Page 21 of Safety Net
“Could be.” She nodded, playing along.
“What about you?”
Celeste blinked. “I…don’t follow. Sorry.”
“No. It’s my fault. I’m a tumbleweed.”
She shook her head, still confused, still smiling. Another laugh was a hair’s breadth away, and I live for its proximity. Yearning for a laugh was a new high or low, I couldn’t decide which. My body could decide it wanted to feel her laugh. The vibration of it against my chest. The taste of it on my lips.
“It’s what my grandma calls me. Just rolling forward,” I said. “It’s a compliment…I think. At least I take it as one. Anyway, your favorite detective?”
“I don’t know many,” she said softly.
“You already have a good start.” I gestured to the books in her hands and then looked at the shelf, trying to see if I could recommend any more to her. “Damn.”
“What?” Celeste asked, sounding genuinely worried.
I looked over my shoulder toward where Lenny had disappeared. “He stocked the latest books in this series and didn’t tell me about it. Okay, Celeste, these are incredible. I haven’t read them all yet, but everything this author puts out is gold. Five kids driving in their minivan across Canada to solve old ghost stories. Paranormal cold cases.”
I studied the new illustrated covers, ready to buy the whole set.
“Sounds fun.” Celeste tried to get a peek at the artwork, so I moved over to make it easier for her to see. The feel of her body heat reminded me of how real this conversation was. Dry mouth was back with vengeance.
“This entire series deserves the book equality of an Oscar,” I said hoarsely.
“Pulitzer?”
“Bless you,” I murmured while still staring at the familiar characters on the page.
Celeste laughed again. “No…um, the Oscar for books. I think it’d be a Pulitzer.”
“Ah.” I nodded and smiled at her.
She cleared her throat and turned her gaze toward the shelves again. I forced myself to move back a bit, too.
The air didn’t smell of ink on paper anymore. It smelt of citrus and clover. Of her. I wanted to be closer. Not just physically. I wanted to be like we were now, talking about books and finding interest in something together. I didn’t think I was lonely before, but with her here, I wondered if that had been the case. If all along, I wanted someone to get lost with in a bookstore.
“I think…I got everything I came for,” Celeste said quietly as she lifted her books.
My heart sank, but I smiled.
“Me too.” I grabbed the rest of the series. “Can we walk up together?”
Her flighty gaze was back, straying to the front of the store. “Okay.”
“I started coming here more since school’s been out, so if you ever need company, feel free to let me know,” I offered as we started to check out.
Celeste didn’t respond verbally, but I think she released a soft hum of acknowledgement. I’d take it.
There was no line at the register. I greeted Kasey, and she gave me a tired smile. Most days, she ran this place on her own.
“Those, too.” I gestured to Celeste’s stack. “If you don’t mind?”
I directed the question to Celeste, who looked confused at first.
“You don’t…have to,” she whispered.
“I know. It’s my way of getting someone I know to read my favorites, so I have someone to talk to about it,” I said and offered my hand for her books. “It’s pretty selfish of me, actually.”
