Page 281 of Something Rad
I glance up at her. “Uh, no,” I shake my head. “I haven’t.”
“Oh my God,” she says, shoving the register closed and leaning forward as she hands me back my change. “You absolutely have to.”
My smile grows. “Yeah?”
“Yes,” the woman insists. “It’s incredible.”
“You really think so?” I ask.
“Honey, Iknowso,” the cashier states. “I’m not even much of a reader, but…that book made me feel something. More than I’ve felt in a long time. It really did a number on me.” My teeth sink into my bottom lip as my hand tightens on the book. “It’s actually about to come out as a movie. Like, this week, I’m pretty sure.”
“No kidding?”
“For real,” she nods. “I’m so excited to go see it. I’m honestly surprised you haven’t heard of it. I feel like everyone’s talking about it right now.”
“Guess I’m just a little out of the loop,” I say.
“Well, my recommendation: get in the loop,” the cashier says, tapping the top of the book with her finger. “If I ever met that author out in the wild, I’d probably have to give her a hug. And then bill her for my therapy.”
I let out a chuckle, turning the book over in my hands.
And effectively covering the author headshot on the back.
“That Sara Cooper really is something.”
I look up at the woman, my smile reaching my eyes as I stare at her.
She smiles back, then flicks her gaze downward, clearing her throat.
“So, are you gonna buy it?” she asks.
“What?”
“Uh…the book?”
“Oh,” I blurt out. “Eh…Sure…Yes. Please,” I stammer, handing my change right back to the cashier with a tight grin.
When I walk out of the store, I take a pause at a bench by the doorway, unwrappingFrontiersand slipping it inside my Discman, resecuring my headphones on my head. A warm wave of nostalgia washes over me and a prickly sensation prods at my heartstrings as soon asSeparate Waysbegins to play. I take a deep breath as I pick up my book from where I set it down on the bench, flipping it over to re-read the synopsis I already know every word to as I make my way towards my gate, my feet knowing this airport like the back of my hand at this point.
After a minute or so of walking, a flash of light reflects into my eyes, making me glance up. And then it all happens so fast.
I only have a second to register a man wearing aviators in front of me and to think,Who the hell wears sunglasses inside?, before my shoulder slams directly into his, pulling a grunt out of him and sending my book flying out of my hands.
“Oh my gosh,” I gasp, my headphones falling off the back of my head. I secure them with one hand as I use the other to somewhat steady myself against the man, my eyes staying on his chest as I’m too flustered to look at his face yet. From where I’m standing, I can see he’s wearing jeans and…
My head tilts.
A flight jacket?
I swallow.
Aviators? A flight jacket?
I shake my head.
Did I seriously just assault a pilot?
“Sheesh,” the man groans as he stands up straight.
