CHAPTER 18
“Can I ask you something?”
“Uh… Sure,” Finley said, reaching for the two cups of coffee on the bar.
“Is one of those for me?”
“No, one is for Molly,” Finley replied. “Was I supposed to get you coffee?”
“No, I’m just giving you a hard time and trying to delay asking my actual question.”
“Why?” Finley asked.
“Because I feel like I keep bugging you about our relationship, and you’re already in a new one, so that’s not fair.”
“You’re not bugging me, India. What’s up?”
“Did I make a face when I didn’t want to do something you asked about?”
“What?”
“When you asked me to watch football with you or go to some bar I didn’t want to go to, did I make a face like I was, I don’t know, weighing all my options?”
Finley took a step back to let someone else grab their coffee and said, “I don’t know that I ever noticed that, no. Why?”
“Maisie mentioned it.”
“That you make a face?”
“That it felt like I was weighing my options and deciding not to spend time with her.”
“Oh. Weird. No, I don’t think I noticed that. But I got used to you turning me down after a while, so maybe it was there, and I didn’t see.”
“I’m sorry, Fin. I–”
“No, you don’t have to apologize. I didn’t mean to make you feel bad. I just don’t remember you making a face or anything.”
“Maisie noticed it. What does that mean?”
“Probably that she likes you,” Finley said, smiling at her.
“You didn’t like me?” India laughed.
“I loved you once,” Finley replied. “But I didn’t see it. I think it’s interesting, you know? Sometimes, you can love someone, but it’s not right with you two, and then you meet someone else, and they pick up on things the other person didn’t. Maybe that’s Maisie for you.”
“We’ve been on two dates, if you can call them that. We haven’t even kissed yet.”
“Really? Why not?”
“One thing or another. Last night, I think she was too nervous about the election, so I kissed her on the cheek and gave her a hug, but that hug felt so nice, Fin.”
“Yeah? I don’t even remember the last time we hugged when we were together.”
“Me neither,” India replied. “And I like her, but it’s too soon to be talking about her being the only person who can see that I make a face when I don’t want to do something.”
“Maybe. But if she’s already onto you, that could also mean something.”
“There’s nothing to be onto. It’s not that I don’t want to spend time with her. I do. I just don’t do well in places when I’m uncomfortable.”
“Have you seen me at the ballet?” Finley laughed. “I mean, I wasn’t comfortable half the places you dragged me to, but I still went. I think what people look for is someone who’s willing to meet them in the middle.”
“I went to the soccer game and the bar after.”
“That’s a start,” Finley said. “What has she done that’s something for you?”
“Technically, she drank the wine I brought last night, even though I know she would’ve preferred a beer. She’s not really a wine person.”
“That’s good, right?”
“Yes, it’s good. It’s new, but it’s good.”
“Then, maybe try to pay attention to your face and be honest with her about it. You never really did that with me. It was always just no, you didn’t want to go or do something with me. After a while, that really starts to hurt.”
India nodded and said, “Yeah, I get that now.”
“I have to get this up to Molls. You going to be okay?”
“I’m good. I’m actually off today. I’m just grabbing coffee and heading over to the bookstore to help with the election stuff.”
“You’re helping her with the election?”
“I’m helping Lainey run the shop while Maisie goes and votes for herself.”
“You’re working in the bookstore?” Finley said, laughing. “What has this girl done to you?”
“I’m still wearing Jimmy Choo’s, so I haven’t changed completely.”
“Tell her I’d vote for her, but I don’t live in her district.”
“I will,” she said with a smile.
Finley then walked out of the café, and India joined the line.
She ordered enough coffee for an army, getting a dozen cookies, too, and headed out the door, wishing there was a side door already, making things easier.
She’d bring that up again after the election, once Maisie was a little less stressed out.
“Hey,” Lainey greeted her when India walked in. “Need help?”
“Yes, but you can’t just take your coffee and run,” she replied.
Lainey laughed and took the box of cookies.
“And you can’t just grab a cookie and run, Lainey.”
“I’m putting them on the table. We’re all in the back.”
India followed her and found Maisie sitting down and staring at her laptop.
“Hi,” India said.
“Oh, hi,” Maisie replied. “No one is reporting in yet.”
“Because it’s still too early, babe,” India replied and set the coffee carrier on the table before she sat down next to her. “I brought you coffee.” She leaned over and kissed Maisie on the cheek. “How’s she doing?” she asked Paige.
“She hasn’t stopped staring at the computer for the past hour,” Paige replied. “When I tried to take it away from her, she growled at me.”
