Page 50 of Rules in Love
Sticking with tradition, the girls took forever. Jason grabbed a table and ordered some coffee while I perused the shelves. I had no idea Tarrytown wasTheSleepy Hollow until Scarlett filled me in. As you’d expect, the shelves were filled with ghoulish touristy souvenirs and postcards. One section captured my attention, and it had nothing to do with Ichabod Crane or the headless horseman.
Tucked away in the corner was a display of primarily vintage books that seemed entirely at odds with the rest of the store. The stand was immaculately presented. Several books had small, handwritten cards placed before them with a synopsis and story of where the book had been sourced. I wondered if it was the owner’s little bit of sanity, their pride and joy. Perhaps the store started out this way, as a bookstore filled with hidden gems and first editions but ended up becoming just another trinket shop to pay the bills.
Carefully looking through the collection, that old book smell took me back to my childhood. To mum reading me Australian classics likeBlinky Bill, Cuddle Pot and Cuddle Pie,andThe Magic Pudding. On the next shelf, I found a vintage copy ofPride and Prejudice. Leather bound, it was a rich navy, almost black, with gilded peacock feathers falling like snow over the spine and back.
Scarlett would love this.
“‘Tis no’ a first edition, but a reproduction. A beautiful one at that.” A tiny woman wearing a tartan dress and red apron appeared beside me. She looked as old as the books and kind of smelled the same too. “Ye like Jane Austen, do ye? No’ something I see a young lad such a yerself looking at often…unless ‘tis for his bonny lass, of course.” She giggled and dug her elbow into mine. I had no idea why she was laughing, but there was such warmth and joy on her face I couldn’t help but chuckle along.
“Yes, it would be for a lass, but she’s not mine.”
“Ahh, unrequited love. I’ve seen that look a thousand times, unfortunately, far too often in a mirror.” Without a chance for a reply, she chuckled again, then grabbed my hand and led me into the small dark room. Fluorescent lights blinked to life, revealing a rainbow of books crammed into another series of shelves. “This is my own collection. All these are Austen’s works in various editions. Pick what ye like and take it for yer lassie. Maybe ‘twill be the thing that wins her heart. Though, I would think a strapping young lad shouldnae have any troubles…unless she’s blind, of course. She’s no’ blind, is she? Lord, I’d feel terrible.”
I laughed again, “No, she’s not blind, just too smart to mess around with the likes of me.” Scolding me before leaving, my new friend left me alone to choose, but I had to make it quick, and I could hear Scarlett laughing from the cafe. A 1970’s version ofSanditontugged at my heartstrings, reminding me of our kiss at Mr. Wise’s party. I tucked it and thePride and Prejudicebook under my arm and headed to the register to pay.
Nodding in approval, my books were wrapped in brown paper tied with string and topped off with a sprig of what Margaret—according to her name badge—told me is dried Scottish Heather. “Och. Aye. ‘Tis a fine choice, and she’s a lucky lass, even if she doesnae ken it yet.”
“Finn! Stop buying headless men, and come drink your coffee!”
Shaking her head, Margaret made a few quips about Scarlett bossing me around and just how typical that is for an Englishwoman. “Ye better take this, then,” she whispered, popping a Black headless horseman sculpture on top of my package. “Ye can use it as a cover for the books.”
I re-joined my traveling companions, we ate our body weight in cake, then we went to our hotel. Surprise, surprise, it was called The Sleepy Hollow Inn. The plan was to drop off things and then head out to Jocelyn’s land, but we’d all eaten so much that the group decided to take a nap first. Jason checked us in while the rest of us collapsed into a row of armchairs.
“Don’t fall asleep, noddy.” Scarlett teased as I struggled to keep my eyes open.
“Me? You’re the noddy. You snored your ass off for half the trip.”
Victoria tutted loudly. “ What the hell is a noddy? You two are weird.”
Like a man about to deliver bad news, Jason returned with bad news.
“Umm, somehow, the hotel had us arriving next week, not today. They only have two rooms. One has two beds, the other just one. So, it’s guys and girls to share, I guess?”
“Let me guess, you two”—Victoria pointed between Jason and me—“get the two beds, then you can think about us two spooning all night.”
Jason and I looked at each other from the corner of our eyes. The edges of our lips curled. “Let’s flip for it,” I suggested. “It’s fairer that way.” I dug into my pocket and pulled out a quarter. “Your call, Red. Heads or tails.”
“Heads…tails…heads!”
“Tails it is. Sorry, ladies. You two need to decide who the big spoon will be.”
“This is such bullshit.” Victoria groaned, snatched the keycard from Jason’s hand, and then stomped off toward the room. Scarlett followed forlornly.
“Have fun, ladies.” I winked.
Scarlett
My bedmate was a mystery, wrapped in a riddle, decorated by barbed wire. On my side of Victoria’s wall of pillows, I lay listening to her complain about sharing a room with me while wondering what I did to incite such contempt.
Prior to Finn’s arrival, we’d had maybe four conversations in total. All had been formal, business-like, and cold. Post-Finn, she was outright rude. It didn’t take a genius to know, her Finn flirtations, and his lackluster response to them, was most likely at the heart of it.
“It’s bad enough I had to sit in a car with you for hours. Now I have to sleep next to you!” It was muttered into the wall she faced but loud enough that someone whose hair was trapped under a pillow would hear.
“I’m not thrilled about it either, but we could try and make the best of it. Look…” I pulled my curls free, gagging on the musty scent my movement released from the pillow, and pointed toward the wall-mounted TV. “They have HBO Max. Maybe we can watch an old movie together?”
“I would rather set my hair on fire.”
Here’s a match. Eat shit, bitch,I thought to myself. What I said was, “Hmm. Okay. Well. Let’s just nap, then. The boys will want to go to the lot soon, I expect.”
