“What changed?”
“I think I figured out where I went wrong.”
“Ah, the dating-Deacon code. Do tell.”
“That’s just it. I think we need to actually date and not just hang out.”
She stared at me for a good long while before she blinked. “Huh?”
“Courting. I’m going to court him, and maybe he’ll court me back.”
“You’ve readPride and Prejudicetoo many times.”
I laughed. “Never. But think about it. We can exchange pleasantries, small exchanges, nothing too big or overwhelming.” Then I decided to go full Jane Austen. “We can take walks two feet apart at all times, hands behind our backs. The yearning will be masterful.”
“Yes,” Ro cried. “With an escort at all times. And should you be so bold to show some ankle, you’ll be forced to walk the streets with a redApainted on your chest while the townsfolk throw mud and insults at you.”
I laughed. “Not showing the ankle! Oh, the horror.” I looked down at my socked feet. “Actually, if I ever show any part of my disturbingly pale legs in public willingly, please see it for the sign of duress that it is.”
Ro chuckled but waited for me to continue, to explain.
“I don’t know... I just think maybe we tried too hard in the beginning,” I said. “We were trying so hard to be friends, but given we’re both so awkward, it was a disaster. I think we need to grow closer organically. And become friends by getting to know each other in small amounts first. Does that make sense?”
Her eyes locked with mine and she nodded. “Totally.”
“So maybe a coffee date first. I’m not sure. No, maybe not. More like a lunch break date. Short and sweet and simple.” I shrugged, realizing that maybe it all sounded better in my head. “We exchanged a few texts today; thatwas fun. Then at the clinic, I saw him for all of ten minutes, and it was all sweet and shy. I think I learned more about him in those shorter interactions.”
Ro made a face, and I knew she was about to impart something I didn’t really want to hear.
“You learned about him in the longer interactions too,” she said gently. “Where he panicked and left, or when there was a misunderstanding. That’s also him. And there’s nothing wrong with that, but try not to romanticize the shorter, sweet stuff. You will have to spend longer bouts of time with him if you want to date him.”
“I know,” I relented. And I did know what she was saying was true. “But if we have shorter mini-dates to begin with, I think we’ll understand each other better, and he’ll trust me more.”
“I think he trusts you already.”
“Maybe. But I want him to trust me to the point that if he does have questions, instead of overthinking and getting to a panicked state, he could talk to me. Ask me questions instead of being too shy, that kind of thing.”
Ro afforded me a patient smile. “I can see that you do like him. Perhaps taking small steps is the right approach.”
I let my head fall back with a groan. “I know the timing is bad. But Ro, if you could have seen him at the store last night. The way he stops and reads the blurbs on the back cover of a book, and how he smiles when it’s something he likes. Or today, when I texted him back as I was leaving the vet clinic. His smile, my god, it just lights him up.”
Just then, Bright crash-tackled Merry in their basket and they rumbled for a little while, just cute as hell. Merry even gave him as good as he got. “You show him, Merry,” I said. “Don’t let him bully you.”
I looked to Ro to see if she was watching the cuteness,but she was watching me. Her smile was softer now, more genuine. “You know what I think?”
I braced myself for more of her wisdom. “What do you think?”
“I think we need pizza and wine.”
“Oh my god, yes. Great idea.”
I wasat the store early. I’d given the boys their breakfast, packed up their bag so Ro didn’t have to worry about that when she brought them down later, and decided coffee from the diner was in order to get me through what I hoped would be a fantastically busy day.
My first day as a bookstore owner.
Hartbridge’s very own Fox and Fables Bookstore.
I was dressed in my sensible and comfortable brown pants, with my sensible and comfortable loafers, a fawn-colored button-down, and my umber colored sweater vest that was mostly hidden by my big brown coat.
