How is it possible that people can be so clueless? My mood is already sour, but it’s fucking on fire now that he added Mom into our conversation. I don’t enjoy getting lectures from a guy who’s the same age as me …
Thankfully, a woman and her little girl enter the store in a frenzy. I watch as they laugh at each other as the rain soaks their hair.
“Welcome,” I mumble to them as the mom waves over at me.
“Trin—” he starts, but I stop him with a hand.
“I’m at work. This is unprofessional, so please leave.”
He lets out a frustrated sigh. “This is important.”
“Not more important than my job, which is helping my mom. So, if you care that much about her, then leave,” I whisper-shout to him under my breath so the customers won’t hear.
His lips frown as he shakes his head in disbelief. Storming to the window, he grips his umbrella in a tight hold. I hear him laugh lowly as he opens it on purpose in the store.
“That’s bad luck for you, not me,” I point out before he exits, knowing he’s trying to be smart.
I don’t get a response as he slams the door on his way out.
I know I was rude to him, but I couldn’t stand the way he was talking to me, like I was a damn child. I’m not someone who will bow down to whatever he says. I’ve been through hell and back. I get bounced around like the basketball Leonidas loves dearly. I don’t show remorse or let people in because every single time I do, I always come out damaged in the end.
My fingers tap the tune of Leonidas’s song as I smile to myself. This interaction with Diego is the most exciting thing that has happened since Leonidas sucked my neck in his sleep in the tree house.
FIFTY-TWO
TRINITY
“No use in coming here today.” Linda sighs from the front counter when I enter for my shift.
Frowning, I glance at her with hesitation. “Why shouldn’t I be here?”
That’s when I notice all the books are gone, and my mouth drops open.
She beams at me. “Because we hardly have any books to sell.” She sees the confusion on my face and gestures with her hand. “Go look for yourself.”
Dropping my bag on the counter, I walk toward the shelves. All the books that once filled the tall bookshelves are now empty. Rows and rows of shelves are missing the one important factor in a bookstore—books.
“Someone called in a couple of hours ago. They said it was important. The next thing I knew, they ordered the entire romance selection we had,” Linda says from behind me.
I’m slightly jealous. Who am I kidding? I’m really jealous …
Whoever this person is, is pretty damn lucky. Buying an entire library is my dream. Unfortunately, I’m too poor for that to become a reality. Whoever he or she is must be loaded. This must have cost thousands of dollars.
This is the type of crazy I love.
“What’s going to happen to the customers who come to shop?” I laugh out loud because this is hilarious. I never thought I would witness this. I guess life is full of surprises.
She giggles. “I’m not worried about them. I just made more money than I’ve made this whole past year.” Pure happiness flashes in her eyes as she glances around.
Clapping her hands together, she turns toward me with authority. “I actually do need you in today. You, missy, need to make some calls to get our shipment of books here faster.”
I nod, feeling slight pressure. Walking toward the counter, I spend my entire afternoon on the phone.
* * *
“Mom?” I call out once I slam the front door behind me closed.
I’m rewarded with silence back, proving to me that Mom isn’t home. It’s pretty early in the night. She must still be at work.
