Page 56 of Bookworm
“I heard that Laconia is looking for a new librarian,” Haylee chimed in.
Addy’s eyes widened. “See? I bet you’re the most qualified applicant they get!” Leaning over she wrapped her arms around me and squeezed. “My lil’ Oxford Graduate!”
I tried to smile at them and ignore the sinking feeling in my gut.
They were only trying to help. But the truth was, I wouldn’t be the most qualified applicant… I’d probably be anoverqualified applicant.
Besides, I didn’t have the heart to tell them that I didn’t want to be a librarian. I wanted to restore books. I wanted to take something old and torn and broken and breathe life back into the pages.
“Sure,” I managed to croak and smile at Haylee. “I’ll take a look at the application.”
All three squealed again and threw their hands up in triumph.
“Mission accomplished!” Addy held up her glass to the others. They clinked the edges together.
“Mission accomplished?” I repeated. “Did I just get played?”
“Not played,” Enzo said. “Coaxed. Coaxed into considering staying around here.”
I shook my head and rolled my eyes at the girls. I couldn’t fault them for trying.
“So where is your old flame tonight? What’s Adam up to?” Haylee asked.
“He went out with some of his high school friends from the soccer team.”
Addy’s brow arched, disappearing beneath the swoop of bright red hair cutting across her forehead. “He’s drinking at one of my competitor’s bars? Howrude.”
Behind me, I heard the chime of the front door as someone came in.
“Well, he didn’t want to encroach on our girl’s night,” I shrugged. “But he’s already texted me twice complaining that their old fashioneds aren’t nearly as good as yours.”
Addy stuck her tongue out at me. “You don’t have to lie to placate my feelings?—”
“I’m not!” I held out my phone for her to see where his text had come through seven minutes ago. “See?”
Biting her bottom lip, Addy’s grin widened. “I knew I always liked that kid.”
Addy had been the owner and operator of the best bar in Maple Grove for almost a decade now. She had bought and rebranded the bar asShortcakesand it quickly became a town staple.
Enzo’s gaze drifted up and toward the end of the bar. “Well, his father certainly didn’t get the memo about our girls night.”
“His father?”
I turned in my seat, following the direction where Enzo was gesturing. Sure enough, Elijah Stone sat with a freshly poured pint of beer…
…Looking directly at me.
I froze, every muscle in my body going corpse rigid.
“What the hell is he doing here?” Haylee growled.
“Well,” I whispered, even though he couldn’t… or shouldn’t be able to hear me from across the room. “Heliveshere.”
“Yeah, but I can count on one hand the times he’s dared come into my bar in the last eight years,” Addy hissed. “He should know better.”
Elijah lifted his beer into the air, silently toasting me. Then, with a jerk of his head, he waved me over, patting the empty stool beside him.
Shit.
