Page 210 of Vows We Never Made
Adrenaline feeds the giddiness in my blood.
Oh, yes, I want payback for Ethan and his heartbreaky ways. But more than that, I wantmeaning.
I want to hook people up with the books that will inspire them for years to come.
I want wisdom to flow like inked words, true and beautiful, the moral compass that never disappoints.
Unlike so many people.
With a little cold brew from the fridge in hand and reenergized, I finish packing my last box and eye the door.
Time to get these babies down to the parking lot so Mom can transport them to the bookstore.
At least the elevator works today—that’s never guaranteed in this building.
I bend down and lift the first box, groaning at the weight.
My knees tremble.
My tired arms threaten to dislocate from my shoulders.
I know, I know.
I need to start a gym routine, or at least do a few kettlebells at home.
Slowly, I stagger down the hall to the elevator and dump the box in the small lobby.
It’s a quiet building, especially this early, so I’m not worried about anyone taking them.
Now, for the next box.
And the next.
By the time I’ve lugged down eight boxes of over four hundred paperbacks, my back is ruined.
I stretch out in the elevator, bracing one hand against the wall as I tap the button for the lobby.
Mom greets me as I’m carrying the last box outside. She’s wearing pretty olive pants and a white tank top today.
“Hi, Mom,” I grunt, half-bowed over by the weight of the books. “Are your seats down?” I let her guide me with one hand on my arm to the car.
Between us, we wrangle the first box in.
“Only three hundred and fifty more books to go,” I mutter.
“What?” Mom’s mouth parts in horror. “Tell me you’re kidding, Hattie.”
I smile sheepishly.
“It goes faster than it looks, especially with your help.” I turn, reluctantly ready to get the next box, when a car screams into the parking lot.
Margot.
She lurches to a stop across three parking spaces and cuts the engine. When she opens the door, Ares jumps out.
“Is he here?” Margot demands, her eyes looking around wildly.
Ares bellows excitedly and runs at me, banging against my knees as his tail swishes the air.
