‘Bad breakup, I had to flee the country to get away from her.’
I raise a brow. ‘That rough, huh?’
He huffs out a small laugh, that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. ‘Yeah. One of those stories that’s better left in another time zone.’ He straightens, shaking it off. ‘Anyway, take her to dinner. Show her she matters. She seems like the type who overthinks everything. Might do her good.’
He isn’t wrong about her at all. ‘Yeah, you’re right. Where would you suggest?’
‘The pub. I have a private dining room that’s cozy, if you think she’d be into it. Just tell me when.’
‘Great! Thanks, bud.’
‘You sure you don’t want a beer?’ Jasper asks again.
‘Nah, I don’t drink much.’
“Oh” Jasper mouths.
Ezra smiles. ‘I’ve got to get back to the pub. Let me know about that date.’
‘Will do.’
‘I am going to head out too,’ Japer replies. ‘Walk with me,’ he turns to Ezra.
Ezra rolls his eyes. ‘Come on princess, lets go.’
‘Okay, see ya tomorrow.’ I laugh then pull out my phone to shoot off a text.
LUCAS: Hey, would you be interested in dinner on Friday night? With me.
It takes a moment, but those three little dots appear.
LILAH: Sounds great, where, and when?
LUCAS: 6pm at the Mossy Pint, I can come by your place and pick you up?
LILAH: Perfect. Miss me already? x
LUCAS: That must be it.
I shoot off another text to Ezra.
LUCAS: Hey mate, Friday at 6pm. Does that work?
EZRA: Done, booked in.
I lock up and give Monty a pat before walking home, ‘Bye sweet girl.’
She meows in response and I wonder if one day she’d come home with me.