27. Bax
Bax
The woman works with books all day, and can borrow any of them for free.
What was I thinking? This is a terrible fucking date idea.
But it's too damn late to change now. I'll just have to grin and bear it until we get there.
Then Cali'll probably inform me that she hates it, I'll take her home, and I'll drop out of my pack.
There's no way I'll destroy their happiness just because I'm a dumbass.
And Cali looks so fucking cute in an overall dress with little mushrooms on it, a puffy-sleeved red sweater underneath, and black leggings that show off her beautiful legs.
I could kiss her into forgetting about the date.
Or beg forgiveness. But neither of those is fair.
She's clearly put effort into her appearance, even though I'd think she was gorgeous in nothing but a shirt.
Actually, I prefer that. If it was my t-shirt with my scent all over it.
I shake myself, trying to stay in reality, and the fact is that I'm so angry with myself that I can't focus enough.
We've been sitting in this car in silence for twenty minutes while driving, and her scent has gone from dew in the morning to rain-tinged with burnt grass.
The earth tones turn scorched whenever she's upset, nervous, or stressed.
That isn't good, and I want to fix it, but I have no idea how.
I'm sure that my scent, described as smokey, has also gone bitter.
She's reacting to my scent and demeanor, and I'm responding to hers. Stress on stress. Fucking great.
We finally turn down Main Street. We're two towns over in another touristy town called Sandyville.
Winter is their slow season, just like us, but where we've decided that the Ice Festival is the answer, Sandyville has decided that a mid-winter book festival is the solution.
The town is set up much like Lakeside Point, with a main street that ends at the beach.
But Sandyville is on the east side of the Peninsula, and the beach opens onto the end of Grand Traverse Bay, instead of Lake Michigan.
Across Main Street, from light pole to light pole, hangs a banner reading Sandyville Book Festival: 10th Annual Book Buying, Selling, and Signing .
Other signs describe the types of books sold and the signing authors.
The street is blocked off, and booths and tables are lined up in three rows all the way to the bay.
I glance at Cali as we pull into the closest parking space on the main drag.
She's staring out the window at the banners and posters.
Eyes wide, mouth slightly open like she can't believe I'd bring a librarian to a book festival.
I internally groan, and do my best not to fall face-first into my steering wheel in exasperation.
Then she turns to me, tears pricking the corners of her eyes, and I can't take it anymore. I move over to sit in the middle of the bench seat of my pickup truck where the steering wheel won't be in the way and gather her into my lap.
"Raindrop, I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking. This was clearly a bad idea. I'll take you anywhere you want to go. Do anything. You just tell me. I promise I can do this better."
She pulls back just enough to look at my face, her forehead furrowed. "Why are you sorry?"
I huff out a laugh. She doesn't look mad, but my Raindrop is a very kind person.
I press my forehead against hers. "I messed this all up.
Bringing a librarian to a book fair. You're around books all day.
Why are you crying if it's not because I've epically fucked up?
" She giggles, and I feel so much pride in making her laugh.
"Because…" Cali trails off, and I give her a moment to compose her thoughts.
I'll wait forever if she's in my arms while I do it.
"Because no one's ever done this kind of stuff for me.
You, your pack, it's so overwhelming to be thought about like this.
In a good way." I snuggle her closer and purr deeper.
"Do you want to go pick out some books?" I ask, and her smile is the sun.