Page 93 of Bookworm

"Thanks guys." I sighed. "Besides the books, you were both my favorite parts of this job."

"She's not going to fire you," Casey said.

"She's not," Natalia agreed.

"And even if she does, it's not like she can ban you from the library forever. We'll still get to see each other."

"And I bet that kiss was worth it."

As I forced my feet to walk, their words ran through my head. Could Mrs. Welks ban me from the library? Did she have that kind of power? What was I going to do if I didn't have my safe haven? And…was the kiss actually worth it?

It was, I decided.

But I wasn't giving up my dream job without a fight.

"Mrs. Welks," I said, stepping into my boss's office with my hands out, "I know this looks bad. But I want to let you know that I've never done anything like that before, and I never will again. I take my job as a librarian's assistant very seriously."

"Shut the door please, Ms. Kent," she said.

"Yes, ma'am." I did as she asked but kept talking. "I really love working here. The Chariot Public Library has been like a second home since I was a child. I would never do anything to jeopardize—"

"Charlotte."

"—my place here. And I even like working for you, though youonce called my smile annoying and say I talk too much."

"Ms. Kent."

"And…it was only a kiss," I finished lamely. "You wouldn't fire your best employee over a kiss, right?"

Sitting back in her chair, Mrs. Welks surveyed me with her usual pinched expression. Her dress was a black and grey plaid, her sweaterdark burgundy which matched her shoes, and she was also rocking blackcat glasses. The overall look was kind of like a librarian angel of death. Mrs. Welks struck fear into the hearts of anyone who was caught talking tooloud or disrespecting the books. Oh yes, and into employees who'd stepped out of line.

"What exactly do you think is happening here?" she asked after staring me down.

I deflated like a punctured balloon. "Well, I assume you saw the video?"

"I have," she confirmed.

"So, aren't you going to fire me?"

Mrs. Welkstilted her head then slowly began to smile. "Not today, Ms. Kent."

"Huh?"

"Why would I fire my best employee, who I might add has breathed new life into the library?"

I couldn't take my eyes off her as Mrs. Welks leaned forward, a full, bright smile like I'd never seen on her lips.

"Just look out there," she said, gazing through her open doorway. "Thoseare teenagers, Ms. Kent.Teenagers!" The way she said it made teens sound like a completely different species. "Your age group is overly sarcastic, woefully underread, and basically hates everything. Besides you, Casey, and Natalia, I can count on one hand how many high schoolers we typically see in a week. Your kiss wasn't just a kiss."

Her eyes were bright.

"The stunt you pulled with that boy started a literary movement."

"I don't know about that," I said.

"Well, I do," she said, leaving no room for argument. "And I know you'llcontinue to be dedicated to your job and this library."

I nodded. "Absolutely."

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