Chapter Two
Ω Blakely Ω
After my phone call, I find myself heading over to the Book Nook. I’m supposed to be meeting one of my friends here. I’m kind of tempted to see if she knows anything about Bronx. She’s newer to town, so I don’t even know if she knows him.
But her son loves firefighters, so I know they visit the fire station often. I sit down at our usual table and set my stuff up. I turn my laptop on, and instead of pulling up my email, I find myself pulling up Instagram.
I shouldn’t be doing this.
I type ‘Bronx Miller’ into the search bar.
I need to stop. This is weird.
His profile picture shows him and his car. I laugh. Of course he’d do that. I frown when I see his account is on private.
Dang. I wanted to see what he’s been up to.
“What are you staring at?” Charlotte startles me when she sneaks up on me.
I quickly exit out of the tab and smile when she sits in front of me. “Nothing,” I lie.
“You’re a terrible liar.” She laughs at me.
“I am not a terrible liar.” I huff and close the laptop. “I was just on Instagram.”
“Looking at Bronx Miller’s private Instagram account,” Charlotte adds in. “Why do you want to see Miller’s posts? They’re a lot of his gym workouts and cat.”
“He has a cat?” I ask. I thought he hated cats.
“Yeah. Cute thing, really. He rescued him from the shelter in town. He named him Kal-El after Superman.” Charlotte pulls up her phone.
I want to ask to see a picture, but that would be weird. “How do you know so much about him?” I ask.
“He’s Alexander’s best friend. We hang out a lot.
Him and Ollie are as thick as thieves. I’m pretty sure I’m going to end up with a dog named Krypto at some point.
Do you know how many times I’ve seen Superman, Man of Steel, and The Justice League?
Not just The Justice League, but The Justice League: Zack Snyder’s Edition.
It’s four hours long, Blakely. FOUR HOURS. ”
I laugh. “You’re the mom. Say no.” I open my laptop again to pull up my email.
Charlotte wants to run a homestead bakery. I have no idea what that is, but I told her I’d help, so I sent a boat load of emails out the other day.
“Like I’d tell him no. He enjoys it so much. They’re starting to grow on me.” She pulls up her own laptop. “Alexander and I are planning to redecorate Oliver’s room. Superman theme.”
I peek over my laptop at her. “They’re starting to grow on you? Or is Alexander starting to grow on you?” I grin at her.
They’re obsessed with each other. When she moved to Piper Falls last year, she moved in right beside Alexander.
“I’m pretty sure we’re past that stage.” she laughs. “He just keeps me around at work now for when he’s lonely. That’s what he admitted to me.”
“Well you did help him expand the business. It’s now better than ever, right?” I’ve been so wrapped up in my online stuff that it’s been hard to keep track of everything going on in town.
“We’re wanting to open up a wrap shop. There isn’t any around here, so it’s a great business opportunity. I want it done sooner rather than later. We have meetings with a few people later today about it. Bronx is actually going to be picking up Oliver for me.”
She’s actually going to let someone else pick up her son? “I’m surprised that you’re letting him pick Oliver up.”
Charlotte rolls her eyes at me. “I am not as controlling as everyone seems to think I am. But back to you, Blakely. How do you know Bronx?”
“We were best friends in high school. I don’t know why we ever stopped talking.
I’ve missed him. We’re supposed to catch up soon.
That’s why I looked him up on Instagram.
” The more I try to explain myself, the more I feel like I sound like a stalker.
“I thought he was going to go to college. He was going to go to the NFL.”
“Seems like you know a lot about him.” When I see Charlotte is looking down at her computer. I open my messages on my laptop.
I see a new text conversation at the top.
Bronx: Wanted to send you a text before I went to bed. I don’t work tomorrow. I’ll send you my address. We can have lunch.
Bronx: I want to have lunch with you. Meet me?
I smile at my screen. I’ve missed when we hung out. I’ve missed him.