India laughed silently and placed her hand on the back of Maisie’s neck, massaging the tight muscles there. Maisie closed her eyes and leaned into the touch.
“I promise, I’m not usually like this. You just met me at a really weird time,” Maisie said.
“That’s okay. I’m here to help. What can I do?”
“I need to run out and vote,” Maisie said. “And Lainey and Paige need to run to the school.”
“I thought I was going to watch the shop with Lainey.”
“I’ll just close it for thirty minutes. Not a big deal.”
“We have a faculty meeting about some prank the seniors pulled last night, but we should be back in an hour or so,” Lainey explained.
“I can watch the place by myself if you need me to,” India offered, wondering where that was coming from.
“You know how to use the register?” Lainey asked.
“No, but it’s pretty easy, right? Just scan the book, the screen tells you how much, and they pay.”
“But do you know how to check if a book is in stock?” Lainey asked.
“Come on, Laine. As if someone would come in asking about that during the one time I’m not here,” Maisie replied. “Actually, that does sound like something someone would do. I’ll just stay here and wait until you come back,” she added to Lainey. “Then, I’ll go vote.”
“Are you sure?” Lainey asked.
“Yeah, it’s fine. I’m just anxious to be done with all of this, but I can wait another hour.”
“You can train me for the next ten minutes and go. I’m sure I can handle it for twenty minutes on my own,” India offered.
Maisie smiled at her and then rested her head on India’s shoulder, which reminded India of the previous night when Maisie had done the same.
That night, India had wrapped her arm around Maisie’s shoulders in response, and they had sat there on Maisie’s sofa, holding on to one another while they talked.
India hadn’t wanted to leave, but she’d known Maisie needed a good night’s sleep before election day, so they had shared a hug and a cheek kiss, and she’d gone home.
“We’ll be right back, okay?” Lainey said, taking Paige’s hand.
“Yeah. Thanks,” Maisie replied.
“Take care of her while we’re gone?” Lainey said to her.
India nodded, and Lainey and Paige exited through the back.
“You doing okay?” she asked before she kissed the top of Maisie’s head.
“My stomach is not. I haven’t eaten today, but I don’t know that I can keep anything down. I’m so worried that if I lose this, that asshole is going to come for my shop just because he can; because I didn’t take his little deal.”
India placed her hand on Maisie’s thigh, gave it a small squeeze, and said, “It’s going to be okay, no matter what happens with the election. If he comes after this place, we’ll fight him.”
“How?” Maisie asked. “He has all the money.”
“Not all. I have some, too.”
“I can’t ask you to fight this with me,” Maisie said, lifting her head. “You already donated to my campaign, which was more than you needed to do.”
“I wanted to,” she replied, taking in Maisie’s concerned expression. “I want you to win, Maise, but if you don’t, and he comes after Chapter & Verse, I’ll help however I can. I do have a lot of money, but we don’t even have to go that route. There are other options.”
“Like what?”
“Connections. He may have some, but I do, too. I can call those connections. We’d figure it out, okay?”
“I don’t know why, but I kind of believe you.”
“I think that’s a good thing, right?” she checked.
“Yeah, it’s a good thing.”
“So, I know today is going to be crazy, and you might not know until late, depending on how things go, but I’d like to take you out tonight. If not tonight, maybe tomorrow night.”
“Yes, that sounds nice.”
“And I’d like to take you somewhere with really good food and a wine list. Is that okay? It won’t be super fancy, but I–”
“It’s fine, India,” Maisie told her with a smile. “Wherever you want.”
“Really? I was expecting a lecture about how important places like that little blue shack are to the city and how they have the best food around.”
“Well, that’s true,” Maisie said with a shrug. “But you’ve been doing a lot of things for me since we met. It’s time I go somewhere you want.”
India smiled at her and said, “Okay. Well, let’s see how the rest of the day goes, and if it’s not tonight, then tomorrow.”
“Sounds good.”
“If we don’t go out tonight, though, maybe I can just be with you? I was thinking I’d be here when you got the news, or that I could drive you home and be there if you don’t find out early enough.”
“What if it’s so close, they need all night to count the votes?” Maisie asked. “Will you be with me in the morning?”
“Do you want me there in the morning?” India asked.
“I bet you’re really pretty when you wake up,” Maisie said.
India laughed and replied, “This face takes me about an hour to put on each day, so you’d be wrong.”
“The makeup looks good on you, but I’d love to see you without it.” Maisie cupped her cheek. “You’re beautiful, India. And I’d love to see you in the morning, but I think, if you slept over, it would just be sleep. Is that okay?”