Page 33 of Kiss and Make Love

Holy shit. She was touching my hand. Sweat didn’t come through the top of people’s hands, did it? Oh god. What if she could feel how much my palms were sweating because the sweat had saturated the bottom of my hands and was now working its way through the top? Why did I wear a sweater today? It’s twenty-one degrees outside, and now I’m going to overheat from Molly’s simple touch.

She removed her hand from mine and waved it in front of my face. “Earth to Theo.” She giggled. “You alright?”

My cheeks grew hot, and I answered, “Yes, all good. Just…books and putting away books, you know?”

Again, the twinkling melody of her laughter filled my ears. “How about I make you a deal? You join us for book club, and I’ll stay after to help you shelve all the returns.”

I cleared my throat. “I’m not sure if Pam would like someone helping me who isn’t employed by the library. You know how she can get.”

“Is Pam here?” Molly looked around, making a big show of looking for the librarian.

I glanced through the office window behind me, just in case, and breathed a sigh of relief. “No, just me.”

“Then she doesn’t have to know.” She winked at me.

Oh, I was done for. How could I say no to those sweet, ebony eyes? “It’s a deal.”

“Yes! Oh—wait.” Her face fell. “Did you read the book for this week?”

I flashed a grin. “I always read the book. Even if I know I’m not gonna be there.” Little did she know, I always read the book because ofher. That way, we’d always have something to talk about if the conversation dried up.

Not that it ever had.

“Great!” She glanced at her phone, checking the time. “See you in ten?”

I nodded. “I’ll just make my rounds before locking up, then be right over.”

With a smile, she strolled to the cushy seating area near the back of the library where the After Hours Book Club met every Wednesday at six o’clock.

Molly was the whole reason I started going to the After Hours Book Club. Five months ago, she’d approached me in the information section while I was organizing the shelves, and my tongue grew three sizes too large for my mouth. She asked me if I had any recommendations for newly released horror books, and once I got my mouth to work properly, we got talking. I told her our new book club would be reading the latest Nick Cutter novel the following week.

Sure enough, there she was a week later,The Handyman Methodin hand. The smile she gave me made her sepia-coloured cheeks glow, and I was one hundred percent taken with her.

In that instant, I understood Michael and his infatuation with Holly inThe Office. For Michael, it was love-at-first-terrible-Yoda-impression while fixing a desk chair. For me, it was love-at-first-After-Hours-Book-Club she attended. Either way, both Michael and I fell head over heels at the speed of light.

I did a quick once-over of the library to make sure patrons were on their way out. Mr. Gazetti finished checking out a cookbook about pasta, then I helped him to the door, locking it behind him. The clock above the front entrance read 5:57.

Rushing to the side door at the back of the library, I unlocked it for any book club late-comers, then joined the group. Molly saved me a seat, so I hurried to join her. Most members were already there, including two fresh faces. Nothing made me happier than seeing the Peach Bay Library gain new readers.

“Let’s get right into it. This week, we read a thriller. How did everyone likeWhisper Down the Lane?” Katherine, the kind woman who volunteered to lead the club, asked.

“I’ve always been fascinated by the Satanic Panic of the 80s, so I really enjoyed it,” Molly answered, almost always first to chime in. I loved that about her. She wasn’t shy about sharing her opinions.

Angela rolled her eyes. “I thought it was a bit over the top. Who would believe an elementary teacher was running some sort of Satanic cult? That’s so stupid.”

Molly leaned into my shoulder, nudging me ever-so-slightly. Peeking at her, she raised her eyebrows with a smirk. I did my best not to snicker.

“It’s based on the McMartin preschool trials from 1987,” Katherine answered.

“Yeah, right. Like in real life?” Angela scoffed. “Who told you that?”

Katherine nodded. “Well, I was alive during the trials and remember my mom and dad watching them. And the book states outright that the author took inspiration from the entire event.”

Angela had the decency to look sheepish and clamped her mouth shut.

“Anyone else?” Katherine asked.

“The dual storyline was a neat plot device. I enjoyed seeing Richard as a kid and as an adult,” Sonny, a young university student, added.

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