Page 30 of Clean Out of Luck

His scruff tickles my ear as he whispers to me, “This guy’s old enough to be your dad.”

I flop my hands against his back, trying to get him to let me go. Anyone else might think I’m just patting his back, but we know better.

When he finally steps away, I narrow my eyes at him. “What are you doing here, Wade?”

“Just looking for a good book to read. I didn’t mean to interrupt you.” He turns to shake Nolan’s hand. “I’m Wade. Scarlett’s like family, and I don’t want anything to happen to her.”

Nolan’s eyes go wide, and I shake my head at this ridiculously threatening display from Wade.

“Have a nice night, Wade.” I speak each word with an extra bit of annoyance specially crafted for him.

He steps back and holds up his hands. “I’ll let you two have some time. Have a great night!” He walks to another set of bookshelves whistling “Hot to Go.”

He looks so comfortable perusing the shelves, as though he’s been in here a million times. Maybe he has. It’s been a long time since I’ve discussed books with Wade. Maybe he’s still a reader.

Nolan doesn’t seem fazed by Wade’s interruption and goes back to talking about architecture, his work, and his favorite books.

My face starts feeling a little stiff during his discussion of deconstructivist architecture.

I glance over his shoulder and see Wade watching us while he pulls some books from the shelf.

“Hey, Scarlett! You should read this one!” He holds up a copy ofHow to Win Friends and Influence People.

I stare at him without giving him the satisfaction of a reaction. Nolan looks back to see what Wade is holding. “Oh,that is an excellent book. Life-changing. You should buy it and see all the good it brings!”

“What about this one? Maybe you could move out of the basement,” Wade suggests as he holds upThink and Grow Rich.

“You live in your parents’ basement?” Nolan asks in surprise.

Not even remotely close to what Wade said. “Something like that,” I manage to say, because I can’t think of a quick enough retort. I’d like to say something witty and cutting to Wade, but my mind is a blank haze of frustration.

“Is this the book you were talking about the other day?” Wade calls to me from a couple of shelves over.

I look at the title he’s holding.IBS: Don’t Let Gas Stop You from Living Your Best Life.

If looks could kill, Wade would be getting his own chalk outline on the Novel Notions floor.

Wade beams at me like he’s just won the lottery. He’s ridiculously happy to be this obnoxious.

Nolan looks at me with concern. “Oh, I didn’t realize.”

“Feel free to ignore him,” I tell him. “He doesn’t know how to behave in public.”

Nolan smiles. “You’re right. Now, what has been catching your eye today?” He waves a hand around the bookstore as though it’s his kingdom to give.

I walk back over to the table and pick up the fantasy books I’d been eyeing. “Have you read these?”

Nolan scowls when he sees what’s in my hand. “No, of course not. Why would I waste my time with those? If you’re going to read, it should be for self-improvement.”

I freeze at that. “And what would you consider self-improvement?”

“Self-discipline, finance, fitness.”

Well, that sounds boring. But I don’t say it.

“So you don’t read any classics, even?” Wade asks as he walks over to the table.Now he really is stepping in. He’s not even pretending to accidentally be in the same store.

“Nothing of the fiction variety. It doesn’t lend to growth,” Nolan says with a shrug. “My wife likes to read mysteries, and I don’t see it adding anything to her life.”

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