34
Aidan
“Well,” Charlotte says to the committee. “This is it. Our final committee meeting before the big day. How are we feeling?” Her gaze travels from person to person as they react in a chorus of mostly neutral with some negatives.
Johnny shifts in his chair and grumbles, “Nervous.”
I nod in agreement. It’s the Wednesday after the protest and while we had built momentum, there’s still anxiety in the air.
The protest was great and completely uneventful.
The weather was perfect, warm and overcast, but in a way that didn’t threaten rain.
Johnny and Georgie had a BBQ cook-off. Many people attending the Farmers’ Market joined us on a whim, and the vibes were festive and joyful.
At one point, Georgie led the group in an off-beat and off-key rendition of “We are the Champions” by Queen.
When I asked Charlotte about the song choice, she shrugged.
Best of all, no counter protesters showed up. No one even flipped us off as they drove by. It’s almost like funding our library is not as divisive as we thought.
“Language, Mr. Riccini!” Mayor Harrington snaps. “We have children here.” She gestures to the Senior and Ambassador Scouts, who giggle in response.
I’m tempted to say that these kids have said even worse in the hallways of their own school, but I bite my tongue.
Charlotte must see the expression on my face, because she nudges my knee and flashes a grin.
Things have been wonderful with Charlotte and me.
We’ve been inseparable since last Friday, after that night.
Summer vacation is in full swing, and I am free from the burdens of teaching, at least until August. My days have been spent in the bookstore or running errands for her, while my nights have been spent having passionate sex with Charlotte.
Despite not sleeping in my own bed, I’ve had the best sleep of my life. It’s been incredible.
“It’s important for the kiddos to see adults using curse words properly,” Georgie huffs, crossing his legs and scowling. “We don’t want them to say motherfucker every other word like Ozzie Osborne.” He crosses his chest. “May he rest in peace.”
The mayor smirks. She turns her attention to Johnny. “Mr. Riccini, I want you to know that your feelings are valid here.”
He grins. “Why, thank you. But I am nervous. Yes, we had great protest and got a lot of traction, but is it enough?”
Charlotte presses her lips together. “You know, I’ve been asking myself that.”
Something like courage in my chest expands and words come out of my mouth before the anxiety gets a chance to settle in.
“We’ve done a lot in the last month.” I swallow as all eyes are on me.
But it doesn’t feel as awkward as it used to be.
I don’t see judgement in their eyes anymore. I only see respect.
“Aidan’s right,” Charlotte says in the empty space. “We’ve done a lot. Thank you for reminding us.”
I settle into this comfortable space that used to feel uncomfortable. “We really have. We’ve organized this committee from the ground up and mobilized this entire grassroots movement. We got the word out to our fellow citizens and rallied more support.”
Karen nods. “Damn right we’ve done a shit-ton.” She winces and rests a hand on the shoulder of the Scout sitting next to her. “Sorry, kiddos. But it’s true. We’ve done a lot.”
The committee hums with a chorus of, “we have” and “that’s right” in response.
Nicole grins. “We lead a pretty good protest.”
“Even if I didn’t have my Jane Fonda moment,” Karen says as she crosses her arms and sulks.
“I think that’s a good thing that no one had a Jane Fonda moment,” Charlotte says with a close-lipped smile.
“We led a very successful protest, focused on the issues, and now we’re on the verge of sealing the deal at the Open Comment meeting.
” She turns to me with the corners of her mouth upturned in a half-smile.
“Thank you, Aidan, for reminding us with how far we’ve come.
” She addresses the rest of the committee, “But we’ve still got more to do, so let’s get to—”
She’s interrupted by the door of the meeting room slamming open. We turn to find Bridgett Hartlett standing there, her face contorted into a twist of rage. My heart pounds in my chest.
What is she doing here?
Mayor Harrington rises to her feet. “Welcome to the Save The Library Committee,” she says in a bright and warm voice. “We’ve already started, but you’re welcome to join us. We’re just discussing our speeches for the Open—”
“I’m not here to join your stupid little committee,” Bridgett snaps and crosses her arms. She taps her foot against the Lisa Frank cat-barf carpet.
“Why the hell are you here?” Johnny asks, leaning back in his chair to get a good look at her.
Bridgett studies us with a scowl. Her lower lip juts out and quivers as she pouts. “I just wanted to see what you were doing,” she finally says after a long and heavy moment. Her gaze travels from person to person.
“We’re just talking about our speeches for the Open Comment meeting,” Mayor Harrington answers in a diplomatic tone. “Would you like to sit in? Or is there something else we can help you with?”
I look to Charlotte. She meets my gaze and raises an eyebrow. She glances over at Nicole on the other side of the table, who nods and rises from her seat, holding up a plate of pastries that she brought to the meeting.
