Page 55 of The Bookbinder's Guide to Love

“I guess. Most of the time I don’t mind. When I was a kid, I used to pray for it.”

“I don’t think you’re meant to pray for snow,” she pointed out as he slipped his hand in hers and they started to walk back toward town.

“Father Tom said we should ask for what we needed,” Wes said. “I needed a day off.”

She laughed at the way he owned what he wanted. Snow and a day off weren’t big asks. She liked that about him. Sera had never thought to take a sick day or ask to stay home growing up. She had skipped class only once and gone to the library because the lastHunger Gamesnovel had been released and she’d had it on reserve. Tawdra hadn’t been mad when Sera had explained why she’d skipped school, but warned her never to do it again.

She knew Tawdra had her best interests at heart. As a foster kid, Sera had been very aware she had to be good or she’d be moved to a different home.

“I didn’t know you were coming to meet me,” she said.

“I thought you’d know I would,” he said.

“No.”

“Why not? We’re going on a date, right?” he asked.

She shrugged. “I figured we’d meet there.”

“That makes sense, I guess. And that would be fine. I missed you and wanted to see you.”

She turned to look at him, trying to ascertain if that was just a line or if there was something more to it. He lifted her arms and looked down at her.

“You’re fulfilling a lot of my fantasies with that skirt,” he said.

She twirled, and when she was facing him again, she felt silly until she saw the look on his face. She was almost afraid to put it into words. There was something so raw and vulnerable there. It reflected what she felt inside.

“This is my first time wearing it. I’m hoping to make some good memories in it,” she said.

“I’ll do my best to deliver,” Wes said with a wink and a playful smile that went straight to her center. She liked him. Just plain liked him. She wanted to believe she could reach out and take him for herself, but like the lesson she’d learned on that long-ago skip day, she had to be cautious.

When they got to the tavern it was busy, but they found a table toward the center of the room and took a seat. Wes got up to get their drinks and some menus. Sera had taken off her coat and was straightening it on the back of her chair when someone called her name.

She looked up to see Merle waving at her. “Hey, Poppy said to meet here at six, but I guess I’m a bit early.”

He pulled out a chair at the table and sat down after putting his coat on the back of it. “I guess Wes is here with you.”

“He is,” she said. “But I’m not meeting Poppy.”

“You’re not? Oh, sorry.” He started to get up as Wes came back with their drinks.

“Hey,” Wes said, putting down a glass of white wine in front of Sera.

“Sorry, dude, I thought this was a WiCKed Sisters dinner.” Merle stood up.

“It’s cool. Is everyone coming here tonight?” Wes asked, looking over at her.

Sera wasn’t sure if he was trying to see if she’d forgotten a meeting, or if she wanted to join her friends. She was still trying to figure that out herself when Liberty breezed over to them and plopped into the chair across from her, still in her coat, snowflakes on her red hair.

“I’m going to need a lot of drinks. I’ve been doing the books all day and my head is mush.”

“Hey, we’re not—” Merle started.

“We forgot there was a meeting,” Sera said, interrupting Merle. “Wes and I are on a date.”

“Do you want us to go?” Liberty asked, looking not at Sera but at Wes.

Sera looked over at him as well, wondering what he wanted. She’d wanted tonight just for the two of them, but her friends were a big part of her life. Would Wes fit in with them? Did it matter since he was leaving in a few weeks? He was taking up too much of her mind and her emotions lately.

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