Page 16 of Chasing Storm
“Yep.”
It feels like I should regale her with tales of my endeavour, but I really don’t think she gives a shit.
But then her words resonate. “You know who I am?”
“Josh Harper. Or Joshy to the busty redhead.” A small smile plays on her lips. Those biteable lips.
“Yeah, and you are…?”
“Storm Rivers.”
“That’s a lovely name.”
Fuck. What am I doing? I sound like an old woman.
She snorts. “Thanks. So can I have the book?”
I blink. “Yes, yes, of course. Tell your mum I said hi.” I wrap it back up quickly and bag it, ringing it through the till and cringing when the price comes up, even minus the finder’s deposit.
Storm doesn’t bat an eye, though. She just slides the card into the reader and punches in the PIN code. “Will do.”
I want to say something to keep her here, but she is already putting her purse away and turns to walk off with a quiet, “See ya.”
“Bye,” I call out and then roll my eyes. She has turned me into a lump of boring clay. She probably thinks I’m a complete idiot.
I’m not a big talker anyway, but this has been an absolute disaster.
“So smooth,” Elle says, turning back to me, holding onto her laugh. “You really fancy her, don’t you?”
I nod, unable to form words again.
“Aww, bless,” she says, and pats my arm. “She didn’t even look twice at you.”
“Don’t be a cow,” I growl. “I was surprised to see her so soon.”
Elle gives me a curious look, so I explain about seeing Storm this morning.
“Pretty name,” Elle says.
“It’s perfect,” I murmur, practically drooling on my shoes as I watch Storm pushing the door instead of pulling it and then getting mad and swearing at it. She is a vision.
Elle watches her as well. I can almost hear the wheels cranking around in her meddling head.
“Don’t,” I say before she can start.
“I know I can find out stuff that will give you a leg up,” she says anyway. “I’m pretty sure that Mindy is friends with Karen, who hangs out with Cassidy; you know the girl who works at the Boutique near your house?”
“And?”
“Cassidy is friends with Storm. I wondered where I’d heard of her before. Check this out.” She pulls out her phone, and after a bit of tapping, she shows me some photos that were taken atelitelast night of Storm, Cassidy and a bunch of other girls dancing and laughing.
“How did you make that connection?” I ask, bewildered.
She giggles. “The girlfriend network. Come on, Joshy. Keep up.” She elbows me and then turns to serve another customer.
“Wait,” I say, ignoring her conversation with the customer to my own detriment. “What can you find out?”
Elle glares at me and then turns back to the man in front of her. “Sorry, sir. Someone left their manners under the drinks table last night.”
