Page 5 of Bookstore Bliss

Seth kisses me with a passion that my body craves. The moment his lips touched mine it was like a switch flipped on for me.

I want to explore more of his body.

To feel his lips on other parts of my body.

The heat in my lower abdomen ignites and grows. His woodsy scent fills my nostrils as his tongue explores my mouth. Everything is moving like a wildfire, fast and all consuming.

Until we’re interrupted. It’s been so long that I think if his hands touched me anywhere else, I may have come right then and there amongst the dusty bookshelves.

Talk about a bucket of cold water.

We peel apart when Riley comes around. Seth’s eyes are frantic, they dart about. I talk to Riley as Seth seems to pull himself together. I also tossed him a book to cover up.

“Can Kristen come to family dinner?” Riley asks.

Seth’s seemingly stoic face becomes beet red as he runs his hands through his hair.

“We’ll have to ask your mom,” he shifts his weight side to side as if embarrassed or nervous.

“Okay, I’m going to grab another book because Kristen said I can!” And with a bounce in her step, Riley hurries away. Once she’s out of ear shot Seth turns to me.

“I should explain. Riley’s mom, Jacquline, and I do weekly Friday night dinners together. We’re divorced.”

“Makes sense.” I notice he reaches to his left hand as if to twist a ring that used to be there. I want to pry about his past relationship. Does he still think about her? About me?

“Our custody is every other week so we do dinner together with Riley as a transition. I’d love to just invite you, but I’d need to ask Jacquiline. We don’t usually invite dates to family dinner.” He tucks his hands in his pockets.

“That’s a good system.” I bite my lip, unsure of what else to say. I finally know that Seth is divorced. Also, he’s single if he’s thinking about me as a date for dinner.

“Can I have your phone number? I’ll let you know what Jacqueline says about Friday.”

“Sure.” I recite the number for him to type into his phone. His brows furrow as he types it in. I changed my number in college when I wanted a clean break. I wonder how many times he reached out and I never knew.

“I’ll text you then.” He looks past me. I turn and see Riley with an armful of books. “I should get Riley home.”

I nod in return. He kisses my cheek before he leaves. I stand there, hand on my face as I watch the two of them leave the store. Riley waves goodbye as Seth carries all her books.

All alone in the bookstore. The silence seems out of place now.

After two days of silence, I finally get a text from Seth.

Seth: Friday doesn’t work. Would you want to grab dinner with me on Saturday?

Kristen: Sure, where do you want to meet?

Seth: I can pick you up at the store at 7 if that works? I won’t have Riley. We can go to the Waterfront Bistro.

Kristen: Okay, see you then.

I have a date with Seth. Now I just need a game plan. It’s been a while since I’ve gone on a date with someone that I have a deep connection with. Though maybe Seth doesn’t think about this as a date and more of just old friends catching up.

I need some answers. And who better to go to than a friend? I head to the bakery to question Bethany about all things Seth and Kastle Harbor that I’ve missed. And maybe borrow a dress. Dating wasn’t on my mind of possibilities when I packed.

Despite being the post lunch rush, there’s still a decent amount of people in the bakery. I get to the counter and greet Bethany. She gets me an iced coffee and tells me she’ll come sit with me in a moment. I pick a nice café table by the windows. May as well soak up some sunshine while I can

“What’s up Kristen? How’s the bookstore coming along?” Bethany sits down across from me.

She sets down a small plate of cookies and offers me one. They’re shaped and decorated like colorful seashells. I take a bite. It’s a delicious sugar cookie. If I lived here, I’d be at the bakery every day for sure. Or if I was running the bookstore I’d keep the staff break room fully stocked on the sweets front.

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