“It’s okay to want to protect your heart,” Kelly says softly after a moment. “But don’t be so closed off that you push him away.”
“I’ll remember that.” I look up just as someone approaches the desk.
“Hello!” Vik has a big smile on his face. “I am here to get books.”
“Oh, yes. Right here.” Kelly pulls a stack from under the desk and hands it to him.
“English For…” He frowns. “Ad-ult?”
“English For Adult Beginners,” Kelly says with a nod. “And this is a child’s workbook.” She pulls one out from the bottom of the stack. “This one is yours to keep, a gift from me. You said you don’t read or write well in English so this will allow you to practice.”
Vik looks shocked, immediately reaching for his wallet. “I will pay!”
“Don’t be silly.” Kelly stills his hand. “Like I said, it’s a gift. I want to help you learn. It’s why I work in a library.”
“Yes, but…” He seems to re-think his protest. “Thank you. You will allow gift ticket for hockey game?”
Kelly’s eyes twinkle. “Absolutely!”
“Hey, guys.”
I look up at the sound of Bodi’s voice, surprised to see him in the middle of the day. “Hey—what are you doing here?”
“I brought lunch.” He holds up two huge bags. “For everyone.”
“That was sweet,” I whisper, walking over and tilting up my face for a kiss.
He wraps one arm around my waist and kisses me soundly.
“My stomach just growled,” Kelly says with a laugh.
“Then I hope you like Italian!”
Kelly calls upstairs to the other two employees working today, Virginia and Sue, and Bodi and I carry everything back to the break room.
“This was really thoughtful of you,” I tell him.
“I needed an excuse to see you,” he says in a gruff voice.
I really love when he says things like that, but I’m a bit shy about expressing myself.
“You just saw me last night,” I say as I start setting out the trays of lasagna and baked ziti while he takes out garlic rolls and salad.
“That was hours ago,” he pretends to complain. “Driving you home every night is already getting old.”
I freeze, glancing up as a pit the size of a mountain forms in my stomach.
“Wh-what?”
“I hate that you have to leave,” he reiterates, frowning. “I’d like to actuallysleepwith you.”
Oh.
“I wish I could,” I whisper, dipping my head. “I just don’t know how I’d get away with it.”
“Can’t you say you’re staying with a friend?”
“I don’t have any friends here!” I protest in frustration.
