Page 20 of A Novel Summer
“Brick-oven pizza.”
She smiled. “Do you have a reservation?”
“No,” he said. “But I think I can pull a few strings.”
Fifteen
Lombardo’s upper deck, with its long bar and view of the bay, was crowded. It was set up for the event with rows and rows of folding chairs. Now, half the seats were taken and the people milling about would certainly fill the rest.
The bartender served glasses of prosecco, and a Harry Styles song played in the background. Shelby surveyed the crowd and recognized the author from her jacket photo. Dee Dee Tattinger had dark skin, close-cropped curls, and was dressed in a denim jumpsuit. Shelby gave a wave, and Dee Dee made her way towards her.
“Thank you so much for hosting,” Dee Dee said warmly, smiling and shaking her hand. “And congrats onyourbook. I feel like, of course Provincetown’s bookseller is also a bestselling author!”
A woman with a pixie haircut and wearing a pin-striped pantsuit inched between them. “I’m Patricia, Dee Dee’s agent. You’re the bookseller?” she said.
“Yes—Shelby Archer. Good to meet you.”
“Is there a way to rope off the stairs? I think we’re at capacity.” She swept her around, as if Shelby might have failed to notice the crowd.
“I’ll talk to the owner and see what I can do.”
She didn’t want to talk to Carmen again. While she appreciated the warm welcome, she felt more comfortable leaving it at that. But she dutifully headed back to the front of the house.
“Everything okay up there?” Carmen asked with a smile, passing menus to a server.
“Great. I think we’re full, though. Do you have a—”
She’d lost Carmen’s attention to something over her shoulder. Shelby turned to follow Carmen’s gaze and saw Justin directly behind her. He wore faded jeans, work boots, and a white button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His dark hair was on the longer side—the way it looked when he was too busy to get it cut.
He held the hand of a slight, pretty woman wearing a bone-colored Burberry trench.
“Shelby,” he said. His expression was neutral, his expression unsurprised. Of course, Mia had to have told him she was working at the bookstore.
“Hey. Howareyou?” she said, smiling.
“Look at this! A reunion,” Carmen said, waving Justin and Burberry Trench inside. “Give me a sec—I need to seat some people.”
Shelby, Justin, and Burberry stepped to the side. With Carmen gone, the vibe shifted from friendly to awkward.
“I’m just here for a book event,” she said. “Upstairs.” She pointed, as if Justin and his lady friend didn’t know where upstairs was located.
“Mia told me you’re working at Land’s End,” he said.
“Just for the summer,” Shelby said quickly. “It was unexpected.”
“This is Kate,” he said, putting his arm around the woman. “Kate Hendrik, this is Shelby Archer.”
“Of course,” the woman said, reaching out to shake her hand with a smile. “Congratulations on your novel.”
KateHendrik?
“You’re not...the same Hendrik as the bookstores?”
“I am,” the woman said, offering a small, modest smile.
“She’s opening a location here this summer,” Justin said.
Shelby was speechless, and aware her silence was creating a socially awkward moment. But... Justin’s girlfriend was Colleen’s competition? It was too much. It was like something out of a novel.
