12. Dani
I’m sitting in the car in front of the Just One More Chapter bookstore, banging my head on the steering wheel. Not to the point where I could get a massive headache, but to the point where I’ll definitely have a mark on my forehead later.
The last time my writing block was this bad was when Dad passed away.
Actually, it was worse. I couldn’t write for months. It was a chore to do schoolwork. All I wanted was to do was sleep in my bed and never leave.
Getting out of my car and locking it, I head into Just One More Chapter.
I have no idea what I’m looking for. I knew I had to get out of the house and clear my head.
When I walk inside, it’s hard not to notice the giant arched windows in the back of the store that have rolling shelves in front of them which are full of books.
There are a few people here and there.
Two girls that look younger than me are hanging out on the sofa in front of the store and a group of high school girls are scouring through the romance section.
Sunlight is reflecting off the white paint from the bookshelves that are located all over the store. The walls are white with abstract blue waves painted across the bottom of them. There aren’t any signs for genres anywhere, but everything’s organized. It’s just a matter of knowing what you’re looking for.
I don’t see any employees I know since I haven’t been here in years.
I didn’t visit Just One More Chapter that often during my high school years since I used to be a frequent visitor of Sweet Salty.
The fact that we even have a romance-only bookstore is incredible to me. I’ve been seeing them pop up all over New York and Chicago.
It warms my little romance reader’s heart.
My eyes gravitate towards Beach Read by Emily Henry, sitting on a small table display with the rest of her books in the middle of the store near the small romance section they have.
I read Beach Read during my freshman year of college and it was life-changing. Emily Henry perfectly encapsulated what it’s like to be a writer. Gus Everett quickly climbed to the top of my book boyfriends list.
“Dani, is that you?” A high-pitched voice calls out.
Turning around, I see Violet Prescott standing before me.
I haven’t seen her since high school when chaos erupted like a volcano for her. We were never really close and part of me regrets we weren’t, but shit happens.
Her blonde hair is in a braid and she has a pair of sunglasses sitting on top of her head. She’s wearing a white tank top with spaghetti straps, gray sweatpants, and beige sandals.
“Wow, it’s weird seeing you here,” she says.
“I could say the same. I’m so used to seeing you at Sweet Salty.”
“Yeah, same here.” She pauses. “Hey, I’m so sorry about Ben. When Noah texted me, I couldn’t believe it.”
“When Noah texted you?”
“Yeah, I’ve been keeping in contact with him for the past several years.”
Say what now?
“Oh.”
“Enough about me. How are you?”
“I don’t even know. I came here because I needed to get out of the house. My mom is making Noah stay at my house with me. It’s a nightmare.”
“Wait, you two have to stay in the same place with each other? For how long?”
“I have no idea, but he might be dead before I am.”
She laughs. “Yeah, that doesn’t surprise me.”
“Why are you here at Just One More Chapter?”
“Sage wants me to pick up The Silent Patient for her because she’s too lazy to go out and get it herself.”
Out of all the mysteries and thrillers I’ve read, that book is one of the only ones I haven’t read yet. Solely because I know everything that happens in it.
I remember when Mom and Laura would play catch-up with each other.
Laura would talk about how obsessed Noah was with that damn book. It would be to the point where she’d give out major spoilers like they were free samples you’d get at Costco.
I snap myself out of my thoughts. “Sounds like Sage. She’s always been lazy as hell.”
“By the way, if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here. I know we’ve never been close, but I really want to be. Closer to you I mean. Sage is my only friend, if you want to call her that. It would be nice to have more.” She grins. “Hand me your phone,” she sticks her hand out in my direction.
Giving her my phone, Violet types out her phone number and hands it back to me.
“Thanks.” I smile. “Why is it you’ve been keeping in contact with Noah?”
She takes a deep breath. “I’ve been having him update me about Grayson.”
Oh boy, I opened a can of worms. And I can’t take it back.
“And Grayson doesn’t know about this?”
She shakes her head. “No, and I don’t want him to know. Please don’t tell him.”
