Page 4 of Marginally Yours
Lmao that sounds about right. It's a short one so you'll probably finish it tonight. Do you want me to see if we have the second one in stock?
That would be great, thank you! What about you? Who's your favorite?
I'm also pretty partial to the dragon.
We chat back and forth for a while, some replies coming immediately and some taking a while until around six when I assume she leaves work, because I get a steady stream of quick responses for the rest of the night. We mostly talk about the book, or other books, which is fine with me. I give her live reaction updates, and she sends me teasers of spoilers without actually telling me anything useful. I'm just about done with the book when she tells me she's heading to bed, and I realize several hours passed in what felt like two and it's past midnight. She makes me promise to send her a final update when I'm done so she can read it in the morning.
I'm in the process of texting her back when she sends me a selfie of her lying in bed holding up a pinkie and smirking at the camera.
My brain short circuits and the only response I can come up with is a selfie with my own pinky out, followed by "Pinky promise. Goodnight."
Oh, I'm so fucked.
Chapter Three
Iwake up to multiple texts from Callie.
I finished the book after she went to bed last night and sent her my thoughts on it. I told her that the characters were well developed, and the plot had a good mix of action and romance, definitely enough to keep the interest of both types of readers. I thought the main character was a little too righteous and she could probably loosen up a little, but overall, I liked it.
Then I sent her a selfie, the book spread open in my hand to the last page with an overdramatically sad face. I was going for "effortless and adorable”, but I deleted the first 38 attempts, and the vibe is decidedly more "goofy".
I almost unsent it, but I had to commit to the bit eventually. I followed it up with one more text before leaving work.
Not sure how I'm supposed to sleep after that cliffhanger but I'll see if I can manage to survive until tomorrow. I'll come in a little early so we can talk about it if you have time.Goodnight, Callie.
She texted me back at 7am. Of course she's a morning person. She's basically made of sunshine.
I'm so glad you liked it! I'll have the next one set aside for you when you get there. I'm sure Eddie can manage without me for a little bit lol.
Also, I found another one you might like. I'll set a copy aside for you.
If that's ok, of course. If not, it's totally fine!
Ok I'm probably blowing your phone up so I'll leave you alone and stop yapping now.
Oh, and good morning!
I don't know if cuteness aggression is a thing in people like it is in animals, but I feel like I need to bite something in half. She's just a little ball of anxiety too, huh? I feel so seen.
I rush through getting ready, making sure I at least smell nice, and my hair and beard are neat before I leave. It's hard to look good in a security uniform.
I really need to stop in on my day off next time.
I leave an hour early, and I have a feeling it still won't be enough time. When I get to the bookstore, Eddie is at the register. He pats a hand on a small stack of books, presumably the ones that Callie had set aside for me and dips his head towards the café with a suspicious smirk.
She's sitting in one of the chairs with two cups on the table in front of her and her face in a book. She’s so invested in whatever she’s reading that she jumps when I pull out the chair across from her.
"Oh, hey!" She beams at me and slides one of the cups across the table. When I cock a brow at her, pink flushes her cheeks. "I figured you'd be in a hurry so I asked Eddie what you normally get but he had no idea so I asked Hannah whatshe normally made you and that worked but then I realized I wasn't sure exactly what time you'd be here and it’s been a while so it’s probably already cold so I was just going to grab another one when you got here but..." She takes a deep breath in and holds it for a moment before letting it all out in a long, slow huff.
"Sorry, sometimes I forget how to people and I just ramble away," she mumbles, and reaches for the cup. "I'll be right-"
I wrap my hand around the cup before she can take it, but she doesn't see it and ends up wrapping her tiny hand around mine. Steam puffs up out of the vent as our hands collide, and it might be coming out of my ears, too. I had planned to make a big show of drinking it and telling her how delicious it is, but every thought in my head has been replaced with a fucking mariachi band, so it's a solid ten seconds before either of us says anything.
"Thank you," I finally say, and it takes every iota of willpower I have to pull the cup out of her grip and take a sip. "It's perfect," I tell her, taking another and watching her over the cup.
It actually is, but Hannah has been making me the exact same caramel macchiato for almost 2 years now so I would hope so. I won't tell Callie that, though.
Her relief is a palpable thing, and I can actually see it wash over her face. "Ugh," she says, blowing out a relieved sigh. "Okay, good. So, you liked the book?"
