Chapter 20
Chapter
Twenty
REED
R eed stared at the ceiling of Luca’s bedroom and willed himself to go to sleep.
It was like the night before Christmas, the night before the SATs, and the night before buying your first house had all been rolled into one.
His heart was beating out of his chest. He’d lied to his parents on the phone earlier, saying he was busy with another project at work which was why he hadn’t called.
He didn’t know how to say, “I wasted the nest egg that Grandpa gave me on maybe a terrible idea, the fate of which currently sits in the hands of the Fairwick Falls Historical Preservation Subcommittee, one of whom actively hates me.”
He glanced at the clock, 3:30 in the morning.
He only wanted to talk to one person right now, and she was probably asleep. Denver was, what, two hours behind?
Sometimes she was a night owl.
Hemingway_CanSuckIt
You up?
Sorry, probably a dumb question. I hope this didn’t wake you up.
Oh, that was so cringe. He squinted his eyes together. Fuck, was there a way to delete the message?
Miraculously, three dots appeared.
ImpossiblyBookish
did you just send me a ‘u up’ thirst trap?
Hemingway_CanSuckIt
Sorry. Did I wake you up?
ImpossiblyBookish
of course i’m up.
somebody texted me at 1:30 in the morning asking if I was up, so here I am.
up.
everything okay?
feeling like someone is about to murder you in the everglades?
They’d talked extensively that afternoon about Harlan Coben’s latest thriller. Reed had devoured it on a run where she was only halfway through, preferring the paper version.
Hemingway_CanSuckIt
Just feeling kind of nervous.
Big presentation tomorrow at work.
He still hadn’t told Bookish that he was opening a bookshop. Something about it felt too vulnerable to share, like she might be disappointed if something went wrong. What if he had to close a month afterwards, or six months?
It had to be perfect so she’d be wowed when he finally showed it to her.
ImpossiblyBookish
it’s fine. i was tossing and turning anyway.
Hemingway_CanSuckIt
There’s something about talking with you that just makes me feel better.
ImpossiblyBookish
i know what you mean.
like, you’ve never seen my face, and yet you know me somehow better than everybody else.
And I love you , he thought.
Hemingway_CanSuckIt
I know the important things.
I know you’re funny and kind. I know you’re smarter than you give yourself credit for.
I know you have excellent taste in books and terrible taste in drinks.
ImpossiblyBookish
coffee slut.
Hemingway_CanSuckIt
Tea snob.
When I think about the past five and a half months, you’re the best part of it.
ImpossiblyBookish
and you’ve made me come harder than anybody else in recent memory.
so 10/10 there
The tips of his ears heated from the blush that hit him.
Hemingway_CanSuckIt
I guess I just wanted you to know I’m so glad that I met you, and you mean so much to me.
ImpossiblyBookish
you’re making me feel gooey, and i don’t like it.
Hemingway_CanSuckIt
Don’t like it because it’s not wanted?
ImpossiblyBookish
it’s…new for me, but very wanted.
i like you a lot, too
like, a lot a lot
He typed out the word “Love.” His finger hovered over the keyboard, and he backspaced.
No, you couldn’t tell someone that you were in love with them via text.
ImpossiblyBookish
sometimes it feels like i found the other person that speaks my weird little language, you know?
Hemingway_CanSuckIt
That’s exactly how I feel.
His heart was already thundering in his chest as he sat up, feeling as though they were on the precipice of starting something between them.
Hemingway_CanSuckIt
Do you think we should…
…meet?
Reed paced back and forth on the creaking boards of the bookstore twelve hours later.
Bookish still hadn’t responded, the Historical Society Committee was five minutes late, and his brain was running a thousand miles an hour.
Pearl sat on the checkout counter, her feet swaying back and forth, staring at her phone with a scowl. “If you don’t stop hitting that creaky board, I’m going to shove your head into this card catalog.”
“Sorry, just anxious. Didn’t sleep well last night.”
She huffed. “Yeah, me neither.”
He looked at his watch. “Aren’t they supposed to be here already? Maybe they got their address wrong?
“Trust me, Beulah knows where this place is.”
Reed’s phone dinged, and his heart lurched. Bookish . He grabbed his phone from his pocket.
Rose Parker
Still no news from the DNA company. Should be any day now. I guess the lab is backed up.
Oh right. Maybe that was why his heart was still floating somewhere outside of his body.
Everything felt like it was on the precipice. A new family, a new business, meeting a new love of his life.
The door swung open, and the silhouette of Beulah and five other people appeared in the sunlight.
“Welcome,” Reed said, stashing his phone.
They were a motley crew. Beulah led the way in, followed by an older, elegant-looking woman wearing a Fairwick Falls Credit Union polo, two older retired ladies, and a very large man wearing a denim vest over a black T-shirt.
“Tiny!” Pearl said with a happy, confused smile as she waved to him. “You’re on the Historical Society Committee?”
Tiny waved a large, bear-paw-like hand at Pearl. The large man shook back his long hair, and Reed spied two knitting needles poking out of his ripped jeans pockets. He crossed his beefy arms, revealing a heart-shaped tattoo with a man’s name on it.
“I believe in safeguarding historical landmarks and responsible stewardship of local architecture,” Tiny said in a slow, rumbling voice.
