“Mostly.” I stopped at the shelf and slid out the second book, then took the first one from her. I grabbed a bookmark off the little spinner under the tree and tucked it in the book where we’d stopped. “Shall we go?”
“Are those for me?”
“Maybe.”
She hip bumped me. “I won’t say no. Now, I know what I’m reading before bed tonight.”
“I’ll have to dig up mine and reread it and we can discuss.”
“I’d like that.”
We were quiet as we wound our way to the front of the store. The press had given up. Probably because it was Haven and everything closed up at eight o’clock. Especially in the middle of the week. The bookstore was one of the few things open past nine. Mostly because there were quite a few book clubs that met in the evenings.
I’d had a hand in helping Courtney expand the bookstore. She needed the capital and I wanted my hometown to have a bookstore. It had taken off because she was a master at BookTok and lured many people here for bookish functions.
“Tate!” Courtney was at the registers. “I didn’t see you sneak in.” Her eyes widened. “Oh, my gosh.”
Amber smiled warmly. “Hi. This place is amazing. We got lost in the kid’s section.”
“Thank you.” She linked her fingers together under her chin. “Can I ask you a question?”
I felt her brace herself, but her smile never faltered. “Sure.”
“What’s your favorite book? I’d love to feature it.”
“Oh.” She laughed. “That’s like asking me to pick my favorite pet.”
“I don’t mind it being a bunch of them.” Courtney pushed a pad over to her.
Amber tapped her finger on the pad. “Tell you what. Let me think on it. I can write little reviews for why I love the books.”
“You’d do that?”
She shrugged. “Sure. That sounds fun. I’ll come back in a few days.”
“That would be amazing.”
I slid the two books on the checkout counter. “These please.”
“Great choice.” She rang them up and tucked them into a navy paper bag with a pack of vanilla colored cards. “If you want to fill out these cards for your favorites I’d love it. People love your handwriting.”
“Better put in two sets. I’m a perfectionist.”
Courtney laughed and dropped a second set in the bag. “Thanks for coming in.” Her gaze tracked from me to Amber then back again with a little too much glee in her eyes.
This was going to be all over Haven by tomorrow. As if the maze hadn’t already started the gossip cyclone.
I walked her down the quiet street. Destiny Street was dark and quiet with the late hour. The sound of her booted heels echoed between us.
“This was probably one of the nicest days I’ve had in a long time.”
“Even over the maze?”
She laughed. “The maze was definitely a highlight.” She bumped me again. “You?”
“Highlight puts it mildly.”
She nibbled on her lower lip. “Are you starving?”
