Page 91 of For Wrath and Redemption
But fuck me, I’m going to keep her.
25
CLAIRE
“This might be my favorite yet.”
Jonah runs his fingers over a row of books, tracing each spine before moving to the next one. I smile.
“We were lucky to be here when it was going on.”
“Bullshit. You could have chosen anything. Another food pantry. An animal shelter. Youth center. You chose this. Take some credit, Trouble.”
I roll my eyes, but I don’t argue. He’s right. I’ve grown mindful of the events I plan for him now. I search for things I know he’ll enjoy.
Doing inventory at the food pantry was a bust because he was bored out of his mind, so I canceled anything with rote tasks. He’s enjoyed working with kids and anything that can involve music. He’s always reading, so when I saw that the local library was hosting their yearly book sale the same week we were in Dublin, I jumped on it.
We spent all yesterday helping the other volunteers organize the used books by genre and author. It was no small task. There are hundreds of books in this room. At the beginning, I was anxious that we’d mess up the system. We wouldn’t get it done in time. The books wouldn’t be alphabetized correctly. But every time I looked at Jonah, he seemed...not happy, exactly...but unburdened. At peace.
I was agonizing over a section of mystery books when he stepped beside me and nudged me with his arm. Leaning down, he whispered in my ear,Relax, Trouble. It doesn’t have to be perfect.I smiled for the rest of the afternoon.
So did he.
“Doors open in fifteen.” He looks at his watch. “You worried?”
I arch a brow. “About what?”
“Dunno. That I’ll make a scene or cause some sort of chaos.”
I shake my head and narrow my eyes playfully. My lips twitch with the need to smile, but I try my best to hold it off. I shrug. “Not at all. You’d never disrespect the books like that.”
For a moment, I think I see a blush color his cheeks. It makes my pulse pick up speed. I want to touch my hands to his face and feel the soft heat on my palms. I almost do, but he turns away and starts fiddling with the books in front of him again.
“You going to get anything?”
He keeps his eyes on the books as he replies.
“I already have a stack.”
Of course he does.
Jonah glances over his shoulder at me. “You?”
“Probably not. I’m not much of a reader.”
“That’s a shame, Trouble. I don’t fuck girls who don’t read.”
I bark out a laugh. “That’s the biggest lie I’ve ever heard. You don’t even ask their names. No way you know if they can read.”
He lets out an exaggerated sigh. “Don’t be jealous, Trouble. I’ll get you something.”
He walks away, leaving me smiling stupidly while I stare at his back.
“Hey!”
I turn and find Mabel grinning at me. She’s with Brynn and two guys I recognize from Callie’s band.
“Hey! You’re here! Anyone else make it?” I glance around for some familiar faces, but I find none.