Reed’s stomach was in his throat. He adjusted his glasses. “Is this everybody?”
“Who else’d you expect?” Beulah asked flatly, her frown never moving as she spoke.
“Take a look around. Let us know if you need anything.”
“I’m Maria. We’re so excited to be here,” the older woman said with an encouraging smile as she walked to explore the store.
“Okay,” Pearl said, whispering at his side. “That’s Maria Lopez. She’s in charge of the credit union with Nash. She’s no-nonsense, but she’s nice. Tiny is a friend from The Thirsty Beaver, totally an in for us.”
Pearl reached up and buttoned one of his shirt buttons. “We need you to make a good impression. Actually, on second thought.” She looked around. “These old ladies probably haven’t gotten any action in a long time.” She unbuttoned it again and pulled it further down, exposing more of his chest. “You should have worn a tighter shirt today.” She frowned, looking at his arms.
Goosebumps ran down his skin, his arms tingling at her touch.
“You’re going to be pleasant. You’re going to charm them,” she said, wagging her finger at him. “I’m going to sit here and say nothing so I don’t fuck it up for you.”
A smile tugged on his lips. She’s being adorable.
She glared at him. “And they’re going to say yes, right?”
“Right,” he parroted back.
She got behind him and pushed. “Now go. Charm.”
“This is ingenious.” Maria pointed at the fireman’s pole that had a circular display on it. “My father was the first fire chief in this building. I love that you saved it,” she said with a warm smile.
A knot in his chest relaxed. “It’s part of the building’s history. I couldn’t let it go.”
“And I love that you worked in your own family history.” She pointed to the worn picture books on display. He’d put in his favorite books he’d read with his grandpa.
He and his step-grandpa (or Gramps as he’d been told to call him) had bonded over a love of books when Reed had struggled to read as a kid. His stepfather had been very busy, but Gramps had taken time to work patiently through each book with him.
They’d dreamed up the bookshop that they would one day open together, full of ridiculous and whimsical features, like a never-ending candy tube, a nook that was nothing but pillows that you could lie on for as long as you wanted, and a slide to get from one floor to the other. He thought Gramps would approve of the fireman’s pole as a worthy replacement.
The committee had spread out. Tiny had wandered upstairs, and Beulah was poking her head in the bathroom, scribbling on a clipboard.
One of the older women pointed to the card catalog. “This was the library when I was a kid. I used to love opening up all these drawers. Oh, it drove old Mrs. Wiggins crazy.” She cackled with her friend.
Reed smiled. “It’s the thing that made me instantly fall in love with it when I walked in. A couple original drawers were missing, which is why I filled those with plants.”
“Oh, and look, they have that new historical fiction that Martha was talking about,” the old woman said, and they started just browsing the shelves of the bookstore.
Beulah was writing down copious notes as she wandered around. They’d already passed safety and permit inspections. What could she be noting?
After a nerve-racking thirty minutes, the group reconvened in the center.
“I found seventeen different violations where you did not maintain historical integrity,” Beulah said in triumph.
Maria leaned over her shoulder. “Fourteen of those are outlet plates, Beulah.”
Reed stepped forward, wanting to smooth everything over. “I’m happy to find more turn-of-the-century style outlet plates if you would prefer.”
“I say it’s approved,” Maria said with a smile, looking at the other two women and Tiny.
Tiny gave a thumbs-up. “Agreed.”
The other two women happily nodded. “Yes, and when are you opening?”
Warmth bloomed through him. “Our soft opening is in a few days. The grand opening is in a couple weeks.”
“Denied,” Beulah said flatly, and Reed’s heart seized.
“Beulah,” Maria said, shaking her head. “You know you can’t flat out deny things. This is a committee, and it’s four against one.”
“I want it to be on the record that I did not approve this,” she said, her eyes sliding over to Pearl. “This trashy future felon is probably rigging this place to sell drugs?—”
“Hey,” Reed cut in, his voice sharp and loud. “Pearl is an outstanding member of the Bookish staff, and the reason this store looks so amazing. It wouldn’t be standing without her. You can leave any comments about the bookstore with me, but I draw the line there.”
His jaw clenched, and he hoped he hadn’t somehow ruined his chance.
“Yeah, Barf lah,” Pearl said with narrowed eyes.
“I’m still on the record,” Beulah said, storming out.
“Sorry,” Maria said, patting his arm.
“We can’t wait for the opening,” the women said as they waved, walking past them.
“Don’t worry,” Tiny said in his low, grumbly voice. “You’re not the first people she’s accused of selling drugs. See you at the Beaver, Pearl.”
The door closed behind them, leaving them in stunned silence.
“So…that’s it? I was expecting more fanfare,” he said with a laugh. “I guess we’re okay to open?”
She smirked as she leaned against the checkout counter. “I thought you’d be more excited, given this is your whole dream and shit.”
Reed was processing. He laughed, wiping a hand down his face. “Yeah. I think I’m happy. I think I’m excited. It all feels jumbled around with the nerves.”
“I think we should slack off the rest of the night”—Pearl grabbed her purse—“and I think you should come with me.”
“Where are we going?” Reed said with trepidation.
“It’s a surprise.”