“But we can go to the bookshop?” she pouts.
I chuckle. “Sure,justthe book shop,” I agree.
In the village, Maria walks close to my side, so I slip my arm around her, holding her tight. We hurry across the street when the traffic clears, and I hold the bookstore door open for her.
“What kind of books do you read?” I ask, curious.
“Almost anything that catches my eye. But my go-to genres are romance and horror,” she says, already browsing one of the shelves.
“Romance and horror?” I blurt out. “So, what? Falling in love with a killer clown?” I scoff, laughing softly.
She giggles and shakes her head. “Not together! Separate genres. Although the horror-romance genre does exist, that’s not what I mean when I mentioned them right after each other,” she grins.
“No killer clowns?” I smirk. “I was going to stop at the party store and get something to dress up in for a little fun later,” I tease.
“You are insufferable,” she playfully punches my arm.
“Kazimir?” a woman’s voice calls me from behind.
I turn to see a girl I know from Chicago.
“Kaz! It is you! What in the world are you doing out here in the middle of nowhere?” she asks, gushing as she rushes over to me.
“I could ask you the same thing,” I smile tightly.
She tries to hug me, and I turn my body slightly to the side, so she only gets half a hug. She keeps her arm wrapped around me as she giggles and strokes her fingers over my chest. “You look so good,” she says. “But then again, you always look good.” Her eyes glimmer with the teasing in her words. I have to actively step away from her to escape her touch.
For some reason, her flirting has absolutely no effect on me whatsoever. In the past, I would have been flirting back in an instant. I would have been the one who started the conversation.
“Are you here alone? I have a little cabin in the village. You should come by tonight,” she suggests.
“I’m here with someone, thanks for the invite, but I’ve got plans,” I reply politely. “Listen, I’ve got to go, but it was nice seeing you. Have a good time,” I say quickly before she invites me out again. I’m simply not interested.
When I turn to find Maria, she’s nowhere to be found.
“Maria?” I call down the long aisle in the bookstore.
I hurry to the next aisle, then the next, and find her in the corner browsing through the sci-fi section.
“There you are,” I say, walking over to her.
“Mm,” she huffs.
“Did you find anything good yet?” I ask.
“No,” she says coldly.
I narrow my eyes, picking up on her energy. Especially when I run my hand down her back, and she pulls away from me.
“What’s going on? Aren’t you feeling well again? We can go…”
“I’m perfectlyfine, Kazimir,” she says coldly.
“Kazimir. Myfullname…mm. I might think I’m in trouble for something,” I muse, realizing what’s going on.
“Is that so? And what is it you’re in trouble for, according to you and your exceptional insight?” she huffs, refusing to look at me.
I don’t manage to hold back my laughter, and this causes her to spin and glare at me. Her eyes spear me with annoyance, and it makes me laugh harder.
