Page 18 of Winter Nights at the Bay Bookshop
‘How you met Cat,’ she finished for me. ‘Yeah, I can see why that wouldn’t sell it. Nothing to stop you getting pets in the meantime.’
‘True, but I need to get settled in my new home before I can think about it, and I need to decide what to do with myself now that the business sale has gone through.’
Danika asked me about my role at My Study Hub and why I’d set up the business in the first place. I told her about volunteering in Hutton Wicklow Library and how I wanted to find something else to keep me occupied but wasn’t sure what.
‘We’ve got a receptionist position going. Job’s yours if you want it.’ She barely got to the end of the sentence before collapsing in giggles. ‘Yeah, probably not. Something will come along.’
Our plates were cleared and, as there were a few people queuing by the door, we decided it was time to settle the bill and head off. As we stepped onto the cobbles of Castle Street, Danika said she needed to pick up a few things while she was in town, starting with a visit to Bay Books.
‘It’s been great to see you,’ Danika said, giving me a hug outside the bookshop. ‘We’ll catch up again soon.’
‘Definitely. See you later.’
I’d only taken a few paces when she called me back.
‘What did I say about something coming along?’ she asked, pointing at a poster in the window. ‘A four-month contract in a bookshop. Could that be any more perfect for you, Mr Bookworm, while you make some decisions about what you want to do long-term?’
‘Sounds ideal,’ I said, hoping my tone sounded as positive as the words.
‘Take a photo of the details, then.’
I did as she suggested but I knew I wasn’t going to apply. In theory, it would be a dream job but there were two huge problems. The first was that Bay Books held so many memories of my sister. I hadn’t stepped inside the bookshop since the summer before I started senior school and I wasn’t sure how it would affect me if I did so now. The second was that I knew who owned Bay Books and, after how badly I’d behaved towards her at school, there was no way she’d ever even consider me for an interview. I wouldn’t in her position.
10
LILY
‘You’ve got to be kidding me!’ I cried.
Cassie looked up from checking off the Friday morning delivery. ‘What’s up?’
‘You’ll never guess who’s applied for the job. Lars Jóhannsson.’
‘Lars the Arse? No way!’
‘Well, he’s going straight into the rapidly growing rejection pile,’ I said, giving an involuntary shudder.
‘What’s he been up to since school? Let me see.’ Cassie joined me behind the till and scanned down Lars’s CV. ‘Wow! Look at all those awards! Impressive. Doesn’t surprise me, though. He always was super bright.’
‘But, as you say, an absolute arse.’
Suddenly I was back at Laurendale School on my very first day, feeling lost and lonely without any friends. During the morning break, I went in search of somewhere to hide with my book. Rounding the back of the sports hall, my stomach sank when I spotted somebody had beaten me to it. A young lad with spiky blond hair was leaning against the wall, his head buried in a copy of Lemony Snicket’sThe Vile Village. I took a step closer and my heart leapt as I recognised him as a friend from Bay Books. Although I was too young to officially be on the shop’s payroll, I often helped out during the school holidays and the occasional Saturday. Each time I’d seen him, we’d chatted about our favourite books and exchanged recommendations.
‘Lars?’ I said, excitement flowing through me that I might have a friend at my new school after all.
He looked up and I expected him to smile at me, but his expression was blank. ‘I’m reading.’
He looked back down at his book and continued reading. I stared at him, stunned by his uninterest. This wasn’t the Lars I knew from the bookshop. Heloveddiscussing books with me. And then a thought struck me. The uniform. The plaits. He was used to seeing me in casual clothes with my hair down.
‘It’s me! Lily from Bay Books.’
He raised his head once more and I expected a smile and an apology for not recognising me, but his expression remained blank. ‘I came here to get away from everyone.’
‘Me too.’ I fishedAnne of Green Gablesout of my bag to show him that we were of the same mind. ‘I’m so relieved to see you here.’
‘Why?’
‘My best friend ditched me for this awful girl who picks on me and I don’t know anyone else but at least I’ve got one friend now.’
