Chapter Twenty-Six
Chase
I woke the next morning to Erica already out of bed, showered and dressed to go in a pair of jeans and a plain blue shirt. I rubbed my eyes and watched as she scrolled through her phone, sitting in a chair across the room. Her focus was only on the device in her hand and she looked intent on whatever she was looking at. Her eyebrows were knitted together in concentration.
“Why are you out of bed?”
She jumped at the sound of my voice, holding the phone to her chest, as if I could see it from where I was still lying in bed.
“Shit. I thought you were still asleep.”
“I’m asking why you aren’t.”
I swung my legs over the side of the bed and padded over to the bathroom, not waiting for her to answer. It wasn’t until I grabbed a pair of jeans in the duffle Erica had packed me that I saw it was already past noon.
“I didn’t realize it was so late.” I walked over to where Erica was still scrolling and kissed her on the head.
“You seemed pretty worn out from last night.” Erica giggled and I thought back to how many times I had woken up from a deep sleep, wanting her, needing her. It was a wonder that I woke up to begin with.
“Where we headed first?” I asked her, sitting on the edge of the bed to put my shoes on. I knew where I wanted to take her, but if she already had plans, I didn’t want to ruin anything.
“I’m trying to see what’s in the area for us to see.”
“Why don’t I show you around? It’s what you wanted, right? To see where I grew up, learn about the town that stole me away?”
“The town didn’t steal you away, your parents did.” She shot back at me and I frowned at the look on her face. “What’s going on with you and your parents, Chase?”
I wasn’t going to start this know, but I knew I needed to tell her at some point in time.
“Later, peaches.”
“Promise?” She looked over at me, concern in her eyes.
“I promise, but first I want to drive by my old high school and show you my favorite book shop.”
“Books? We come out to Savannah and you want to see books?”
She laughed and shook her head at me.
“Should have known,” she stated under her breath and I grabbed her waist, picking her up.
“Don’t bad-mouth our industry.” I tickled her sides and she yelped, trying to push away from me.
“Stop it!”
“Never.” I nipped her ear and placed her on her feet again. “Get your shoes on and we’ll go.”
I grabbed my keys and Erica followed me out of the room, not needing much besides the small cross body she had slung over her shoulder and my phone and wallet in my pocket. I just wanted today to be something casual for us and not needing to keep a time schedule.
I knew once I got Erica to E Shaver, she wouldn’t want to leave. There was something about the store that didn’t just bring books to life, but brought people to life. They’d turned an old house into the store, had weddings there, cats roaming, and even a tea room was a part of the experience. It was the place to be if you were a book nerd in Savannah and it was where I found myself most Saturdays before going home to study late into the night.
I parked in the back lot, trying to take in the scenery of it all. The cream building that once held so many hours of my time, where I wrote poem after poem about Erica, and here she was standing with me as we walked toward the store.
I opened the door and it was like no time had passed at all. Books lined the walls and tables were set up with stacks of books on them. It was early enough that there weren’t many people there, but a few walkers around town. I eyed the young girl behind the front counter. She was too young to remember me, so I moved on, ushering Erica to one of the back rooms where I usually holed up in one of the corners with a good book during the school year.
“This place is gorgeous,” she whispered and stared around the different rooms. This store held books of all kinds from literature, to self-help, cooking, and gardening. It was the oldest independent bookstore in Savannah and a staple of the town.
“You don’t need to whisper.” I laughed at her. But she shushed me and continued on her way without my help. The way her eyes wandered around, I could tell she was taking in the whole scene and I loved to see her in this atmosphere.
