Her chin tips higher, as though she’s proving not just her superiority over me, but that her decision making skills are better too. “The board felt that it was time to do something big. We’ll be selling tables, auctioning off local goods and crafts, as well as some rare first editions that the library has been bestowed. Plans are already underway which is why the staff is receiving short notice.”
At an utter loss for words there’s not much more to say than, “Sounds like a great idea, Jemma.”
The tight upturn of her lips is the closest I’ll get to a smile.”Well, now that we appear to be on the same page, I’ll leave you to your…task.” She’s made it well known that she thinks shelving books is below me. That I have a degree and was not hired to merely restack books.
While that’s all well and good, aside from the peace it brings me, I don’t mind lending a hand. We’re on the same team, so why does it matter what I do with my time as long as my job is done?
The tightness around my chest is almost fully alleviated as Jemma is about to round the corner of the row, when she pauses and turns back. A true smile, one I’ve never seen the likes of and that sends a shiver straight down my spine, is horrifyingly present. My lungs have forgotten how to expand and my eyelids are stuck open as I await what feels like a sentencing.
“One more thing, Biannca. We are expecting our staff, especially our higher level staff, such as yourself, to come with a plus one to help fill tables. We want to show a strong community.” With that she turns on her heel and retreats to her dungeon.
But I’m stuck in place, all the blood plunging to my feet.
My dating life, or lack thereof, is well known here. Though we’re all friendly and try not to be invasive in one another's lives, relationships are one thing that tend to come up. And for me, I’ve been single for a very long time. Enough so that Jemma has commented about my age and my internal clock ticking. She’s clearly stated that I not only should be married off by now, but have the two point five children and SUV in the garage of my modest two-story home.
If only it was as simple as wanting, or that a certain point in life has passed.
Shaking out of my stupor, I leave the cart right where it is and head to my little corner of the library. I flop into my chair just in time for Ruby, our IT person, to pop up from behind a row of computers. Though I tense at her sudden appearance, I don’t jump like I normally would.
“Why do you look paler than usual?” Ruby is probably my closest friend here and she’s always ribbing me about needing to see some sunlight.
“I ran into Jemma.”
Her lips pull to the side in a brief grimace. “I mean, sure that I understand. But this seems…worse than normal.”
My eyes connect with her vibrant blue ones. Her style is quite eclectic, with bright red streaks through her straight black hair. But the blue is all natural. Until I met her, I didn’t know that color was possible without the help of contacts. “Did you hear about the gala?”
“Of course. Jemma asked me to make some flyers and if we could livestream it. A few weeks ago actually.” Am I the last to know about this damn thing?
“Livestream? I didn’t know she knew anything about that.”
“Well, she didn’t ask quite like that.” Ruby runs her tongue along her teeth and I can hear the click of her tongue ring against the enamel from the desk width’s space. “She asked if we couldmake possible for the community to be here while watching on their ‘technology devices.’ She felt it’d be a great way to have everyone interested and maybe raise more funds.”
“Are you going to do it? You could stream it right on the website.”
“I haven’t decided yet. It’s an undertaking to get it set up, coded, and then do all the stuff required here and—wait a minute! You’re distracting me! Not cool, Bia.”
My very brief moment of reprieve was over. Silence reigns over us as we stare at each other, neither willing to budge and give in. Until she raises and single brow and levels me the stare that could make me confess my deepest sins.
“Ugh, fiiine.” With a little more oomph than necessary, I cross my arms against my chest, chewing the corner of my lip. “We’re expected, norequiredto bring a plus one to the gala. Who the hell am I going to bring?”
“Um, hello?” Her gaze dashes over, quite dramatically, toward Ethan. Then she lifts her hands as though she’s showcasing him.
I lunge forward and put her hands down, resting one of my own against my chest to contain my heart. “Would younotdraw any attention to us please?” The words come out in a whisper shout that I hope is no more than dull murmur to Ethan, who is not as far away as Ruby seems to think.
She makes what could easily be the most dramatic eye roll ever. “You know, you two are the only ones who seem to be blind to the fact that you both have a thing for the other.”
My cheeks burn to such an extreme that I’m pretty sure fire is licking beneath the skin. “That’s not true.” There’s zero surety in my voice.
“Whatever, I don’t have time for this denial game you play or the back and forth. You want a date and don’t want to ask the drool worthy coworker? Get the Holidates App. It’s a dating app but for dates, especially for holidays, more than a relationship.”
“The Holi…what?”
Ruby pinches the bridge of her nose and looks skyward, mumbling something unintelligible under her breath. “Just, give me your phone. It’s easier this way.”
I fish the device out of my desk drawer and hand it over, chewing my lower lip and spinning side to side in my desk chair while I anxiously wait.
My knee starts bouncing relentlessly when I realize it’s taken far longer than it should to simply install an app. The start of a word rumbles in my throat before Ruby hands the phone back to me with a smirk.
