“Cara said you had more romances for me to go through?”
Reggie nods. “Yes. As you know, I’m not very versed in the genre… but I’m getting better! They’re on the desk in the back room… You won’t miss them. Unfortunately, I must finish this paperwork or my staff won’t get paid.”
“Is Tamara there now?” I ask.
He smiles widely. “Yes. You’ll have company.”
“Okay… I’ll just put the good books in a pile.”
As I head toward the back room of the bookstore, Reggie calls out, “Thank you, my dear!”
I open the door to the storeroom, and… I freeze. The only person I see is Miles.
He’s sitting at a little desk near the wall, engrossed in a history book. He doesn’t seem to notice me, and Tamara is nowhere to be seen.
Stupid meddling neighbors and friends. Reggie and Jenn lied to my face about Tamara being here, and I can’t believe I fell for it. I’m about to turn and leave Second Story Books when I realize what book Miles is reading. It’sPride and Prejudice—my favorite book of all time. It’s an old, worn hardcover edition, which is why I assumed it was a history book.
“Miles,” I say, walking into the storeroom and closing the door behind me. “Why are you reading that?”
He looks up at me, startled. He’s wearing his Second Story Books T-shirt, the same yellow shirt he had on the last time I was in this storeroom with him. That feels like so long ago. That was our first argument… or maybe our second if I count the original BOA meeting where we met. We’ve argued so many times since then.
I can’t believe I’m feeling nostalgic thinking about our arguments.
I take a step closer so I’m a few feet away from his desk. We’ve also bonded many times. Over our family issues, our love of good food, and our love of this community. We’ve laughed about those terrible dates I set him up on. We’ve watched a sunset together while eating cheese and strawberries. We’ve ate red velvet cake at midnight in the flower shop. We’ve brainstormed and collaborated and built an entire festival together.
And we’ve kissed.
He looks at me with those rich brown eyes and doesn’t say anything for a beat before he puts down the book andruns his hand through his hair. “Sana, what are you doing here?”
“I have no idea.” There are no books on the only desk here—only Miles’s laptop. “I think Reggie and Jenn made something up as a ploy to get me to talk to you.”
Miles frowns. “Oh. That’s why he told me to stay back here.”
I lean closer to see the book. “So…areyou actually readingPride and Prejudice?”
He nods. “Yeah.”
“It’s my favorite book, and you mocked me for that. And nowyou’rereading it?”
“I didn’t mock you.” He sighs. “Sorry if I did. It’s a good book.”
“Why did you even start it?” I pick the book up from the desk. It’s an old edition, probably from this bookstore.
“Because you said it was your favorite, and… you said I was a cold fish.”
“I said you were afrigidfish,” I say. Which is really the same thing. But since I said that, Miles Desai has kissed all coherent thoughts out of me, so now I know he’s the furthest thing fromfrigid.“So, what, you’re readingPride and Prejudiceso you’ll learn how to be less cold?”
He shrugs. “You said I don’t know a thing about love and romance—and you’re right,” he says. “Although, if Mr. Darcy is your idea of a romantic hero, I’d say that I come pretty close already.”
“Yeah, no, I’ve seen you dance. Fitzwilliam Darcy has nothing on you.”
That makes him chuckle, and it’s adorable as always. I shouldn’t have said that. I forgot that I’m mad at him. Istill have no idea whether he’sdatingmy stepsister. Maybe it’s time I asked him.
“Do you want to be moreromanticso you’ll be a better cochair of the love festival or so you’ll be a better boyfriend to my stepsister?” I can’t help the hurt seeping into my voice. Because yeah… Miles and Sarina together would sting. A lot.
But he recoils at my question. “Why would I want to be yoursister’sboyfriend?”
“Stepsister. You went out with her Sunday night to a place on College Street, right? I saw your text to her at brunch. And Sarina was so grateful that I introduced the two of you.”
