Page 72 of The Summer of Everything

“Yeah, on mad short notice too,” Ella argues. “Zay’s trying.”

“He can try harder!” Wes demands. Ella lifts an eyebrow; her mouth is flat. Wes isn’t going to fight about this. Zay can do better. They all can do better to keep Once Upon a Page open.

“We still have at least six weeks,” Wes continues. “There’s time.”

Everyone’s quiet. Ella exhales heavily through her nose while tapping away at her phone. Someone else’s phone buzzes on the counter.

“Oh! Sorry to ditch, but I’m having fajitas with Mom,” Lucas announces, pocketing their phone.

“Sweet,” says Wes. He accepts Lucas’s fist-bump.

“Yeah, I guess. She’s really on this quality time thing.” Wes can see through Lucas’s nonchalance. They love spending time with their mom.

It makes Wes miss his own mom. He needs to FaceTime her tonight. Maybe he’ll catch her during breakfast. Savannah’s always extra chatty over brioche and espresso.

Wes wishes he could ask his mom for ideas to save the bookstore. But he can’t. If she knows, she’ll call Mrs. Rossi.

“Thanks for the book,” Lucas says, holding up the graphic novel Wes had stashed in his backpack.Blackest Night. Wes special ordered a copy for Lucas.

“It’s my favorite,” Wes says.

“I know.” Lucas beams.

As Lucas high-steps it out the door, Nico glides in, kicking up his board. “I think I’ve nailed it.” He grins animatedly, unsettling his glasses on his nose. He has an iPad in the hand not holding his skateboard.

“It took me most of the night…” Nico drops his board behind the counter, then parks it next to Ella. He taps the iPad’s screen awake. “…but I think I came up with some artwork to advertise the open mic nightandchildren’s story time.”

On screen, Nico swipes through a few fully colored sketches.

“Siiiiick,” Cooper says.

“I’m marginally impressed,” Ella agrees.

“I tried to come up with multiple options.” Nico’s thumb drags across the screen. “Then I had to format and resize so Coop can throw them up on Insta and Twitter.” He opens a gallery with all the designs.

“This is perfect, bro.” Cooper claps his hands together. “Send them my way when they’re ready. I’ll be sure to tag you. Gotta get those follower counts up.”

“I’m just trying to keep this place alive, dude.”

“Word.” Cooper squeezes Nico’s shoulder.

Wes leans in for a closer inspection, careful not to press too far into Nico. A calculated distance. That night at The Howls still haunts his thoughts. In one way or another, he’s crossed off every bullet point from hisSigns Your Crush Isn’t Into Youlist. The universe has firmly told him, “No, this isn’t happening.” He’s accepted that.

Well, ninety percent of him has accepted it.

A beastly sound erupts from Wes’s stomach.

Nico peeks over his lenses. “Have you had lunch?”

“No.”

“Wesley,” Nico says in that protective warning voice that Wes appreciates.

“It’s been busy.”

They both glance around at the scattering of customers in the store. The only noises come from Ella’s gum popping and Anna’s love for Alanis Morrissette any time after three p.m., when she can growl lyrical profanity without too many judging eyes.

Nico passes Wes the iPad. “Burritos. On me.” He hops down from the counter. “MexiCoke?”

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