Page 117 of Reconciling With the Rival

“Thank you.”

“So, we each pick one book for each person?” Paige confirms, and I nod at her.

“Yes, but you only have three minutes. Grant gets six because it takes him twice as long.”

“Oh, this is so much fun,” Hads says, already looking around at where she’s going to go when I start the timer.

“Ready?” I ask as I pull up the timer. The three of them nod at me. “Go!”

And the four of us are off. I head right for the dark romance table. I wanted to get Paige this book I read a few weeks ago. It was about this sex club, and I think the first book is something she would love. The third book of the series makes me absolutely feral, and I need her to start this series so we can talk about it.

For Hads, I’m heading right to the front table. There’s this memoir I think she would love that one of the authors I work with told me about. It seems right up her alley, and I know she hasn't read it yet because I stalked her Goodreads account earlier.

I grab my second book and Paige flies by me toward the romance section.

“One minute, guys!”

“Shit!” I hear Hads say from behind a shelf. I’m glad there’s not many people here tonight. I know a Saturday night at the bookstore isn't really a rager for most people, but the four of us aren't most people. This is an ideal Saturday night for us.

For Grant, I head to grab this new hockey romance book I read on my Kindle the other day. I think he would appreciate the amount of hockey gameplay, and the relationship aspect was just as good. It’s Grant in a nutshell.

“Times up!” I say as I stop my alarm from going off. “Grant, you have three more minutes!”

“Can someone hold my books for me?” he asks, and Hads grabs the two he has in his hands before he drops them on the floor. “I only need one minute. Paige, follow me.”

“Ooh! Okay!” Paige smiles and follows Grant to the book he’s going to pick out for her.

Hads and I keep browsing around while they do that. “How have things been?”

Her gaze turns to me, and I notice relief in her features. “It’s been okay. I’m just glad he’s still in good spirits. It’s tough with him not working as many hours, but the school’s still paying him since he helps at practices, even if only from the bench.”

“And how are you?” I ask, because this is as tough on her as it is on him.

“I’m alright. I’ve been talking to my brother about my feelings about it. He knows how it feels, and he’s been surprisingly helpful when I worry about getting back into a car. I know I wasn't physically in the accident, but—”

“Hads, your fears are valid. It’s fucking scary being in the situation you were in. Whatever you’re feeling is valid. Just don’t be like Peyton in season one ofOne Tree Hill.” That girl was running red lights on purpose just to feel something.

She smiles at the reference. “I won’t. I promise.”

“Good,” I say as Paige and Grant come around the corner. “All done?”

“All done.” He smiles at us. “Are you guys ready to check out?”

“Yup!” Paige says as she locks arms with me. “This was fun, Ells. Thanks for the invite.”

“Thanks for coming out with me. It was a much needed distraction,” I tell them.

“Is everything okay?” Grant asks me, his hand somehow finding my shoulder as we stand in line.

“It is now,” I say to them, not wanting to dive into the shitstorm that is my life in the middle of a bookstore. One day, I’ll need them to help me decipher all my feelings about my mother, but for now, all I need is their company.

The only person who knows about what happened on Thanksgiving is Leo, and he doesn't even know the details, only that something fucked me up.

But I know no matter what, these three—and Oliver and Alissa—will be there for me when I’m ready to talk about it. Until then, their presence is all I need.

My battery feels recharged already, and it has only been a few hours.

“Do you guys want to get boba?” I ask as I grab my books from the cashier.

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