Page 28 of Battle of the Bookstores

I whip the pen out of my bun and add an apostrophe and anE, so it readsYou’re. When I look back, Ryan is still staring me down—but his cheeks are now flushed.

Without another word, I leave.

BOOKFRIENDS

June 4, 9:54 PM

BookshopGirl:I’m finally home and need to get my mind off some work stuff. Are you up for Bookish Never Have I Ever?

RJ.Reads:Sure!

BookshopGirl:Perfect! I’ll share a commonly used expression, and if you’ve ever experienced that in real life, you have to drink.

BookshopGirl:Example: “Never have I ever let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.” If you HAVE let out a breath you didn’t realize you were holding, you drink. Got it?

RJ.Reads:Got it, and I have a drink poured and ready.

BookshopGirl:Okay here goes: Never have I ever…bit my lip until I tasted blood.

RJ.Reads:Nope, haven’t done that either. Sounds violent. My turn: Never have I ever felt wetness on my cheeks and wiped it away, only to realize I was crying.

BookshopGirl:

RJ.Reads:Really? How did you not realize your crying?

RJ.Reads:*you’re

BookshopGirl:It’s called emotional repression, RJ. You clearly had a healthier childhood than I did.

BookshopGirl:My turn: Never have I ever clenched my fists until my nails left marks on my palms.

RJ.Reads:

RJ.Reads:YOU clearly never wanted to punch your older brother in the face but restrained yourself because you knew he’d clobber you.

BookshopGirl:Nope, no big brothers. Just one sweet little sister.

RJ.Reads:LUCKY. Never have I ever heard screaming and then realized it was me.

BookshopGirl:Never have I ever padded softly across a room.

RJ.Reads:Never have I ever gripped the steering wheel so tightly my nuckles turned white.

RJ.Reads:(*knuckles, obviously)

BookshopGirl:You must not live in a place that has black ice.

RJ.Reads:Or I know gripping the steering wheel that tightly isn’t going to help?

RJ.Reads:Never have I ever watched a muscle in a man’s jaw tic or watched an Adam’s apple bob slowly as he swallows.

BookshopGirl:

RJ.Reads:Really? Jaw muscles? Adam’s apples? That’s what does it for you?

BookshopGirl:Oh yeah.

RJ.Reads:Interesting.

---