Page 4 of Bookworm

She had a point, but…

"Yeah," Natalia said, "plus, it's kind of romantic. Don't you think?"

Our eyes shifted to her, and a blush stole up her cheeks.

"The library is a romantic place," I agreed, "and I'm all for romance. I'm just surprised people aregoodwith that level of PDA. And around all the books?"

Natalia sighed, and Casey lifted a brow as if to say,That's kind of the point.

Okay, okay, so I could definitely see how itmight be fun…terribly romantic even…I was already secretly imagining my first kiss happening in a library setting, the ultimate haven for books and book lovers alike—though the ancient history section was a no-go. Give me fiction, preferably romance with plenty of swoony bits.

"I think she's seeing the upside," Casey commented.

"Who wouldn't?" Natalia gave another dreamy sigh then said, "Don't worry, Lottie.It's only a matter of time."

Not sure if she was referring to me catching people hooking up or my current un-kissed state, I shook myself out of it and made a non-committal noise in the back of my throat.

"Why ancient history?" I asked.

The question had been rolling around in my head.

Natalia thought it over. "It's probably because that section is out the way. Kinda dark back there too."

"Or maybe they have some weird fetish about hooking up near kings and queens who all died gruesome deaths," Casey replied. "Maybe we should get that Darkling girl back and ask her."

I couldn't help but laugh at that. "She was a cool kid. Bet she's going to love the books."

Casey scoffed.

"Hey, that was the highlight of my day," I said.

"The girl told you she hates you because you smile too much," she said back.

I'd opened my mouth, a reply on the tip of my tongue, when the bell above the door trilled, announcing a new visitor.I smiled as I would for any new customer.Unfortunately,it was someone who really did hate me.And he never tried to hide it.

Ugh, why did he always have to come in?

This was the absolute worst part of my day.

"And here comes the best partof my day," Casey murmured, eyes bright and her lips pulling up in a beatific smile.

"You have a boyfriend," I reminded her under my breath.

"That doesn't mean I'm blind," she murmured back."And I'm looking for you."

"Bo Stryker?" I scoffed softly. "Yeah, right. We're different as night and day—I'm day, obviously."

"And he could be your knight in a tight, fitted t-shirt."

"Nice wordplay, but not in a million years," I said, staring at Bo beneath my lashes. The guywasgorgeous. I could admit that despiteour history.The broad shoulders, the pretty-yet-stern face (which somehow made himeven more attractive, ugh), the deep voice…life was so unfair. Mygrumpy next-door-neighbor hadn't looked our way yet, thank goodness.I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing me ogle him. "It's the muscles isn't it?" I said.

"Or the hard chiseled jaw," Natalia said.

"Heispretty, like a member of a K-Pop band."

"Or Batman," she said.

I bit back a grin because I could totally see it.

---