Page 54 of No More Love Songs

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

SKYLAR

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We spend a good threehours inside Brown’s Books. It may be the longest I’ve ever spent perusing title after title, making my way from one shelf to the next. I love every second of it, and by the time we leave, I have seventeen new books I can’t wait to read, every one of them a genre I’ve never read before. All of which Kit is happy to carry for me as we continue our afternoon around town.

After Brown’s, Rat suggests we stop at a place called Cauliflower Power for food, a sort of lunch meets dinner since our timetable on meals is definitely shot to shit at this point. I can’t deny I find the name or the main ingredient to be less than exciting, but Ari and Kit both jump on the idea with enthusiasm, so I keep my skepticism to myself.

This turns out to be a smart move, because I’m in love with the little white tree looking veggie by the time we leave. I’ve even made notes of dishes I saw on their menu which I intend to experiment with myself when I get home. And by that, I mean with Mavis’s supervision, in Kit’s kitchen.

The only thing lacking at the Cauliflower Power was a proper dessert. So, we pick up ice cream cones at a little spot along the way. It serves their guests through a window right out to the sidewalk, like a drive-thru, only more like a walk-by. Whatever, it’s awesome.

As it’s the current theme of my life, I opt for two scoops of flavors I’ve never tried before.

The honeydew and kiwi ice cream I leave with piled high in my freshly made waffle cone is enough to make me think I’ve completed my task of finding new love in this life. Out of this world doesn’t even begin to describe it. And I’ve eaten ice cream, literally, all over the world. Just usually chocolate. Because it’s my favorite. Or maybe it was.

With all of us buzzing on sugar and relishing the feeling of a content, full belly, we finally arrive at the Scrap and Paste.

“Holy shit, this place is awesome,” I gasp, only two steps in past the front door. “I feel like I just got dropped down the rabbit’s hole. It’s freaking magical in here.” Everywhere the eye goes, it catches on something colorful, elaborate and creative. Paper flowers the size of my head hang from the beams overhead. Hand painted shoes line one wall, like they fell off someone’s feet while they were walking toward the ceiling.

Funky ceramics are scattered around the shelves while another wall is covered in papier mâché clocks all shaped to look like animal heads. Hand painted furniture displays more artwork, while an assortment of wooden statues is adorned in eclectic, one of a kind, clothes.

Then, all the way in the back, things get a little boring. “They’re just rows of tables.”

“Yeah.” Kit chuckles like he’s laughing at me. “For crafting.”

“Right.” I guess I could have sorted that out for myself.

“Rat and I wanna check out the picture frame section,” Ari announces.

“We got this rad shot of both of us reaching the top together the last time we went climbing. It’s definitely frame worthy,” Rat adds.

“Go for it.” Kit waves them off, blessing their choices. “As for you,” he tells me, leading me around the tables and toward the back corner where an entire section of the store appears to be made up of cardboard. “Journals are this way.”

“Are you going to make one?” I ask, having spotted the selection of cereal boxes.

“Actually, I have something else in mind,” he says slyly. “So, I’m going to let you find your supplies here, while I go off to look for everything I need for my project.”

“You’re not going to tell me what it is?”

He bends down to kiss me, before he starts walking away backwards, grinning like he’s definitely up to something. “Nope.”

Ordinarily, the not knowing of it all would drive me nuts, but today I let it go and return my focus to the reason I’m here. Myself.

Once I choose my box (I go with Lucky Charms as originally discussed), I go about gathering accessories. Recycled papers for the pages, two different ribbons to wrap around and seal the journal, several little trinkets representing my love for music to glue on, a sticker of the sun, and of course, an appropriate amount of paper hearts and flowers to scatter all throughout.

When I’m done, I head back to the boring tables and find a spot to work, sitting with Ari and Rat.

We’ve been at our projects for a while when Kit shows up and decides to sit at the table farthest away from us, with his back to me.

“More mysteries, huh?” I call over.

“Stick around, Sky. You may learn to appreciate them,” he calls back. Even without turning around, I can hear him grinning at me.

I sigh loudly but get back to my project.

From time to time, a member of the staff comes around to offer tips and check on our progress, but for the most part, we all work in silence. Not even Rat and Ari are chatting, just going with the flow of their creative juices.

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