Page 34 of Before We Were

"Good," Jake nods, then suddenly says, "We're leaving in five minutes."

"Five—" I start, but Lydia sweeps in, her presence filling the room with maternal energy.

"Oh good, you're all up. How was last night?" Her keen eyes scan us, reading between unspoken lines.

"It was—" Jake begins.

"Utterly boring," Ollie interrupts, earning a sharp glance. "For real, if I knew it was going to be that lame, I'd have stayed in bed and caught up on my beauty sleep.”

"Beauty sleep?" Jake scoffs. "It's gonna take more than sleep to fix what's going on with your face, sunshine."

Lydia waves off their banter. "Well, I'm just glad everyone's in one piece. And Nate? Is he home?"

Jake's expression tightens. "He stayed at Farrah's. They're hitting the beach today he said."

The idea of Nate with Farrah constricts something in my chest.

I shouldn't care. But sometimes the truth cuts deeper than lies. Expecting everything to snap back to normal was pure fantasy.

Jake leans in close, his voice low and tinged with excitement. "You now have three minutes to get ready. Got a big day planned."

I arch an eyebrow. "Why the mystery?"

His grin is infectious, a sly smile that promises adventure. "It's no fun without a little mystery. Two minutes now."

"What am I getting myself into?"

"Today is the official start of our summer." His expression feigns innocence, but anticipation sparkles in his eyes. "No hang-ups, no dramas."

My lips curve despite themselves. Leave it to Jake to flip the script. “Alright, alright. I'm going.”

Lydia catches our exchange. "Where are you two off to?"

"We're heading out," Jake responds casually.

"What!? You're both ditching me too?" Ollie's head snaps up from the second bowl of cereal he poured himself.

"Sorry man. I'll make it up to you when I get back."

"Jake, before you go—" Lydia starts, and his shoulders slump slightly. "Could you swing by Antonio’s garage later? My car needs picking up around one. I asked your brother, but??—"

"I've got it," Jake jumps in and Lydia's face brightens with relief.

"I can drop you off, Lyds. Seeing as no one else seems to want to hang with me."

"Ohh, Buck, you know I'll always hang with you." Lydia kisses Ollie's head and his cheek fluster like they have ever since he was a kid.

Jake’s mystery morning starts off at the one place he knew I couldn't wait to visit. Stepping into Gracie's Bookstore feels like coming home. The air is thick with aged paper and polished wood, each creaky floorboard a familiar friend. Towering shelves whisper stories beneath flickering vintage lamps that cast everything in honey-gold. The massive emerald armchair still beckons from its corner, beside Alfie's perpetually cluttered mahogany desk.

Jake trails behind me, his fingers brushing against book spines as we walk. "Still smells exactly the same," he murmurs.

I know exactly what he means. This place exists outside of time, somehow both ancient and eternally new.

A new face greets us from behind the counter—older, laid-back in a worn white tee and plaid shirt, sorting through a stack of leather-bound classics. His movements are careful, reverent almost, as he handles each volume. He looks up at the sound of the bell, warm brown eyes crinkling at the corners.

"Hi there, I’m Nick. Can I help you find anything?"

There's something endearing about his enthusiasm, and the way his hands gesture toward the special collection section. Jake and I exchange a knowing look—we've spent countless hours in that very corner.

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