Page 53 of Battle of the Bookstores

But like Nora said, there’s no reason for BookshopGirl to be anyone other than her real self online, whereas Josie has plenty of reasons for treating me the way she has. Not that they’re valid. Still, maybe BookshopGirl is there, underneath all that ice…

“Did you need something?” Josie asks in a wary voice.

“Yeah, sorry,” I say, shaking myself. “My friend Brad here is looking for a special gift for a special lady—any chance you haveTom Lakein stock?”

Josie’s dark eyebrows draw together slowly, creating two tiny lines between them.

“Follow me,” she says after a beat, but she still looks suspicious.

She leads us to a shelf at the front of the store, on the opposite side of the offending pipe—which I see has been patched up. I think back to the surprise in Josie’s eyes when I came to help her, and the suspicion, like she was waiting for me to say or do something mean.

How would she have reacted if it had been RJ who came to help her?

“Ann Patchett…” Josie says, trailing her long, delicate fingers across the row of spines. Her nails are painted pale pink, the color so close to natural I didn’t think she was wearing polish at all. My eyes, and my mind, drift down, and I wonder what color her panties are.

Stop it, asshole.I cough and mentally smack myself. I’m already turned inside out; I don’t need these damn intrusive thoughts about Josie Klein’s lingerie making me even more mixed up.

“Here you go!” Josie says to Brad, her voice brighter than it’s ever been when she’s talked to me.

Sure enough, there’s the bluish-green cover, dotted with flowers. I’m impressed she managed to find the exact book she was looking for in less than thirty seconds. Maybe there is something to how organized her store is. Efficient, if not exactly inspiring.

“She’s going to love it,” Josie tells Brad. And then she smiles at him. It’s the first time I’ve seen a real smile from her—open and easy, with a hidden dimple popping in her right cheek—and I’m stunned. The way her eyes are shining, she’s radiating light. She is the sun, and for the first time, I can see a glimpse of my book friend.

Too bad she hates my guts.

—

That night, Ilie awake, staring at the ceiling, considering my options. If I tell Josie what I know, she won’t want to keep chatting with me, and the thought of losing my friendship with BookshopGirl makes my chest feel hollow.

But continuing to talk without telling her? That feels dishonest, a lie by omission. A betrayal.

I pull up BookFriends and read the latest message from BookshopGirl, sent after I didn’t reply to her this morning.

BookshopGirl:Hey, you must have had a super busy day! I did, too—but in a good way. Anyway, just saying hi, and I hope all is well. Goodnight! Chat tomorrow?

I stare at the screen, trying once again to merge my mental images. Josie Klein, sitting at her kitchen table and messaging me while eating breakfast; Josie Klein, asking for my book recommendations; Josie Klein, opening up to me about the worst experience of her life.

Josie Klein, sending me one last message before turning off the light and going to bed.

If there’s even a chance the warm and lovely BookshopGirl could be hiding beneath Josie’s cold exterior, isn’t it worth the risk? Getting to know the real her, and letting her get to know the real me?

Only one way to find out.

RJ.Reads:Sorry, it’s been busy. And weird. I’m glad yours was the good kind of busy, though. So, I’ve been thinking, and I hope this isn’t unwelcome, but I can’t stop thinking about it so here goes: Would you ever be interested in meeting in real life?

After pressing send, I remember that she doesn’t know I’m also in Boston. I shake my head and write another message.

RJ.Reads:I mean, in person depending on if we live in the same city, which we don’t know for sure, right? Ha. Or we could talk on FaceTime or Zoom? Or a phone call?

Shit, I sound desperate. Just one more message.

RJ.Reads:No pressure, though. Let me know. Goodnight

15

Josie

I can’t stopstaring at the message from RJ.

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