Page 18 of Nerdy Dirty Valentine

James laughed, giving those tiny, adorable snorts.

I was a sucker for that laugh. His tongue darted out, licking his upper lip. And I was fucking standing there with my dick going stiff. Stifling a curse, I turned away from James for a minute and pretended to read the title of a book.

James went row by row, his eyes bright with excitement, babbling on about this title or that, the words pouring out of him. He mentioned Romanticism and Neoclassicism and a bunch of things I barely understood and probably would never investigate, but I got off on his endless enthusiasm for the books.

“Oh, look there. I have to check the banned books section and support that.” We walked over, with me carrying a small red basket for James. He cradled each book he chose, sighing deeply before putting them gently into the basket. “I’m buying myself most of these.”

“No, you’re not.” I studied the titles. “Wow, all these have been banned? I only recognize a few of them, but geez.”

“Some are gone from our faculty reading list. Some from libraries.”

“I do know this one.” I held it up. “My dad only read on weekends to unwind, but I know this was an old favorite because…”

“Because you were named after it?”

My mouth dropped. “How’d you know?”

“I’d say I’m brilliant and all, but truthfully, Phineas is an uncommon name, and I loveA Separate Peace.”

“So did he.”

“Then this one is on me.” James took it from my hand, our fingers brushing.

“Don’t. I read it once, and I’m not much on rereads.”

“It’s still a keeper.” He smiled sweetly.

My throat clogged a little. I tried to ignore the dip in my stomach, too.

He scooped the book from me and walked over to the checkout as I followed.

“It’s only a book.” I shrugged.

Both James and the clerk in the store gasped.

“Don’t say that,” James said.

“Oh, hey, James.” The clerk smiled as James set the stack of books on the counter.

“Hey, Emma.”

“Who’s your friend?” She sniffed, still clearly annoyed by my comment on books.

“This is Phin.”

She checked out the books, though, and softened toward me as she watched my insistence on paying for all of James’ books.

All butA Separate Peace.James insisted on getting me that one. It was sweet of him to do that for me. I stepped aside, pretending to study the display of bookmarks near the register. The lump returned to my throat. It was kind of James, even if it was only a book.

But I’ll think of my dad every time I see it.

I turned to him once we left the store.

“Emma, huh? You’ve been here before. Why did you act like you’d never been inside? Christ, I should have known.”

“You were so cute and all excited… and so was I. Look, it’s even more special to me now that we’ve come together. I have always come alone. That’s why Emma knows me. ’Cause I wander in here lots of days, never with somebody else to share it with…” He flung himself into my arms. “Thank you!”

“Welcome,” I said thickly. His tote bag of books fell off his shoulder and knocked my thigh as he hugged me, but I didn’t care.

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