Page 34 of A Good Book

“Where are your roommates?” I asked as Matt pulled our sandwiches from the plastic bag.

“Beats me. They’re only here to sleep for a few hours or they’re throwing a party.” He handed me my sandwich and drink.

I sat on the faded brown leather sofa that faced the TV while Matt put the movie into the VCR. When he turned, our gazes locked. He seemed to study me for a few extra seconds.

“What?” I asked with a nervous laugh.

“Nothing. It’s just you feel so familiar.”

“Is that a good thing?” I popped a pickle into my mouth that had fallen out of my turkey sandwich.

He sat next to me and unrolled his sandwich from the paper. “It is now. I couldn’t wait to get out of Devil’s Head, but seeing you is a reminder that most of my memories from living there and going to school were good.”

“Does Julianne know I’m Sarah’s sister? I mean, did you tell her about you and Sarah or just that I’m a preacher’s daughter?”

He bit into his sandwich and chewed it slowly as the previews played on the TV. “Let’s not talk about Julianne or Sarah. At the moment, I find you far more interesting.”

I wrapped my lips around my straw to hide my grin.

“What’s your thing?”

“My thing?” I asked, setting the drink on the floor between my feet.

“Yeah. Eve ran cross country. Sarah was into music. What do you enjoy doing?”

Planning our wedding.

“I love a good book.”

He chuckled. “Everyone reads. What else?”

No. Everyone didn’t read. Eve read road signs and recipes. That was about it. Sarah read music. I read two to three books a week in high school.

I searched my brain for something besides reading. Clearly, I hadn’t ever given it much thought. Then I realized I had nothing. Was I the world’s most boring person? Was there nothing special about me?

“Well,” I mumbled over a bite of sandwich that I slowly chewed to give myself more time to think. “I write poetry. And I have a good imagination.”

“That’s cool. What else?” He dipped his head to eat his sandwich.

What else? Jeez. Was it a job interview? Did I need a dating resume? Five special talents and three references?

“I’m pretty good at croquet.”

Matt fisted a hand at his mouth and laughed. “I love that about you, Gabby. No one else would say croquet.”

“Well, some of us aren’t singers, cowboys, bakers, baseball players, or future engineers.”

“Oh, no …” He shook his head and cleared his throat while wiping his mouth. “Sorry. That came out all wrong. I wasn’t trying to put you on the spot like that. I’m just trying to get to know you more than just as Sarah’s sister.”

With a shy smile, I glanced over at him. “I’m okay with a hacky sack, but not as good as Ben. Oh! I’m good at Chinese jump rope.”

“Now that’s what I’m talking about. I suck at that.”

“Have you ever even done it?”

Matt cleared his throat. “Sadly, no.”

“Well, I’m pretty good at macramé and latch hook too because we did it with the kids in vacation Bible school.”

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