Page 49 of Can We Skip to the Good Part?
“She is.”
“She’s a lesbian now, too. She told me.”
“She did?” Ella grinned and sat taller. “That’s a compliment that she felt comfortable enough to come out to you. Not everyone in her life is up to speed, you know.”
A tiny smile played on Doug’s lips. “I had no idea.” He wiggled out of the sentimentality. “It’s just that we’ve known each other for years. That’s probably the only reason.”
“Yeah. Nothing to do with her thinking you’re rad or anything. Blech. Friendship.”
“You’re teasing me. You’ve been teasing me ever since you got to town. And drinking my coffee like it’s milk.”
“All of those things are true. You’re stuck with me, Doug. Is there more coffee?”
He grumbled something and shuffled away, which was Doug’s code forI like you, too.
She placed her book face down on the table, her leisurely reading/research on pause, while she went back to a little cover design. She was experimenting with a new color palette for this particular client who was seeking a fun and flirty look while also grounding it in the essence of autumn. Chestnuts, coppers, crimsons, and ochres were all up for grabs, and playing with the color combinations was her favorite.
“Well, well. What’s going on back here? Are you holding office hours?”
Ella went still at the very familiar voice and peered up from behind her tablet. There, next to the mystery section, stood Max in a black suit and white dress shirt holding an identical copy of the book Ella was reading. Her dark hair was down and tumbled onto one shoulder, which made Ella forget what words were.Holy hell.
Max raised a brow. “You may not be happy to see me. I’m trying to decide. You haven’t spoken.”
“What?” Ella gave her head a shake. Was her face hot? “Sorry. Not on purpose. It’s, uh, the thing was … my tablet. Hi.”
“That’s a good starter. Hi, back.” She brightened to a smile. “I had no idea I would run into you here.” She turned to her right as if still trying to piece it together. It would be cute if she weren’t so fucking hot right now. “I was stopping by for this week’s book, but no one’s at the counter.”
Ella hooked a thumb. “Doug is that way, shelving books. I’m working.” She shrugged. “I like it here and am racking up the hours. He’s going to charge me rent soon.”
Max set her book on the table and came around behind Ella. “Show me what you’re working on.”
“No way. It’s pretty early in the process and?—”
“What’s this?” Max asked, picking up her Apple Pencil.
“That’s my pencil. I use it to illustrate.”
Her mouth fell open. “You do that on your screen? I’m learning so much, and I’m more than a little impressed. I just figured you’d sketch out your illustrations on a piece of paper.”
“Sometimes I do, and scan them in later. Other times they’re just jumping-off points.” Ella gestured to her screen. “But the illustrating apps I use on my tablet offer me a lot of versatility to make my sketches leap to more vibrancy. Does that make sense?”
Max shook her head, biting her lip. Ella wanted to bite it, too. “Not yet. You’ll have to let me watch you work some night.”
“Night?”
“That’s exactly what I said. Where’s Doug?”
“Who’s Doug?”
Max placed a hand on the back of her head and gave her hair an affectionate smooth. There was a quiet domesticity to the gesture that made Ella curl her toes and imagine bacon and eggs on a Saturday morning, quiet walks around the neighborhood, and mad, passionate sex in multiple portions of the house.
“Did you hear me?” Max asked, folding her arms in amusement. “You’re a million miles away right now.”
“How do you feel about bacon?”
“The smell of it sizzling in the morning ranks really high.”
Ella smiled, satisfied. “Good answer.” She knew she was eons ahead of herself, and the concept of her and Max as endgame was a long shot at best. But it was fun to play make-believe and imagine a world where they stared at each other over long dinners, talking for hours, kissing for days, and losing themselves in the tangled sheets. She was doing it again.
