Page 21 of Love in the Stacks
Good night, Nicole
Chapter eleven
Adam
Because I don’t know what else to say, I text Nicole a funny meme every day during the winter break. It’s easier than texting anything real; the coward’s way forward. But while sometimes she receives the memes and just reacts to them, other times, she responds, telling me about her day and what she and her family are doing.
So now I know that there are bats that live under a bridge in downtown Austin and at dusk, they all fly out en masse. I know her family always drives around their neighborhood to look at Christmas lights, and one house goes all out with music and toy trains weaving across the yard. I know that Nicole and her sisters went out and bought corny, matching Christmas pajamas and all wore them Christmas morning as a surprise for their mom, who may or may not have cried. I know that on New Year’s Eve, they all stayed home,even Olivia, and ate fondue and ice cream together on the couch as they watched the ball drop.
And in turn, Nicole now knows about the lighted boat parade I watched with my mom and Joan and a picnic of Publix subs. She knows we visited my dad’s grave and left a sprig of holly berry on the top of his headstone, and my mom definitely cried. She knows I got together with my high school best friend, who is now married and has an adorable three-year-old, with another baby on the way. She knows that I went to bed early on New Year’s Eve, because when she texted me “Happy New Year” at midnight, I didn’t reply until the next morning.
I also know that she went on dates, or at least one that she mentioned, a bad one. Perhaps she went on other dates, too, but they were good, so she didn’t text me about them. I wanted so badly to fish for information about that date, but of course, I couldn’t. Why would I care? I’m only her coworker and now text buddy, I guess.
On the first day back at work in January, I’m on edge wondering how our texting over break will translate into real life, or if it even will at all. Before I leave my house to head to the library, I text her a meme featuring Jim from the showThe Office. In the first panel, he’s pointing to a chart that says “Always give 100% at work.” In the second panel, the chart clarifies “Mon - 14%, Tues - 26%, Wed - 42%, Thu - 15%, Fri - 3%”.
I add my own message: “What percentage for the first day after a long break?”
She texts back: “Ready for 100% on the graphic novel project!”
Okay, very work focused, but to be fair, sowas the meme I sent.
At the library, I don’t run into Nicole until mid-morning in the break room. Susan, who is Herb’s administrative assistant, and Ben, another of the librarians, are discussing their grandchildren while getting coffee. Ben’s daughter had a baby right before Christmas, and Susan is gushing about the photo. The refrigerator door closes to reveal Nicole, holding a container of yogurt.
She startles a little when she notices me. “Hi,” she manages to say.
I smile, drinking her in. Her hair is a little longer, with blonde showing at the roots. She’s wearing black dress pants with a light blue sweater. She looks tired around her eyes, but otherwise her face is the same as the one that’s been popping up in my thoughts since I dropped her off at the airport weeks ago.
“Hey,” I finally answer.
I let the pause stretch on too long, and Susan and Ben are watching us now. Nicole notices.
“How was your break?” she asks quickly.
I frown and rub my chin. “Um,” I brilliantly verbalize. She pretty much knows how my break was. My eyes dart to Susan and Ben. Does she not want our coworkers to know that? Nicole looks at me expectantly, but with an air of detachment. “Uh, good,” I answer vaguely. “How was yours?”
“It was great,” she replies. “But I’m ready to get back to work. Let’s set up a time to discuss the graphic novel collection more.”
I tilt my head to the side. “Discuss the graphic novel collection?” I repeat, shuffling a step closer to her.
She steps back. “Yes. We’re ready to order the books and start cataloging them, aren’t we?”
I nod. “Mm-hmm.”
“Good. I’ll look at your calendar and send you a meeting invite for later in the week.”
Susan and Ben have gone back to their conversation. Nicole glances at them and then gives me the smallest, abashed smile, her eyebrows wrinkling endearingly.
I sigh. “Sounds good.”
“Thanks.” Nicole sidesteps me and is out the door with her yogurt.
I shake my head to unbind my thoughts, but I can’t remember now why I came into the break room to begin with.
When I get back to my desk, I text Nicole.
Adam:
That was weird
