Page 67 of Must Love Libraries and Libations
“Let’s go have another.”
The bookwyrm trilled happily, and they left the library…my family, together.
CHAPTER 23
PRIMROSE
To say I was surprised was an understatement, but my heart had melted into a puddle of golden bliss. He had done all this for me. For me. That man, who had lived in his study like a surly troll, had stepped out of every comfort zone to show me his heart and to share his world with us.
Everyone was remarking upon it.
Everyone except Kevin, who was standing in the corner with an uneaten cupcake in one hand, a glass of punch in the other.
Seeing him there, an idea struck me.
I scanned the party area, finally spotting Aggie.
I made my way to her.
“Aggie,” I said with a bright smile. “Did you hear Erasmus’s speech?”
“Yes.”
“What did you think?”
“It was informative.”
“So it was. Will you come with me? There is someone I’d like you to meet.”
“Okay.”
I led Aggie across the party space to Kevin, who inclined his head to me. “Kevin,” I said with a wide smile. “Are you having fun?”
“I have a cupcake.”
“So you do. Have you met Aggie? She works at the library.”
Kevin shifted nervously. “Hello.”
Aggie giggled awkwardly. “Um, hello.”
“Aggie found a starry-eyed moth. Do you still have it, Aggie?”
“Yes.”
At that, Kevin perked up. “A starry-eyed moth? Can I see it?”
“All right,” Aggie said, opening her hands a little so Kevin could see.
“Kevin is also a fan of insects,” I told Aggie.
“The box company has me come to cast spells to keep pests away,” Kevin told her. “Wood beetles, manamites, and?—”
“Bark eaters?” Aggie asked.
“Yes.”
At that, Aggie gave him a real, even if shy, smile. “We sometimes get paperworms in the library. The bookwyrms eat them.”
