Page 49 of Kiss Me, Maybe

@Alisha:Both, please!

@LetiIsTrying:How do you look so damn good as both WOW

@Christine:

@HavanaGirl1015:Good lord, Angela. I’ve never been more jealous of a comment section in my LIFE

Even though it was my idea, I’m always amazed when every single kid comes dressed up as a book character. I’m circling the table, taking pictures for the library’s social media, when a hand falls on my shoulder and Marcela comes into view.

“This is the last time I post my outfit before book club.” I’m confused by this seemingly random announcement until Andy steps up beside her. A laugh bubbles up from the back of my throat. The two are dressed exactly like Rosalinda fromSinner’s Isle. Andy’s even more of a mini-Marcela in their matching outfits, down to the rose tucked above their left ears.

“Don’t act like this isn’t the type of shenanigans you love, Miss Ortiz.” Andy smirks at her, where she stands with her arms crossed over her chest. She has a point. This isexactlythe type of shenanigans we’ve come to expect from Marcela’s favorite teen patron.

“How come no one ever wants to copy my outfit?” I huff, staring down at Andy with accusation. “I know she’s your favorite, but can’t you at least pretend to love us equally?”

“I thought you just used book club as an excuse to work in your pajamas.”

“Ouch.” I rub at my chest with a hand like the kid delivered a physical blow there. She might as well have from the way she called me out. It was a lucky coincidence when I found a pair of yellow lounge pants with cat heads printed on them atMarshalls. I paired it with an oversized Wellesley College shirt tied in a knot and simple tennis shoes. Now I’m rethinking the entire costume.

“Do I really look like I just rolled out of bed?”

Marcela looks me up and down, a judgmental purse to her lips and a gleam in her eyes.

“I’m so done with both of you. I bet you don’t even know who I’m supposed to be.”

“Jo fromDear Wendy.” For a moment, I forgot who I was talking to. Bored of me, Andy turns back to Marcela. “Is your boyfriend coming again?”

As if Andy’s conjured him, Theo turns a corner into the YA section. Ever since Marcela gifted him a Captain America outfit, he’s spent the last three months cycling through Marvel heroes. Today, the bow and arrow set gives him away as Hawkeye.

The group settles soon after, and Marcela leads the discussion on this month’s pick. I snap a few more photos when motion from the corner of my eye makes me look up. I’m not the only one who notices. When the teens break into small groups, Marcela nudges me with an elbow.

“Did you know she was coming?” Her smile falters slightly as Krystal edges away from the group, ducking behind a bookshelf. As if I could so easily miss her presence in my workplace, no matter what kind of chaos she’s walked in on. “Do you want me to ask her to leave?”

“What? No!” My mouth pops open, aghast that she would ask me that. Whatever I said earlier, it was obviously the wrong thing if Marcela believes I need protecting from Krystal. Afterbook club, I’ll have to correct her opinion. “I invited her. She’s probably here for the free snacks I was bragging about.”

“Just let me know if you need backup.” Marcela crosses her arms over her chest. “Theo and I got you.”

“Much appreciated, but not at all necessary.”

I rise from my seat and make my way to Krystal. She’s staring determinedly at a row of nonfiction, glancing up only when she senses my arrival. Her hair is styled in two braids that fall over her shoulders, and she’s wearing a black dress with a white collar, along with white knee-high socks and chunky black loafers. Her makeup is darker than usual, no trace of the colorful bold lips she usually wears.

She dressed up.

I’m giddy for no goddamn reason, except that she’shereand in costume.

“Hey,friend.” The white powder on her face does nothing to hide her pink cheeks. It feels good to be the one flustering her for a change. I’d never thought of Krystal as shy before, but there’s no other reason for why she’s hiding from a bunch of teenagers behind a bookshelf. “Or should I call you Wednesday?”

“Is my costume okay?” she asks, smoothing her dress down like she’s flustered. She looks up and her eyes go wide when she sees the overflowing snack table behind me. “Oh no, I should’ve brought something! Dammit, IknewI was forgetting something.”

“Are you kidding me? That rickety table’s one bag of chips away from the apocalypse. You’re all good.”

“Is it cool for me to be here even though I’m not a teen?”Her gaze dips past my shoulder, then down the length of my outfit. My skin heats under her perusal, and for the second time tonight I’m kicking myself for not choosing something more dressy.

The trouble is I hate everything in my closet these days. Dressing as my old self for the transition video felt like taking a huge step backward, despite how visually satisfying it was to see the final result come together. A perfect before and after, side by side. I’ve had the video sitting in my draft folder for almost a week before finally hitting post an hour ago. I even ended up changing the caption to “Old Me vs. New Me.” Now the New Me just needs a new batch of semi-formalwear to complete the picture.

“If Marcela can bring Theo, I can bring you.” I grab her hand. “Come on. I’ll introduce you.”

The group activities vary each month. This time, we set out paints and watercolors for the teens to create an alternate book cover. As the kids are hard at work, I introduce Krystal to Erika and bring her around to greet Theo and Marcela before directing her to the snack table. Just like dressing up, bringing in food is optional but from the spread of sweets, I don’t think a single person came in empty-handed.

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