“I won’t. You have my word.”
“Thanks.” She pauses for a few seconds. “I should go and get this before Sage has my head. Don’t hesitate to text me if you need anything. And I mean anything,” she says as she reaches out to grab my hand.
I nod, feeling my eyes getting glassy. Using my ring fingers, I wipe away the wetness off my face.
Violet walks away from me to check out Sage’s book.
Why does she want updates on Grayson?
The last time I saw Violet Prescott, it was my senior year of high school.
I was on my way to my English final and saw the two of them walking past each other.
Her eyes were glued on Grayson the entire time, but he didn’t even look at her. It was like she didn’t exist. Her face had heartbreak written all over it.
The rest is unknown and I’m too tired to think right now. This is all making me fucking dizzy.
Watching Violet walk out the door takes me back to when I used to see her all the time at Sweet Salty.
She exclusively reads romance. That I do remember because it was the one thing we sort of bonded over when we’d run into each other here. And nothing else.
I hope we can become friends and it’s not just because she said that she needs more.
I want to go home, but I know Noah’s going to be there.
Seriously, what the hell was my mother thinking? Why would she have the guy I’ve hated since I was a kid stay with me in our house? Does she not recall our War of Words?
Noah’s the last person I’d want to be stuck at home with.
Honestly, he’s the last person I’d want to be stuck anywhere with.
BELLA
ME
meet me at kailani’s?
BELLA
Be there in 10
Should I ask why we’re meeting there?
ME
nope
BELLA
We’ll talk when I get there
Walking out the door, I head to my car and slip into the driver’s seat.
I pull my hair up into a ponytail. I feel like I’ve been transported back into the 1980s with Tame Impala blasting through the speakers.
Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath before I back out of my parking spot.
The drive there is a mix of me jamming out, internally freaking out about running into Violet, and not wanting to go home because I’ll have to deal with Noah.
When I pull in front of Kailani’s, I head inside and find a table.
Bella walks in, heading straight for me. “How the hell did you get here so fast?”
“I was at Just One More Chapter because I needed to escape my house.”
“You look like shit,” she says, sitting down on the seat across from me.
I huff. “Thank you for that.”
“I’m sorry. What’s going on? Why did you want to meet me here?”
“I ran into Violet Prescott,” I blurt out.
She extends her neck out slightly. “You what?”
“I saw Violet at the bookstore,” I repeat.
She takes a moment to process. “How did that go?”
“It was strange and she looked the same. She was getting a book for Sage.”
“I think we need to take Sage’s computer away from her, so she can go out and get things herself.”
I laugh with my mouth closed. “We really do.” I exhale. “Violet’s been in contact with Noah for the past six years and Grayson has no idea.”
“Secrets aren’t secret once they’re revealed.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, that didn’t come out like you thought it would, did it?”
“It didn’t.” She giggles and gets up. “Do you want anything? I’m buying.”
“Bella, you’re not buying.”
“Yes, I am.”
“Fine. Can I have an unsweetened iced black tea?”
She nods and walks up to the employee working the register. When she finishes ordering our drinks, she walks over to the pickup area.
Since it’s late in the day, Kailani’s isn’t as busy as it would be in the mornings. There are a few people here and there, sitting in the corner of the shop.
“Bella, I have your unsweetened black iced tea and your tropical mango iced tea,” a voice shouts a few minutes later.
Bella grabs our drinks and thanks the barista before sitting back down at the table.
“Thank you for getting me caffeine,” I say, grabbing the drink from her
“Always.”
We sip some of our iced teas and exchange awkward glances at each other.
I squint my eyes, grinning. “I have something else to tell you.”
“Okay, shoot.”
“My mom is forcing Noah to stay at the house with me.”
She blinks, her eyes widening. “I’m sorry. What?”
“My mom doesn’t like the idea of me staying in the house alone, so she thinks having Noah stay with me is a good idea.”
She smiles. “So, what you’re telling me is you two are stuck in your house together? Just the two of you? Alone?”
I roll my eyes. “Yes.”
