Page 76 of An Overdue Match
“Sparkle Moore. Hold on. I’ll show you.” She walks over to where the middle-grade fiction books are shelved. As if she has the placement of each title memorized, she quickly plucks a chapter book off the shelf and walks back to me, holding it out.
Sparkleby Lakita Wilson. The cover has a green background with an illustrated preteen in profile. Instead of a head of hair, she has sparkly stick-on jewels attached to her scalp in a colorful flower pattern. My breath catches.
A book with a heroine who has alopecia. The main character. Not a sidekick or supporting cast.
My eyes warm right before my vision starts to swim.
“It’s about a twelve-year-old girl who begins to lose her hair in middle school. She tries to hide her diagnosis from her friends at school while also trying to help her family financially by becoming a superstar. She has to deal with itchy wigs that she’s not used to, as well as new and strange medications, on top of navigating family and friends. Not to mention the hit that her self-esteem takes because of her diagnosis.”
I look at Martha, not sure what to say.
“The publisher may have marked the book for ages eight to twelve, but if you ask me, children’s literature can touch the hearts and lives of readers of every age.”
I hug the hardcover to my chest. “Thank you.” She has no idea the gift she’s just given me.
“Of course.”
The sound of the automatic doors opening pulls our attention toward the entrance.
Tai walks in wearing his signature dark-wash jeans and fitted black T-shirt. The temperatures have begun to climb along with the humidity, canceling the need for his leather jacket. I can’t say that I mind, as the sleeve of his tattoo is now on full display. The lion and lamb and dove. The cross and rays of light through the clouds. Even the rose. All physical and permanent reminders of the deep roots of Tai’s faith and convictions.
I can’t believe I ever considered him anything but hero material. Quite possibly my very own book boyfriend in the flesh.
I step around the protruding gloved hand of Dr. Suess’s anthropomorphic feline so I don’t knock myself out and approach a grinning Tai as I would any other patron. “Hello, sir. Can I help you find something specific, or are you just looking today?”
His dark eyes spark as he makes a show of checking me out from head to toe. “Oh, I’m definitely looking.”
My cheeks flush. I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to his bold flirting. I’m also not sure I ever want him to stop.
The pencil skirt I’m wearing today came with a skinny belt. Tai hooks his fingers through the belt loops set just below my rib cage and tugs me to him. “But I’ve also found what I’m looking for,” he says with his lips a breath away from my own.
“At least take the make-out sesh to the academic periodicals section.” Hayley breezes past us. “Hardly anyone frequents that aisle.”
“I really don’t—” I protest at the same time that Tai grips my hand and starts dragging me in that direction, a quick “Thanks for the tip, cuz,” thrown over his shoulder.
As soon as Tai stops, a rack of medical journals behind him, my hand shoots up. “We are not reenacting theFriendsepisode with Ross’s book at the university library.”
“That wasn’t my plan, but thanks for giving me the idea.” He winks.
I shake my head at him, but the smile curving my lips counteracts any disapproving librarian matron vibes I was trying to project.
“I’m here on an errand for my mother.”
“Oh? Did she want you to get a book for her?”
“Not exactly.” Tai squeezes my fingers. “The small-town rumor mill has been busy.”
“Oh.” Realization dawns. Honestly, I’m kind of surprised it’s taken this long for word of our relationship to get back to his family.
“My parents want to meet you.”
Meeting the parents. I never thought I’d be here. With Brett, our families had known one another since the beginning of time. His mom and dad still remember when I’d take off my diaper and streak around the house butt naked. I’ve never met the parents of a guy I’ve dated before. AndafterBrett ... well, I just didn’t think I’d ever be here, you know?
“In case you were wondering,” Tai says when I don’t immediately respond. Or respond at all, now that I think about it. I’ve kind of been in a daze. “I want my parents to meet you.”
“With or without a wig?”
Tai cups my face in his hands and looks deep into my eyes. He’s willing me to see the truth. To focus on him and nothing else.
