Page 68 of Just This Once

When Bug saw me, she ended her conversation with the librarian and met me halfway. “Glad you could make it. Thank you for coming.”

“It’s the least I can do for everything you’ve put in motion for the foundation. How can I help?”

Bug started walking, and I fell in step beside her. “I have volunteered at this library for a long time. It hasn’t changed much in those years, but there are some of us who are starting to feel like that’s a problem.”

I hummed and considered as she continued.

“Our adult programming is strong, but the programs for kids are underwhelming. We see fewer and fewer children every day. We can’t keep up with phones and video games. I was hoping someone with your experience could help generate a few new ideas. Help liven things up around here.”

I rubbed my palms together. “First, I am honored you thought of me. I have always loved what libraries can do for their communities.” I looked around and thought about what the children of Outtatowner could gain from visiting the library. “I guess my first thought would be whether or not you’ve developed programs for mid-kids or teens?”

“Mid-kids?”

“Kids around first grade until middle school. They’re not babies, but they’re also not teenagers yet. A lot of fun learning happens in those years. It’s during that critical time, you establish the library as a safe haven of sorts. They’ll be morelikely to hang around as teens if you’ve lessened the barrier to entry. Kids love tech. The library should fully embrace that.”

A half-formed vision filtered into my imagination. I could see children building, exploring and laughing within those walls. It could be done with the right amount of vision, and resources, of course.

I only hoped Bug could see it too. “A library doesn’t need to only be a place where people come to check out books. It can be a place to gather and commune with their neighbors. It has the power to change communities—even make something like the King–Sullivan rivalry obsolete—but you have to start with the kids. Give them a place to gather. Somewhere they can explore, connect, and be inspired.”

Bug planted a hand on her hip. “Quite the impassioned speech for someone so new here, but I like your style.”

“There’s always been something about a library that feels—I don’t know...hopeful?” I raked my fingers along the spines on the shelf.

Her eyes narrowed at me, but her lips held a faint smile. “You’re a bit of an odd bird.”

I smiled widely at her. “Thank you.”

Bug smirked. “I mean that in the best possible way, of course. When you live here as long as I have, you realize that many of the people born and raised in a small town often have small-town ways of thinking. We hate to admit it, but sometimes outsiders can bring in fresh perspectives. I will talk with the board to see about some of these changes. Can I get you to write a few ideas down that I might present to them?”

Realizing a compliment from Bug was a rare thing, I simply smiled. “Of course. I’m glad I could help.”

I turned to leave, but Bug stopped me when she raised a hand in the air. “One last thing before you leave. This thing between you and Whip. Will it be a secret for much longer?”

I went still, the walls of the room pressing in on me. I froze, unsure of how to react.

When I didn’t respond, Bug’s eyebrow lifted in challenge. “Do you deny it?”

Wide eyed, I barely shook my head as the bloodwhooshedbetween my ears.

A satisfied smile crossed her lips. “Just as I thought.”

“How did you—” I sputtered.

Bug smiled. “Not much gets past me around here. People ramble, mostly to hear themselves talk, but if you reallylisten, you hear all kinds of interesting things.”

Panic seized my chest as I imagined my father finding out what we had been doing. “Do you think my father knows?”

Her lips pursed. “Would that be the worst thing in the world? For you to be involved with a King? You’re both consenting adults.”

I shook my head. “It’s not that. My dad, he—”Ugh. I don’t know how to put this. “For me, in the end, it would be fine. My dad is protective, sure, but for Whip... hereallydeserves that promotion, and I don’t ever want to be the reason he doesn’t get it.”

“We all make choices.” The ominous tone in her voice sent shivers down my back. “Chief Martin seems rational enough to promote a man based on his merits and not the company he keeps. Plus, I’m certain my nephew is smart enough to know when to call it quits, and when to fight for what he deserves. Don’t ever forget—he’s a King.”

I wasn’t sure if she was talking about the job or something else entirely, but the finality in her statement had me nodding along like an idiot. “Yeah, I’m... I’m sure it’s fine. We just hadn’t really talked about making anythingofficial. Things are still kind of new.”

“Of course, I understand. But for discretion’s sake...” Her eyes flicked down my front as her eyebrow crept up her forehead. “You may want to wear something other than my nephew’s T-shirt if you’re planning to keep gossip to a minimum.”

TWENTY-FIVE

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