Page 35 of With Stars in Her Eyes
“Yep.”
“Good.” I sighed. “I’ve never thought of reading as an expensive hobby, but I was looking at the store’s inventory online, adding shit to my cart before I remembered I don’t have spending money since I’ve already mortgaged my soul.”
“To the devil?”
“If the devil’s name is Sallie Mae.” I shook my head.
“The name is just quirky enough to make you forget about the interest rates.”
“Ain’t that the truth.” I flipped through the book. “Since my bread is currently mostly buttering the federal loan service agencies, dollar bins are going to have to be my jam for now.”
“Funny.” Courtney’s eyes narrowed with amusement. “The library nearby has a pretty good romance section too. I think there are a few more books in that series.” She nodded at the book.
“I definitely would have gotten a library card sooner if I knew it came with light kink.”
“Just wait until I tell you about the millions of free fanfics available online.”
I gave Courtney a look that could probably be described asI have no damn clue what the hell you’re talking aboutbefore yanking my phone out. I scanned the search results for a few minutes, reading down the page. “So is alpha-to-omega fiction like a religious thing because I’m not really into—”
“No,” Courtney said at the same time Samantha popped her head out of the children’s section, saying the same word just as intensely.
I nodded slowly. “Curious… and curiouser… Oh—speaking of which, there was a sticker that got stuck into my book I bought yesterday. Wasn’t sure if it was supposed to be there.”
Courtney grinned.Did her cheeks get a little bit pinker?“Not an accident. Just seemed appropriate. Thought you would like it.”
“I did.”
Samantha walked behind the counter. “What sticker did you give her?”
“TheWE’RE ALL MAD HEREone. Figured she deserved an apology because of the ferret’s—er—antics. And the dragon. And the snowstorm with the piglet, come to think of it.”
“I’m glad you don’t want it back because I already put it on my water bottle.”
Samantha coughed once.
“Coming down with something, Sam?” Exasperation tinged Courtney’s question.
“Nah, I’m good. Why? Doyoufeel feverish today?” Samantha looked at her friend and then back at me.
“My temperature is completely normal. Thank you so much for your concern.” Courtney’s lips pulled tight in an expression too silly to be a full grimace, but it was close to one.
I’m definitely missing something here.
“Did you want to buy that book, Thea?” Courtney tapped the cover and picked up the book.
“Yeah, but I also wanted to ask where the gay ones are?”
Courtney dropped the book right onto the take-a-penny jar, scattering spare change in every direction.
Samantha waved me off and stooped to the ground. “I can clean this up. Courtney, do you want to show her the section she wants?” She cleared her throat. “Where the gay ones are, I mean?”
“Of course I can show her.” Courtney’s teeth gritted together.
Courtney led me to the used romance shelves. “Not manyqueer books make it to the dollar bin, but…” She dragged her nimble fingers over the spines, worn and lined from multiple readings. “Here’s one. And… this one.”
“Whoa, these covers are a trip. So much subtle longing.”
“They had to be more subtle then.”
