Page 6 of A Mountain Man Walks into a Library

But what if he didn’t?

What if he says no? What happens to this new, delicate friendship? The one person in Granite-Glacier who wants to talk about poetry with me? French philosophy? I haven’t even brought out the Helene Cixous yet—what then?

Besides, it’s not like I don’t like making him cookies. I like the hungry look in his eyes when I set the plate down in front of him, the slight flush to his cheeks. The way his gaze flickers over to the sealed envelope. It’s a fun game. And, if I asked him out and he said no, I think the game would have to end.

“The problem with you, Noah,” I say, adopting the most cheerful tone of voice that I can, “is that you don’t have a romantic bone in your body.”

He huffs a laugh. “I wouldn’t exactly call that a problem.” He taps out a soft, contemplative rhythm with his sticks as he considers. “Anyway, I thought you fucked your way through college—”

“Lalalala,” Josiah mutters, covering his ears with his hands, “please never say those words about my baby brother again.”

Noah throws up his hands in exasperation. “Am I the only adult in this conversation? What I mean is, you’re not exactly shy, Sam.”

College Me would agree. College Medidfuck his way through four years of a heavy course load and late-night study sessions and gallons of coffee and even the occasional football game. I love meeting people and learning about them. Rejection has never scared me, so I never had any reason not to just go for it.

Remy is different. We’re not making curious eyes at each other across a crowded bar or in a lecture hall, looking for a fun distraction for a couple of hours. He is exactly what I’ve been looking for. Remy is smart and dryly funny, reserved but not hidden. He looks hot in a pair of khakis which is basically impossible, and his glasses are perpetually so smudged that I have to fight the very real urge to snatch them off his face and clean them against the front of my shirt. I bet he doesn’t even notice.

The first time I saw him at the library, my interest was piqued because, first,Hey, new librarian!And then,Blue eyes. And that was it. I have gone back every Monday with cookies and cards and requests for inter-library loans. And I guess that’s the thing: I’m not looking for a hookup. Hookups are easy. And I do very much want to get Remy into bed—but it’s more than that. Bigger. And I don’t know how to do that.

The way Josiah is looking at me tells me he sees that. My brother’s eyes are narrowed slightly, like he’s trying to solve the puzzle of me. Like he wants me to be a problem that makes sense.

Yeah, you and me both.

Noah groans. “Are we going to play or what?” he asks finally. “I refuse to embarrass myself at Cabin Fever because the two of you can’t focus. Is there a device that would let me drown you guys out?”

“Mm,” I say, considering, “noise-canceling headphones. I used them in college. But, yeah. We can play.”

“Finally,” Josiah breathes like he’s had all he can take of talking about my love life. Like he doesn’t start every sentence these days with,Lennon said...The adorable hypocrite.

Opting to give them a reprieve, I press my fingers to the keys and let the current of music drift out. A few moments later, Noah joins in with a gentle beat. Finally, Josiah plays and his voice lifts in song.

I follow their lead after that, trying different songs, different arrangements, different set combinations. And the whole time, I’m thinking about blue eyes. Hidden half smiles. Spring peepers singing out into the Harlow Mountain night.

Chapter 4

Remy

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