Page 20 of Unearthed Dreams
“I don’t know, Charlie. All of it, I guess,” he admitted. Even a foot shorter than him, it felt almost as if he was peering up at me from beneath his lashes. He looked torn, somewhere between apologetic and pleading for me to tell him it was all okay.
Instead, I gave him a little of his bark right back. “It’s fine. Wouldn’t want myfirst kissto be with an asshole, anyway.” His head snapped up from its bowed position and his eyes flared. “Better I learned that lesson now.”
I was overreacting—I knew that. Kai had been nothing but nice to me, barring those few snappish comments. But they were in a tense moment, and no one was perfect. But this would be my shield with him, protecting my silly heart from the inevitable. He would eventually see what everyone else did: aboring, aimless girl, who spent more time with books than people.
I spun on my heel to head back into the bar.
“First ki—” Kai’s footsteps thudded behind me. “Charlie, wait.”
I made a beeline for my bag, not bothering to look around the bar. I only realized we weren’t alone when a familiar voice called out.
“Well, hey there, Miss Everton! Heard you were back in town.”
Bert Dolstic. A good friend of Dad’s, probably in his early sixties with a beer belly and thinning blonde hair. He was perched at the far end of the bar.
I smiled before beginning to gather my things. “Hi, Mr. Dolstic. How are you?” I spoke the words to the counter, anxious to get out of Kai’s space. I could feel his eyes on my as he moved down the bar, but I didn’t dare look up.
“Oh, not too bad. Just enjoyin’ my retirement. It’s five o’clock somewhere, right, Kai?”
Kai grunted, and from the corner of my eye, I saw him slide Bert a Miller Lite.
“How’s Billy doin’?” he asked Kai as I slid my computer in my backpack and zipped it up.
“Fine.”
I hoisted my bag over my shoulder and finally looked up—and met his eyes.
Those stormy hazel eyes were locked on mine. He licked his bottom lip, slow and distracted, and the heat that flushed up my neck nearly knocked me over.
Iturned before I could combust on the spot. He took a single step toward me—but didn’t close the distance.
He knew better than to cause a scene in a small town like this.
“Bye, Mr. Dolstic,” I muttered, pushing open the door and escaping into the bright, sunny streets of downtown Sable Point.
My hands were still shakingas I fled down Main Street, putting distance between myself and Callaghan’s. The ghost of Kai’s lips on my shoulder burned like a brand, and my mind wouldn’t stop replaying that moment in his apartment—the way he’d looked at me, how his thumb had traced my bottom lip, the heat in his eyes before everything went sideways.
Your first almost-kiss was with a widower ten years your senior. Way to go, Charlie.
I needed somewhere safe. Somewhere that made sense. My feet carried me automatically to Books and Crannies, my sanctuary since I was old enough to read. Just seeing the familiar storefront through the morning haze made my racing heart slow a fraction.
The same bell that had greeted me thousands of times before chimed overhead as I pushed through the door. The scent of paper and peonies wrapped around me like a familiar hug, and I inhaled deeply, letting it wash away the lingering smell of stale beer and Kai’s woodsy cologne.
Books. Books made sense. Books were safe. Books didn’tlook at you like they wanted to devour you whole or press their lips to your skin or?—
“Charlie!”
Jennifer’s excited voice snapped me from my spiral. She waddled toward me, her pregnant belly preceding her by a good foot, and pulled me into an awkward hug.
“Holy Toledo, lady. Who knocked you up?”
She chuckled. Not many people found me particularly funny, so when I had the pleasure of making someone laugh, I didn’t take it for granted. It helped ground me, remind me who I was—just Charlie. Quiet, awkward Charlie who belonged here among the shelves, not pressed against a bar owner old enough to be... well, not old enough to be my father, but definitely too old for me.
“That would be my husband.” Her eyes sparkled. “You know the one, right? Youdidattend our wedding, after all.”
I forced myself to engage in the conversation, to push thoughts of Kai aside. “Hmm, I think I recall such an occasion.” My smile felt more natural now, the familiar rhythm of friendly banter helping to settle my nerves. “It’s so good to see you! When are you due?”
She huffed out a breath that puffed up her glowing cheeks. “In a month, but the baby could come any day, really.”
