Page 43 of The Summer of Everything

For eight months, Wes lost himself in those comics. At the end, he found himself, too.

Yes, at the age of almost nine, Wes decided comic books were life-changing. Even without superpowers, Wes realized he could be a hero.

He just had to figure out how.

It’s a Tuesday, the daybefore the newest comic books come out. It’s also new release day for novels. Ella’s hard at work—also known as chewing grape bubble gum while staring blankly at nothing—putting together a new window display to attract customers. Cooper mans the front counter. Mrs. Rossi is in and out of the office, entertaining customers for short bursts. And Wes is meditatively gazing at his chapel of heroes and capes, mentally mapping out where to feature all the newest titles being released tomorrow.

Once, Wes thought of asking Mrs. Rossi to buy an iPad to make this a little easier. He can’t do that now. Once Upon a Page needs every dollar and penny and wish on a falling star it can get.

“You look intense. I mean, I’ve seen you do this whole…” Cooper points at Wes’s corner. “…comics thing before. But today you look like a Jedi master conjuring the Force.”

“I don’t think they conjure the Force, Coop.”

“Well, whatever they do, you’re doing it.”

Maybe Wes is. He just wants everything in the store to be perfect so that it’ll still be around after summer’s over.

Everyone agreed to spend a few days thinking of solid ideas for promotional events. Wes is still nervous. He knows he can scramble together some things, but he needs help.

“This is such a moment,” whispers Cooper. “I need this on my feed.”

Wes pivots in Cooper’s direction. “Hey, do you think maybe the store needs a social media page? An Instagram? Maybe a Twitter account?”

“Bro.” Stars explode in Cooper’s eyes. “Yes! Hell yes. Do you know that’s the first thing I asked about when I applied for the job?”

Wes isn’t surprised.

“Mrs. R said the store had a Tumblr.” He makes a sour face. “But this place needs more.”

“Do you want to…”

Before Wes can finish, Cooper shouts, “Uh, are Goo Goo Dolls the greatest band of the ‘90s?”

“No, they’re most definitely not.”

Again, Wes isn’t shocked by Cooper’s statement. Two days ago, they argued Blind Melon’s place in early ‘90s alternative rock canon—Wes for, Cooper against—so he’s lost all trust in Cooper’s musical ear. But Cooper’s already absorbed by his phone, his tongue between his teeth.

“Coop?”

Cooper raises his head with an eager smile. He’s such a puppy.

“Do you know a guy named Manu?” Wes rubs the back of his head, trying to contain his nerves. He hasn’t been obsessively thinking about Manu since the pier, but he’s crossed Wes’s mind once or twice. Sometimes, Wes is a realist. It’s good to have a backup plan. Life’s a fifty-fifty gamble. So he’s aware that this Nico thing might not fall in his favor.

And Manu was cute and interesting and seemed to be into Wes.

“Manuia?”

“Yeah.”

“Manu is awesome,” Cooper says, almost as enthusiastic about him as he is about anything involving a hashtag. “Dude always leaves the nicest comments on my posts. His cousin, Devon, is sweet too. You know she’s going to be the starting setter on the Irvine women’s volleyball team. She’sseventeen, Wes. What a dream.”

“Wow.”

“Manu’s dope,” Cooper continues. “Devon’s dope. All my mutual followers, including you, are dope.”

“Uh, I met Manu. The other night on the pier. He seemed—”

“The best?”

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