CHAPTER THREE
OPAL
The store is finally quiet after a busy day; the weekend rush having finally tapered off. Saturday is always our busiest day.
The bell above the door jingles one last time as the final customer leaves, and I grab the broom, starting to sweep the scattered crumbs and dust along the floor.
“Ugh I hate closing,” Alex, my coworker says from the aisle next to me.
“Could be worse. At least you’ve got me for company,” I say grinning.
Alex has been here almost as long as I have, and somewhere along the way we shifted from coworkers to actual friends.
I put the broom away and join her stocking shelves. As I slide a book onto the shelf, she leans against the cart.
“So, what are you doing tomorrow night? Big Halloween plans?”
I shake my head. “Not really. Probably just… hand out candy and watch spooky movies.”
Her eyebrows shoot up. “Jesus Opal, you’re twenty-four. Let’s go do something fun. There’s this party at the old mansion off Woodgate.”
I laugh under my breath, shaking my head as I line the books. “I’m not really a party girl.”
“Which is exactly why you should come. You can’t just live in your books forever babe. How many times have you been out since moving to Vermont?”
Her words make me pause. I haven’t actually been out once since moving here four years ago. I moved here for college, but that fell apart fast. I ended up dropping out and never returned home to Virginia.
My ex made sure of it. He made it impossible to juggle school and work. My attendance slipped more and more, my grades along with it. Every time I tried to make something of myself, he found a way to rip it down.
By the time I realized how bad it gotten, it was too late. I’d already missed too much, and I had no other choice but to say goodbye to my literature degree.
My stomach tightens, and I shake the thought away, sliding another book into place with a little too much force.
Alex bumps my shoulder with hers, drawing me back. “So? You’ll come? Just for a little while?”
I hesitate, then smile faintly. “Maybe… maybe you’re right. Maybe I should go.”
Her grin widens meeting her doe brown eyes. “Good. Because I already have the perfect costume idea for you.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “Oh no. That look on your face never means anything good.”
She smirks, tapping her chin like she’s pondering something genius. “I’m thinking something itty bitty. Under-boob. Mini skirt.”
“Alex!” My cheeks flame so hot I’m surprised the whole store doesn’t light up.
“What?” She says, laughing. “It’s Halloween! And with those big things,” she says gesturing to my chest, “you could catch the eyes of someone tall, dark, and ridiculously handsome.”
“You’re ridiculous,” I say holding a book to my chest, trying to hide the blush.
“And you love me for it,” she says twirling a strand of her curly red hair. She grins, victorious, while I shake my head, trying to smother the nervous thrill fluttering in my stomach.
The image plants in my mind. Mini skirt. Low top. Skin I don’t usually let anyone see.
Then—unbidden—my mind drifts to him. The man. Broad shoulders filling out his white shirt, that sharp jaw dusted with stubble.
My pulse kicks up, and I hug the book tighter. What would he think if he saw me like that? Would he stare like I secretly want him to?
“Uh-oh.” Alex snaps her fingers in front of my face, smirking. “You’re blushing. Who are you thinking about?”
“No one,” I lie quickly.
“Mhm. Sure.” She laughs, wheeling her cart toward the counter.
I trail behind her, my cheeks still burning, trying to shove the fantasy away.
She counts the till, I blow out the candles, together we go through the routine of locking up.
As we step outside, I pull my coat tighter around me and glance at her. “Hey, would you mind if we stopped at Target? I need to grab a few things.”
Alex snorts, pressing the keys into the ignition. “Duh. Like I’d ever say no to a Starbees and Targees run.”
I laugh, shaking my head as I close the door to her SUV.
“Caffeine, clearance aisles, and questionable costume decisions—what more could we want on a Saturday night?”
Her energy is contagious. I feel… excitement. Tomorrow is Halloween. And for once—I won't spend it alone.
Alex hands me the cup as we step into the bright aisles of Target. “One apple crisp macchiato, extra sweet just like you.”
“Okay, this is heaven,” I say after taking the first sip.
She smirks and drags me toward the Halloween section. The shelves are picked over, half-off signs already hanging, but there’s still plenty of glittering costumes and candy displays stacked high.
“Tomorrow,” Alex declares, plucking up a pair of black lace devil horns and plopping them onto my head, “I’m dressing you so slutty men will be crawling across the ground for you.”
I laugh, cheeks heating. “Oh my god, Alex.”
“Don’t ‘oh my god’ me. You’re going to have a blast. We’ll get an Uber, and you can finally get sloppy drunk with me like a normal twenty-something year old. Ooh maybe you’ll find someone dressed like one of your book boyfriends.”
I shake my head, sipping my drink.
I round the corner—and slam into something solid, warm and completely unmoving.
“Oh!” I stumble back, nearly sloshing coffee on my sweater. My gaze shoots up, and my breath stills.
It’s him.
“Excuse me, umm—”
“Kellan,” he says smoothly, his deep voice rolling over me.
“Opal,” I manage, my voice a little too soft. “Nice to formally meet you.”
His mouth curves into a smile, that dimple threatening to undo me. Then my eyes drop to the basket he’s holding—practically overflowing with candy.
He glances down too, sheepishly. “For the neighborhood kids.”
“Oh.”
For a moment we just… look at each other. Too long for strangers. His lips part like he wants to say something.
I swallow, fingers tightening around my cup. “Thank you,” I say softly. “For the other night.”
His expression shifts—his jaw tightens, his shoulders go rigid. The color drains a little from his face.
“Oh,” he says quickly, forcing a nod. “It’s not a problem.”
I clear my throat and step back. “Well… have a good night, Kellan.”
His gaze lingers on me one last second. “You too, Opal. See you around.”
I turn, heart hammering in my chest, and Alex is already smirking like she’s witnessed an entire romance movie in thirty seconds.
“What did you thank him for, a raging orgasm?”
I snort, nearly choking on my drink. “No, oh my god. I forgot to tell you.” I swat her arm, laughing. “You know that creep that always comes into the store asking for like, explicit details on all the filthy books?”
Alex groans. “Ugh yes.”
“Well… he made a move on me the other night. Got kind of…” I lower my voice, shifting uncomfortably. “Aggressive. And Kellan stepped in. Told him to leave me alone.”
Her jaw drops, then she fans herself dramatically. “Oh my god. No fucking way. That is so hot.”
I roll my eyes, but my cheeks burn. “It wasn’t like that. He doesn’t like me like that. I’m definitely not his type.”
Alex stops dead in the aisle, staring at me like I’ve just said something ridiculous. “Babes you’re everyone’s type. He definitely likes you. He was practically cumming in his pants just standing here.”
Heat floods my cheeks again, and I bury my face in my cup before Alex can see my smile.
“Okay, but… he is hot,” I say.
Alex gasps and claps like I just admitted to a crime. “Hot? He’s more than hot. He’s like—ruin my life please daddy—hot.”
I groan, covering my face with one hand. “Oh my god, stop. He probably heard us talking about me dressing up slutty tomorrow. He probably thinks I’m a bad girl now.”
Alex just smirks. “Good. He’s probably imagining you in those dainty threads right now.”
My cheeks flame. “Alex!”
She laughs and loops her arm through mine, dragging me toward the racks of costumes. “Now come on—we’ve got to get you a party ‘fit to scandalize Vermont with.”