Page 55 of Summer Ever After
“Welcome in,” Briggs calls from behind the counter. “Let me know if you have any questions.”
“Thanks.” I smile, but it’s no use. All I see of Briggs is the top of his sandy-blond hair as he looks down at a piece of paper on the counter.
I casually make my way through the shop, pretending to be interested in my next read when, in reality, I’m only here for my next date.
A stack ofSecret Crushby Sunny Palmer catches my attention, and I end up rearranging the display so that Capri’s book stands out more than the other romance books on the table.
“Oh, hey, Jane. Are you a Sunny Palmer fan?”
My head whips up. Briggs stares at me from behind the counter. I totally vibe with his nerdy, boy-next-door look, especially when I’m wearing these reading glasses.And I think he’s gotten a little buffer since last time I saw him.
A giant grin covers my mouth. “I love Sunny Palmer!”I’m her best friend.“I mean, who doesn’t love a good romance book?”
“I’ve actually never read a Sunny Palmer book, but my mom has and seems to enjoy them.”
I take a couple steps forward, closing the distance between us. “Do you read a lot?”
“It’s kind of hard not to when your mom owns a bookstore.” He glances around at the place.
“Yeah, I bet.” I lean my elbow on his counter, noticing how Briggs takes a slight step back. I’m calling it a coincidence and sticking to the plan. “I mean, with the love of books in your blood, you’re probably the type of guy who would build a library in your home for a woman just because you know how much she loves to read.”
A favorite trope of mine.
“Or I could totally see you reading her favorite book even if you didn’t like reading just so that you had something to talk about with her. And maybe she doesn’t even know you’re reading it. You just happened to see it on her nightstand, but you memorized the name of the book so you could read it on your own time. And when she finds out, she falls a little bit more in love with you.”
Another favorite.
He blinks back at me with a blank expression. “I’m sorry, what?”
I may have gotten a little carried away.
“Nothing.” My arm falls, hitting the counter with a thud. “It was nothing.” I’m giving one last trope a go. I push my fake reading glasses up and dive back in. “Do you like writing, Briggs? I mean, you were good at English in high school, weren’t you?”
The puzzled look on his face deepens. “I was okay at English.”
“What I’m really getting at here is pen pals.” Briggs Dalton would make the perfect hero in a littleYou’ve Got Mailtype romance. “Have you ever had a pen pal before? Or maybe you’re looking for a pen pal?”
“No, not really.”
“Interesting.” I casually lean against the side of the counter. I’m hitting my stride again. “Are you happy you came back to Sunset Harbor? Like, are you planning on staying?”For the rest of your life?
“I haven’t really thought that far ahead.”
I probably need to remind Briggs about the good times we had together in school. Maybe if he fondly remembers his past on the island, he’ll want a future here too. Plus, we played love interests inA Midsummer Night’s Dream,so obviously I need to remind him of that.
“Do you remember the seventh-grade play we did together?”
“I remember being new at school and being forced into one of the main parts.”
“Yeah, you were Lysander.”
His forehead creases. “How did you remember that?”
“Because I was your lover, Hermia.” I try to jog his memory. “I still remember some of my lines. ‘Help me, Lysander, help me,’” I theatrically say my part from memory. “‘Do thy best to pluck this crawling serpent from my breast.’” My smile is big as I look back at him. “Remember how awkward it was when I had to saybreastin front of the whole school and how everyone giggled?”
“Jane, is there something I can help you with?”
“I’m just reminiscing. You’re a local. I’m a local. It’s only natural that we should talk and hang out. Maybe even…I don’t know...”—I scratch the back of my head—“go out on a date sometime.”
