the bookstore[trope]
a sacred location where the bookworm character gets gloriously spoiled; it usually includes a “get whatever you want”— no budget, no judgment, just pure, unfiltered indulgence in bookish bliss
Nothing like buying a new book to hide from the fact that your brother, who basically hates you, won’t open up to you about someone hurting him. Or at least that’s what I say to myself as I peruse the new arrivals at Providence’s biggest bookstore.
“This one looks good,” I say, before shoving another paperback onto the pile in Rafael’s arms. I grab a blue book, and as I read the synopsis, he groans.
“Are they too heavy?”
He turns to the side, the tower of books covering most of his face. “No, but I’ll need to recant my answer to your question ‘Howmany books can you hold?’ because it turns out ‘As many as you want’ might not be true.”
“Sorry—give me some.”
“No, no. I get it. Retail therapy with books.” He steps back, holding the pile out of my range. “How about I leave these at the counter, then come back here for more?”
I watch him walk away. He followed me out of the house when Ethan left, even as I tried to tell him he didn’t need to come along, and he doesn’t seem to mind that we’ve spent two hours here.
“Reporting for duty,” Rafael says as he approaches my side again, a contented smile still in place. Seriously? Evenmyfeet are hurting.
“You can say so if you’re bored.”
His smile dampens. “Do I look bored?”
“No, but—”
“Good, because I’m not.”
I chew on the inside of my cheek, searching his face for the smallest hint of a lie. But there’s nothing—no flicker in his eyes, no twitch of his lips. I sigh inwardly and go back to reading the synopsis. Sounds like a historical whodunit, not my thing. I set it back on the shelf, then continue perusing the aisle.
“How often do you do this?”
“Not much. Just… whenever I’m upset.”
“Every time? You picked, like, a million books.”
“I get a special discount,” I say defensively. “It’s probably the best perk of the job.”
“You must be single-handedly responsible for the deforestation on this side of the continent. Have you ever considered getting an ebook reader?”
“I like trophies.”
“Like a serial killer?”
“Exactly like it.” I turn a new book around and read through the blurb, but I can feel Rafael’s eyes studying me. “Yes?”
“Your brother, um…”
I exhale, setting the book down. “Yeah.”
“He looked like he got a good beating.”
Which breaks my heart in ways I can’t even explain. Almost as much as the fact that he won’t tell me what happened.
“Do you want me to ask around? See what happened?”
“Thank you, but he lives in Wethersfield with my grandparents.”
He shrugs. “I have a wide network.”
