Page 43 of Whiskey Wednesdays

The flecks of pink paint on his shirt suddenly made sense. “A light pink, I take it.”

“She was leaning toward a Pepto Bismol pink, but Javier talked her down.”

Dad stood touching up a few spots in Elodie’s room when we walked in. Drop cloths covered the dresser and desk, and plastic was taped down underneath the chosen wall.

“Hey, Isa. I need to go get Elodie from school. Will you help Connor clean up? The paint is dry enough to pull the tape and plastic up, but don’t touch the wall yet.”

“Sure. This looks great.” I walked over and gave him a quick hug, dodging a few paint splotches on his shirt and hands.

“It does, doesn’t it? She wants a canopy hung over her bed, and some fairy lights.”

I stepped back and looked at the color. “It’s wonderful. This is so much better.”

“Maybe you can help Connor finish decorating.” He wiped his hands on a paper towel. “I’m picking her up, then we plan to stop by the library and check out a few books.”

Connor put his hands in his pockets. “Javier, why don’t you just buy them online? You don’t need to go to the library.”

I gasped and unthinkingly flicked his chest. “Bite your tongue. Libraries are one of the few magical places left.”

Connor looked down at me with a funny grin. “Yeah? What’s so magical about them?”

I wiggled my fingers. “You can touch all the books you pick out. Thumb through them. See all the sizes and covers.” I leaned forward and lowered my voice. “Smell them. Have you ever smelled an old library?”

His lip twitched. “Can’t say that I have.”

I thought back to visiting the Suzzallo library on the UW campus in Seattle, the Elliott Bay Bookstore, and all the other small bookstores and libraries my parents had taken me to over the years. And libraries werefree, which made them even better.

“I’m pretty sure that’s what magic smells like. Books. Old books, new books. All the shapes and sizes, Different topics and colors. My mom said the librarians and bookshop owners are the dragons in disguise who watch over the real treasure.”

Dad threw his arm around my shoulder and squeezed. “You remind me of her. She loved taking you and Liam to the library.”

Connor smiled. “You’re a little bit of a nerd, aren’t you?”

“It’s nice of you to notice.”

Dad let go and patted my arm. “Will one of you preheat the oven if we’re not back before dinnertime? I have a chicken casserole and a salad in the fridge. Let’s plan to eat dinner around six or so when we get back.”

I turned to him, a little alarmed. “Where are you going for the next three hours?”

“We’re going to the library until her dance class starts. Then after dance, we’ll eat together,” he said patiently. Then he kissed my cheek and walked out.

Turning to Connor, I felt a little awkward.

I sidestepped toward the door. “I’ll just go wait for them at Dad’s house.”

“No, I need your help. And you should be here when El comes home and sees the changes.”

I studied him, then put my hands in my back pockets. “Look, we got off to a terrible start. I’m not going to pretend everything is fine either. But my dad likes you, Ellie is amazing, and I’d like to be in her life. You, not so much.”

He smirked like he knew I was full of shit. “Too bad, honey lips. I like a good challenge.”

“So do I. But not with you. This isn’t a game or a challenge.” I loved games, and if we made this into one, my sense of self-preservation would fly out the window.

Connor studied me. “I want us to get past this. I know Elodie and I need you and Javier more than you need us.”

He didn’t play fair. I’d do just about anything for Elodie, and he knew it. She was sweet and funny, and a little lost. And Connor intrigued me as much as he irritated me.

Sighing, I walked over and sat down on the bed, rubbing my hand across the blanket. It was as soft as the Etsy seller had advertised.

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