“We have cinnamon walnut bear claws. Want one?” she offers with a grin.
“They’re really good,” Lisa G. adds.
Bridgett’s upper lip curls. She turns on her heel and leaves the room without another word. We watch in silence until the door slams behind her. The thud reverberates throughout the room.
“What the hell was that about?” Johnny asks, which launches the rest of the committee into lively conversations about the events that just occurred.
Charlotte blinks and tilts her head to the side, watching the door with her lips parted slightly. Her nostrils flare and her eyebrows knit.
“Are you ok?” I whisper in her ear.
She shivers slightly and takes a little sharp intake of breath. After a heartbeat, she turns to me. “I’m ok. We’ll talk later.” She rests her hand on my arm. She inhales and exhales once before plastering a smile on her face and reconvenes the meeting.
I’m distracted watching her as the meeting continues.
I’ve studied Charlotte enough now to know her moods and when she’s hiding something.
Right now, she’s masking her anxiety over the encounter with Bridgett.
Her eyes keep on drifting to the door, like she’s expecting Bridgett to come crashing back in.
I somehow get through the meeting without embarrassing myself or volunteering for something unpleasant.
It helps that people expect me to be the quiet one.
“Do you think she knows that we reported her fiancé for hiring her stepbrother?” she asks once we’re outside of the library and walking down the stairs to Main Street and the bookstore.
Her arm is hooked through mine. “I mean, our tip was anonymous, so there’s no way she should know, but then again, maybe she found out? ”
I swallow. “Possibly. She knows something is up, but remember our names aren’t even on the tip. To her, it could be anyone in a town this small.” We reach Main Street and walk into the glow of the streetlights. “It’s likely she assumed that we are involved, but she doesn’t have proof.”
Charlotte lets out a sigh. “I suppose. I still think we did the right thing.”
I nod. “Agreed.” We cross Main Street, and she unlocks the front door of the bookstore.
We walk in and I settle into one of the comfy chairs in the middle of the store, while Charlotte walks over to the register.
This is my favorite spot. Or maybe it’s the little cozy bench in the back?
Or the office? “Do you think she was planning on doing something to us?”
Charlotte lifts a shoulder. “Whatever she was thinking, I think she chickened out.” She begins tapping away at the keyboard.
“I don’t think Bridgett expected to find that many people at the meeting.
” I let out a chuckle. We descend into silence as she works while I watch her.
I study the set of her jaw and the knit in between her eyebrows as she concentrates.
At one point, she pushes a lock of hair beyond her ear and adjusts her shirt.
Fuck she’s beautiful.
I shove my hands in my pockets, trying to hide the erection forming.
I’m certain I’m in love with Charlotte and I’m so close to sharing that with her.
I want to tell her, but my anxiety is holding me back.
Sometimes, I don’t believe that this is happening and that I’m together with Charlotte.
Every day with her has been special and wonderful with all the joy she brings, whether that’s watching her work, or just the things she notices.
She’s pointed out so many birds that have flown by the windows or lingered in the flowerpots along Main Street.
We’ve seen Cardinals, Blue Jays, Robins, and even an Oriole just in the last few days.
I’ve never seen an Oriole, except at Camden Yards.
Charlotte glances up from her computer and her brows knit. “What are you looking at?”
Smiling, I reply, “You. Is that ok?”
She saunters over, her hips swaying seductively. “I mean, as long as you’re not planning my demise or something nefarious.”
One of my eyebrows raise, and I adjust my glasses.
“I can plan something nice if you wish.” I open my arms and gesture for her to sit in my lap.
She nestles her body in the seat, with her thighs draping over one of the arms. I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her closer, while she snakes her arms around my shoulders.
My free hand rests on her thigh, my thumb brushes against the skin.
Charlotte peers down at me. “Hi,” she whispers.
“Hi.”
She chews on her lower lip. “So, what are you thinking about?”
I nibble on the delicate skin between her neck and shoulder. “I told you, ‘You.’”
She leans back. “What specifically though?”
Pulling her closer with my arm, I resume my kisses. “How amazing you are. How smart. How beautiful. Especially from this angle.”
She places her lips on my forehead. “You’re amazing too.”
“Even with my anxiety?” I ask, letting my insecurities bubble to the surface.
Charlotte ducks her head and kisses my nose. “Even with the anxiety.”
I close my eyes and smile, breathing in the scent of lavender and vanilla.
She ducks her head and her lips brush against mine. Sparks dance across my skin. “Shall we go upstairs?”
“Yes,” I murmur and snake my arm farther up her back to let my hand rest against her neck. I pull her closer, and our mouths meet, heat surging through me. After a few moments, she twists out of the embrace and pulls me into her apartment.