“Interesting.” She leans her chin on her hands, resting her elbows on the table. “I think your mom is onto something.”
“Elaborate,” I say.
“I may not be a romance expert, but I have heard a lot of people say how hate sex is some of the best sex you can have.”
I’m sorry, what?
My mouth hangs open before I start laughing hard. “That’s funny because it sounds like you’re suggesting that I should have sex with Noah.”
“That’s exactly what I’m suggesting.”
“Is there something in your iced tea that they didn’t put in mine?”
She leans back, crossing one leg over the other. “Dani, can you imagine how hot that would be?”
“I’m imagining myself throwing up right now.” I roll my eyes, pretending to gag.
“You’re so dramatic.” She gently shakes her head. “Imagine you guys are arguing and he keeps staring at your lips.”
“Okay, I’m going to need a barf bag.” My body grows increasingly stiff as I gulp down a quarter of my iced tea.
“Now, you’re staring at his lips. And bam! You guys start making out. And shit escalates from there.”
Never going to happen.
“Are you sure you’re not a romance author?”
“Unfortunately, no. That’s your department.”
A small smile appears on my face. “As much as I don’t want to go home, I have to check and make sure Noah didn’t destroy anything.”
“He’s not a dog,” she says.
“I’m not so sure about that one.”
I get up from the chair with Bella following suit.
We walk out of Kailani’s and stand in front of my car.
“If you ever need to rant to me about Noah, don’t. I’m just kidding. Rant all you want. I know your mom is looking out for you. She wouldn’t have done this if she didn’t think it was right.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
She lowers an eyebrow. “I’m always right.”
I get into my car, sitting in the driver’s seat and rolling down the window. “I’ll update you when I can.”
“I’d appreciate that,” she tells me.
I wave to her. “Bye.”
“Bye.”
My drive home is a bit more peaceful than the drive to Kailani’s. That is until I pull up in my driveway and realize Noah’s going to be inside.
What the hell is Bella thinking? Hate sex with my childhood rival? Oh God, I’m going to throw up. Figuratively. Not literally. Like, why would she suggest that?
Glancing out my window, the sky is full of pinks, purples, and oranges. The sunsets here have always been so beautiful.
This one feels more special.
Thanks for lighting up the sky, Ben. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me and my family.
Walking into the house, I see Noah sprawled on the sofa. My sofa.
“Glad to see you made yourself at home!” I shout.
“Jesus Christ,” he mutters under his breath, taking his wireless earbuds out.
“Yeah, how does it feel to get scared shitless?”
He rolls his eyes and flips me off, licking his lips. “I thought you’d never come back.”
“Yeah, well, I never thought you’d be in my space. But, here we are.”
“Just admit you love me being in your space.”
“I hate that you’re in my space.”
I head into the kitchen to see what we can have for dinner.
He follows me, leaning against the entryway and crossing his arms in front of his chest. “What are you doing?”
“If you must know, I’m trying to find something we can make for dinner.”
“Hey, if you stare at the contents of the fridge long enough, maybe something will jump out at you.”
I glare at him. “Or maybe you could come help me find shit instead of standing there and doing absolutely nothing?”
“Nah, watching you get frustrated is one of my favorite activities.”
I close the fridge. “Do you realize how close I am to punching you in the face?”
“Do you realize arguing with me isn’t going to help you figure out what we should eat for dinner? We’re wasting precious time.”
God, I’m not going to survive this. Maybe I should just hit myself in the head with the flashlight.
I let out a deep exhale. “Really? I had no idea. Seriously, be a good boy, and come help me find something we can make for dinner.”
His face lights up as he takes a moment to take in what I asked him to do for me. “Fine,” he says.
Opening the freezer, I hear a loud thump.
What the hell was that?
When I close it, Noah’s glaring at me. “Next time, look behind you to see if someone’s following you!”
I scrunch my face. “Shit.”
“What?”
“Your forehead.”
“What about my forehead?” He waits for me to respond. “What the hell is wrong with my forehead, Solomon?”