Page 70 of Fighting Words

“He’s allergic to cats though, so I should probably put Cat in your room if that’s okay.”

Cat’s usually in my room all the time anyway, or he was pre-Summer.

“Sounds good.”

She eyes me suspiciously as if she knows that’s just a generic automated response. I’d better mix it up with a well-timed “Whoa, that’s crazy” or “No way” so I can throw her off the scent of my feigned indifference.

Not that it really matters; I’m not staying much longer. I won’t be here for their reunion. I don’t want to see it. I haven’t chopped firewood in a week and we’re running low so I could go out and do that, but for now, I think I’ll head into Sedbergh and see if Alice is at the shop. If she’s not, I’ll go to the pub.

I don’t even tell Summer I’m leaving. While she’s upstairs checking on the towel—or more likely looking through her clothes for the sexiest reunion outfit she can pick—I head straight out the door and get into my car. There’s no way around it. I worry how close I am to crumbling beneath the weight of these feelings, and once I do, once she knows the truth, there’s no going back.

If she wants Andrew, I’ll make it easy on her and get out of the way, at least for a few hours.

The bell chimes over the door of Main Street Books.

I’ve always loved Alice’s shop. I contemplated opening one of my own bookstores here, but it’s a lot of work and I’d really only be playing a shop owner when what I actually want to do is own an entire store full of books that I can read at my leisure without anyone bothering me. With that business model, I’d never turn a profit.

There’s a customer with Alice today, an old man wearing a green tweed driving cap and relying heavily on a hand-carved cane. He has her full focus over near the antiquarian books. Those are the real showstoppers, the ones I fantasize about buying every time I come in here. I will come away with one of them eventually, either an early editionMoby Dickor a 1950s copy ofCasino Royaleby Ian Fleming.

Alice sees me and gives a little wave but otherwise stays focused on her customer. She must be close to making a deal, and I’m happy for her. With the right sale, Alice could cover overhead at the store for months.

I busy myself browsing the aisles. Since Summer’s arrival, I haven’t been reading as much as I usually do so I’m not in the market for anything new, but this is part of my distraction plan. I can’t go home, so I have to linger here.

It could be worse. At least I’m among my favorite things.

I check my watch and confirm that Andrew will be passing through Sedbergh anytime now on his way to the cottage. With Alice’s shop right on Main Street, I could theoretically see him drive by, but I have no idea what car he’s in. Still, that doesn’t stop me from craning my neck every time I hear tires in the snow outside.

Pathetic. I’ve fully lost it.

“I’ll think on it,” I hear the man tell Alice in a heavy English accent.

When I turn back, I see her hold out a business card for him to take. “Of course, I understand. The shop will be open again tomorrow, but not Sunday.”

She helps him to the shop door where a driver waits to escort him to his car.

Alice’s smile only drops once she steps back inside, her back to the street. “I was hoping that would go differently.”

“Big fish?”

“Huge.”

I look out to see the man getting into a vintage Range Rover. Big fish indeed. “Maybe he’ll be back,” I tell her, offering up a conciliatory smile. “He seemed really interested.”

“Yes, inlooking,” she says hopelessly. “So many people come here just to window shop. He was browsing for over an hour. He made me take out most every book I have in that back cabinet.” She shakes her head like she can’t believe she wasted so much time. Then she heads toward the pile of papers waiting for her on the counter.

“Right, well I’ll buy one. How’s that? Get the Fleming.”

She laughs and shoots me a droll look. “I’m not selling you a book.”

“Why not?”

“Because you don’t want it. Notreally. You’re only trying to be nice.”

“Nice?” I pfft air out of my mouth like she’s crazy. “Ask Summer how nice I am.”

She cocks an eyebrow, curious.

“Never mind. Forget I said that.”

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