Page 5 of Love By the Book
"Any chance you want to try our signature drink?" Kasey offers, leaning forward slightly. "It's an espresso blend with hints of cardamom and vanilla. Won an award this year."
“Yes, I mean no, I mean?—”
"He'd love to try it," Piper yells loudly enough for Kasey to hear. "My brother is all about new experiences these days."
I reluctantly nod, mostly because backtracking now would be even more awkward. Kasey’s smile widens, and I mentally add ‘unsolicited personal growth’ to today’s agenda. "Great! Room for cream?"
"He likes it hot and sweet," Piper shouts once more, and I nearly drop my phone.
"Pipes!" I hiss, then force a smile at Kasey. "Just as you make it is fine, thank you."
As I step to the side, Piper is cackling in my ear. "That was painful to listen to. If that's how you're handling meeting new people, I'm genuinely worried about this break of yours."
"Shouldn't you be off saving reluctant readers somewhere?" I mutter, finding a small table by the window. I set my leather messenger bag down carefully, arranging it so the strap doesn't crease.
"I don’t have any students for another hour. So tell me, what exactly are you doing in Magnolia Cove? Besides butchering conversations with cute-sounding baristas?"
I pinch the bridge of my nose, shifting my glasses up. "I'm working on my research. Being somewhere that isn't..." I trail off, unwilling to finish the thought. Somewhere that isn't the office where I found Mark. Somewhere that doesn't remind me of how easily a life can slip away, unnoticed and unfulfilled.
"Ah," Piper says, and I can hear the understanding in that single syllable. She knows me well enough to fill in the blanks. "And how's the apartment?"
"It's... fine. Minimalism suits me."
"Meaning you've already arranged it exactly like your place here," she guesses, correctly.
I don't respond, which is answer enough. The truth is, I spent my first night meticulously recreating the layout of my Misty Pines apartment—books categorized by subject and then alphabetically by author, record player positioned at the precise angle for optimal sound, even my coffee mugs arranged by size and frequency of use. The familiarity was comforting, but also vaguely disappointing. So much for turning over a new leaf.
"Promise you'll keep me updated?" Piper asks, her voice gentling.
"I promise," I say. "Now, I've got to go. I have a meeting in ten minutes." Twenty-five, actually. I’d rather be settled than caught mid-phone-call, looking unfocused.
"Bye, Brubba."
"Bye, Pipes."
I slip my phone into my pocket just as Kasey approaches with my drink. "Here's your signature blend. And my number." She slides a napkin toward me with a wink.
"Oh, I—thank you, but I'm not—I mean, I just moved here and—" I stammer, heat creeping up my neck.
Kasey laughs good-naturedly. "No pressure. Just thought I'd shoot my shot. Enjoy your coffee!"
As she walks away, I take a careful sip of the coffee and am surprised by how much I enjoy the sweetness contrasting the complex coffee tones. Perhaps there's something to this ‘trying new things’ concept after all.
Twenty minutes and one nearly finished coffee later, the café door swings open, bringing with it a rush of warm air anda woman with silver-streaked hair pinned in an elegant chignon. She spots me immediately and makes her way over with purposeful strides.
"Professor Lancaster!" Her voice carries with it the confident authority of someone used to speaking in rooms designed for silence. "I hope I haven't kept you waiting long."
I stand, extending my hand. "Not at all, Ms.—"
"Maria Delgado, Library Director." Her handshake is firm, professional. "I can't tell you how thrilled we are to have someone of your expertise joining us, even temporarily. Your department head spoke so highly of your cataloging skills and your protection magic."
"Thank you, that's very?—"
"And of course, we're eternally grateful you've agreed to help with our backlog of ancient texts," she continues, pulling out the chair across from me. "Some of these volumes haven't been properly examined in decades. Who knows what treasures might lurk in our collection?"
I nod automatically, even as confusion settles in my stomach. Cataloging backlog?
That hadn’t been part of the plan.
