Page 70 of The Summer of Everything

Cassie sniffles again. “I’m Cassie.”

“Okay, Cassie. This is pretty simple,” says Ella, pushing at the sleeves of her black leather jacket. “We’re gonna play a little game.” Behind Ella, Cassie’s dad huffs, arms folded. Ella ignores him.

Wes parks it on the countertop. He loves when this happens. Ella might be an undeniable slacker, but when it comes to customers—especially teens—and books, she’s a fairy godmother. Her bibliophile skills know no end.

“What do you like to read?”

“Uh.” Cassie mashes her left foot onto her right. “Fantasy.” She peeks over Ella’s shoulder at her dad. He’s still scowling, but it’s starting to soften around the edges.

Quietly, Cassie adds, “Dark fantasy.”

“Favorite author?”

“Leigh Bardugo.”

“Favorite book?”

Mouth open, Cassie pauses as if considering the question. Then she says, “A Darker Shade of Magic.”

Ella nods, an eyebrow ticking upward. Her approval’s showing. “Strong choices.” She points behind Cassie, two shelves down. “Let me introduce you to a friend of mine named Holly Black.”

“Okay,” Cassie whispers, trailing behind Ella with her father in tow.

The magic of Ella Graham is limitless.

Cassie and her dad return to the front counter with four books and a handful of buttons. Cassie’s face is luminous as a halo of gold. Her dad drops one of those heavy, black credit cards on the woodgrain and shakes his head. But, on the way out, he circles his long arm around her wide shoulders, pulling her close to kiss the top of her head.

Ella replaces Wes on the counter. “Another hard day’s work.”

“You just got here,” Cooper says while flipping through the CD collection.

Before Ella can eviscerate Cooper with her comeback, Kyra says, “El. You act tough, but you love this place.”

“I do not,” Ella replies flatly.

“You do. You love these customers. You love changing people’s lives,” Kyra says.

“Shut up.” Ella pushes her bangs back, which only highlights the tiny curl at the corners of her mouth. “I have a rep to maintain.”

“Besides…” Ella’s mouth finally succumbs to a soft smile as she stares at the empty doorway. “Us big girls have to stick together.”

Wes considers calling out Ella’s nonchalant façade but doesn’t. Maybe she sees a bit of herself in Cassie. Maybe that strain between father and daughter is relatable in ways she doesn’t talk about often. Ella can pretend her heart’s made of goth rock music rejects all she wants.

When it comes to Once Upon a Page, she’s a softy. She loves it here as much as Wes does.

Maybe more.

Cooper thumps a hand onthe counter.

“I’m telling you—Pop-Tarts are the superior any-meal pastry.”

Lucas wrinkles their nose. “Incorrect. Evidence shows that Toaster Strudels are exceptionally better in taste and overall effect.”

“What? You’re bananas.”

“It’s true.”

Cooperpsshs, waving a dramatic hand at Lucas. “False statement. Toaster Strudel requires too much prep and practiced execution to be an any-meal, on-the-go snack. From perfected frozen-to-hot completion, in which the middle is cooked to the same heat as the outer edges, to the flawless crosshatch application of the icing. It’s too complicated. A five-year-old could create the perfect Pop-Tart. It’s just facts.”

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