Page 56 of Safety Net
"Was it the flowers?" he asked.
I'd convinced Abel to join the Pinewoods Bookstore mystery book club last semester (in secret hopes Lenny and him might have some sparks). He didn't like the books, but he could stomach the company (more interested in Lenny than Lenny was interested in him). I suppose we were alike in that way, obsessed with ghost stories and prone to falling first.
Besides Lenny, Abel loved post-book club gossip. And all the attendees were old enough to offer advice to someone young enough to be still stumbling over their toes in the dating world. Our talks often led to my cider-drunk confessions centering on Celeste.
I'd come away from book club with a million suggestions. I ignored all of them in favor of not coming on too strong. Everyone had been helpful, don't get me wrong, but most of what they'd suggested would have been too overwhelming for Celeste.
"Kind of," I said, not wanting to disappoint.
Abel's gaze flickered over my shoulder, distracted enough for me to turn around. Celeste had exited the bathroom. My hearthammered in a familiar yet still disarming rhythm when I met her gaze. She smiled at me, her brow relaxing when she saw me, and started our way.
"That's her?" he asked.
"Yeah." It was hard to breathe in the best way possible. "That's Celeste."
"You should get more flowers," Abel murmured. "Every day. A woman like her deserves flowers."
I smiled and nodded. Because that was the least a guy could do for a woman like her. Celeste deserved all the flowers on every inch of the mountainside.
"Hey, sorry I took so long," she said when she got to my side.
"No worries," I said. "This is Abel. My friend. He owns the tour company."
Abel tipped his nonexistent hat to her. Celeste smiled and offered him a shy, "Nice to meet you."
"We should be heading out soon," Abel said. "In the meantime, why don't you two get yourself something on me?"
He dug out a couple of free coupons for cups of frozen lemonade and ice cream sandwiches to redeem at the cafe across the street.
"Flowers," he mouthed before we could set off.
I laughed as I led Celeste to the cafe.
"What?" she looked up at me, already amused despite not knowing what I was laughing about.
"Nothing," I said. "Got you some things."
She peeked into the outstretched bag. "You didn't have to. Tourist souvenirs are a fortune in this town."
"When I go on a tour, I always like to experience it in full." I pulled out the cap and raised my brow, asking if I could put it on her.
Celeste nodded and stood still while I slipped the cap on. She repositioned her two braids so they hung over her shoulders. Myfingers lingered on the rim of the hat, an excuse to stay as close to her as possible.
"Does it look okay?" she asked when far too much time was spent adjusting a simple baseball cap.
"Looks like you're ready to go ghost hunting."
Her forehead wrinkled. "I thought this was a ghost tour."
"Little column A, little column B."
"Is there a pamphlet or something?" Celeste wondered, gaze straying back to the tour booth. "So, I can get a rundown?"
"You don't need a rundown—" I tugged on the t-shirt and clipped my water bottle to my belt loop. “—when you have a seasoned professional right next to you."
She tilted her head, studying me. "A seasoned professional?"
I was still getting used to that teasing glint in her eyes and the slight hitch in her voice, which I found happened whenever she tried to flirt with me.
