Page 32 of Overdue

“Yes?”

“You don’t know?”

“No, I know. I definitely kissed him back. I’d still be doing it if I hadn’t come to my senses and realized I was actually at work where children are.”

“I heard it was at least R-rated. Nice job,” Eliot teases.

I moan in response. How could I lose my mind so completely over just one kiss? Okay, three kisses. And, according to Reed, there will be a lot more in the future.

“Sounds like he’s decided to play hardball. Are you up for that?”

“Ehhh?” I respond.

“I’m rolling my eyes.”

“I know, I can feel it.”

Eliot laughs as she hangs up. I stare at the phone. Am I up for it? My body is, but I’m not so sure about my mind. I have to smile, though. He simply refused to let anything stop him from kissing me. Not that anyone was trying.

My fingertips graze over my lips. Thank God no one tried to stop him. That kiss had been the best of my life. All three had. Everything is better with Reed a part of it. Even arguing.

“Hey,” Kim says, sticking her head in the office. “The coast is as clear as it’s going to get. Also, lover boy forgot to grab his laptop. Would have kind of ruined the moment if he had gone back for it. Anyway, here you go.”

Kim lays the laptop on my desk and slips back through the door. I rise from my desk chair and smooth down my skirt. Looking in the small mirror on the back of the door, I straighten my hair as best as I can. I reapply my lipstick, take a deep breath, and leave my office.

I grab the book cart to start shelving. That way I can hide in the back until we close. It’s a good way to do some thinking. And I need to do a lot of thinking.

Maybe Reed is right. Maybe I need to write about a better subject. Would anyone read a story about us? About the small town we grew up in? Would they be interested in the neighbors, the school, and the town square? Where would I begin? Reed said to write our story. That seems as good a place to start as any.

My phone has a writing app I haven’t used in a long time. I pull it up and start a new document titled book one. Then I began to write.

The first time I saw Reed Campbell, I thought he was the most obnoxious boy on the planet. And also the most beautiful.

twelve

REED

I didn’t go to Austen’s house with a boombox. I’m not even sure where to find one.

Instead, I’m on my hands and knees in the kitchen sweeping up the rest of the mess I created trying to make a quiche. Everything was fine one minute, then, in my distracted state, the almond flour slipped out of my hands. The crash caused Gran to jump, upending the eggs in her hands.

“Well, that’s what I like to see. A man on his knees.” I look up, taking in the long legs, ample hips, and perky breasts. “I brought your laptop.” Grabbing a washcloth out of the sink, she drops to her knees next to me. “What happened?”

“This was my attempt at quiche,” I mumble.

“I think you’re supposed to mix the ingredients in a bowl.”

“Thank you, Captain Obvious. The flour slipped out of my hands.”

“This flour?” She scoops up a handful off the floor and throws it over my head. It rains down through my hair. My eyes narrow in challenge. Two can play this game. I pick up a handful of eggs.

“Reed Campbell, don’t you dare.” Twisting, she tries to get away. I snag her ankle and pull her back to me. She squeals with laughter as I wrestle her into my arms to rub egg in her hair. It’s not hard since she’s still wearing the pencil skirt and sweater from work. Well, the wrestling isn’t hard. Other things are getting there quickly.

Austen smears a handful of flour and egg mixture on my face. I add more flour to her hair. She wiggles around until she’s straddling my lap. She fights like a fucking wildcat. We grapple some more until, laughing, I let her pin my wrist to the floor.

“Do you call ‘uncle?’” she asks. There’s egg dripping from her hair and a smudge of flour on her cheek. I’m not sure I’m the loser here. Especially since her now exposed thighs are pressed on either side of my hips.

“Say it.” She places both of my wrists in one of her tiny hands. Scooping up more eggs, she runs them down my face. Then down my shirt, until she finds my stomach where my shirt has ridden up.

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