Page 152 of Just This Once

“He says as he shoves me onto the death trap,” she grumbled, eyeing the stairs as if she were afraid of heights. But she moved forward anyway.

Latching onto the railing with both hands, she whimpered as she climbed on, only to gasp and glare up at Waverly’s retreating form when the whole staircase wobbled. Glancing back at me, she scowled sternly. “If you shake this staircase on purpose, I swear to God, I will murder you in your sleep.”

“I’ll irritate you later, Trouble,” I assured as I stepped up behind her. “Right now, just get your gorgeous ass up those steps before Dugger comes to investigate the clatter of us fleeing the scene.”

“Sounds good.” She turned and took another cautious step, only to whimper and look up at how far we still had to go.

I touched her hip in reassurance. “I’m right here with you, every step of the way. I won’t let you fall.”

Scowling over her shoulder at me, she hissed, “Stop being so sweet when it’s physically impossible for me to turn around and climb you like a tree.”

I chuckled and wrapped a hand around her waist. “You can climb me like a tree as soon as you reach the top,” I promised huskily. “How about that?”

She shuddered and took another meaningful step up. “It feels so weird to be turned on and scared at the same time.”

Grinning, I patted her bottom. “You’re doing great. Just keep going.”

She did.

Despite her fears, she hiked the admittedly terrifying steps like a pro. At the top, Waverly was waiting for us on a small, wired platform where she had a hatch open that looked as if it belonged on a submarine. Ducking through, she warned, “Watch your head,” and disappeared inside.

Following, we found ourselves in a workroom with large, wooden tables crowded with books and laminating sheets, pages of barcodes, and paper cutters.

Waverly hurried past them as if they were nothing and went straight to another door that was labeledTo Loading Dock.

Inside, we had to turn sideways to make it down a tight hall that had shelves full of cleaning supplies, toilet paper, and paper towels.

At the end of the hall, there was an old, rusted service elevator across from a pair of double, metal doors.

Waverly pushed through the two doors, and we were suddenly outside, on a concrete loading dock platform behind the library.

“Whew!” Hope exclaimed, wiping herself down. “That was kind of fun.”

I glanced at her, only to crack a smile. “You have a spiderweb in your hair.”

“I know,” she groused, batting at it. “I can feel it.”

With a chuckle, I caught her hand. “Stop. Just let me—” I picked the dusty webs away, and she actually went still, letting me groom her.

Glancing over at Waverly as I worked, I nodded out my gratitude. “Thanks, Waverly. I owe you one. Again.”

She only shrugged, not arguing with me this time.

Hope turned her attention to the other girl. “Waverly?” she repeated, blinking in recognition.

“Right,” I said. Introductions. “Library Girl. Hope,” I told them, motioning between the two.

Mouth dropping open, Hope gaped before blurting, “You mean, WaverlyFrankis Library Girl?”

I furrowed my brow, wondering how she knew Waverly’s last name.

Waverly seemed similarly surprised. “I didn’t think you’d remember me,” she admitted.

“Oh my God! Of course, I remember you. Took me a second to recognize you after all these years, but when Parker said your name—oh my God,” she repeated. A big smile burst across her face. “Waverly!” She hopped forward and wrapped her arms around Library Girl, squeezing her tight.

Waverly scowled at me over her shoulder. “She’s hugging me.”

“Yeah,” I grumbled along with her before lifting a single shoulder. “She’s a cuddler.”

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