There was still no sign of the videos we’d made. Same went for TikTok. When I’d asked Jess, she’d said that Sarah hadn’tposted them yet because she needed her to focus on promoting some other events they had coming up.
I locked my phone screen, then went and got the latest book Sarah had left on my desk. It was just okay. I’d wanted to love it so that I could have a reason to call and arrange to meet her to gush about it, but I still hadn’t been won over.
Maybe what I’d said from the start was true: I was just better suited to other genres.
If I finished reading it tonight, though, I could message her to ask for another book and arrange to meet up.
God, I just heard myself. I sounded like a saddo.
I was very disturbed about how much not seeing Sarah bothered me. Especially considering that in four days we’d be heading to her brother’s wedding, so I’d see plenty of her that weekend.
My pulse quickened and I willed it to calm down. I couldn’t start catching feelings. It was pointless. Once the renovations were complete, I’d need to move on. I didn’t have a choice.
And I promised Theo I wouldn’t create chaos amongst the team or the library’s members, so I couldn’t go back on my word.
But I wasn’t interested in the members or the other women in town.
The only person I was drawn to was Sarah. And she was off limits.
Maybe I was just horny. Now I had my own space, I’d be free to have a wank if I needed to. Once I’d got myself off, I’d think much clearer.
And if I saw Sarah and chatted to her briefly, I’d crave her less.
I’d said before that I had no reason to speak to her, but now that I thought about it, there was something really important that we needed to discuss.
24
SARAH
My phone vibrated on the library’s meet-cute desk and I was relieved that I’d remembered to put it on Do Not Disturb.
This evening, we were hosting a silent reading party. It was the first one that I’d attended since I’d been here and it was really cool. I wished they’d had events like this where I used to live.
I picked up my phone and when I saw who’d messaged, excitement fizzed in my stomach.
Ben
Hey…
I started grinning like a stupid teenager and immediately told myself to grow the hell up. From the way I was smiling, anyone would think he’d told me I’d won the lottery, not just written one tiny three-letter word.
It felt like it’d been months since I’d spoken to him properly, when in reality it’d only been two weeks. Not that I’d counted or anything.
The last time we spoke in person was when he’d given me his shirt to cover up the stain on my dress. Since then, we’d been passing ships.
He wasn’t at the library when I’d returned that Monday with Jess, and since then he’d been at the retreat, upstairs working with Theo on the bar stuff, or on some research trips looking for investment opportunities or something. I only knew that because I’d subtly asked Jess.
Once I’d washed and ironed his shirt (the smell of fabric conditioner really didn’t compare to his scent), I’d had to leave it on his desk because he was away. I’d left his latest book pick there too, and when I’d returned a few hours later it was gone, so I must’ve just missed him again when I was covering for Celeste in the bookshop.
It was a relief that I’d been so busy; otherwise I think this stupid crush thing could’ve got out of control. But what with all the social media promo I’d had to do for the silent reading party and brainstorming with Jess and Jane about the marketing plans for the retreat, not to mention covering lunch breaks in the library and bookshop, I’d been flat out.
Plus, we had a signing with an incredible historical romance author coming up, which was huge.
With all that going on, I hadn’t even had a chance to post the first video I’d created with Ben yet. I’d definitely do that soon, but the priority would be posting content about today’s event, then promoting the next one.
Anyway, I supposed I should be grateful that I hadn’t seen Ben. After all, that was what I’d wished. I’d told myself that I needed to keep my distance so that this teeny, tiny crush wouldn’t spiral out of control and that was exactly what I’d done.
I blew out a breath, then remembered Ben had texted. I wasn’t sure if he was expecting me to reply or if the ellipsisafter ‘hey’ meant that he was going to follow it up with a second message.
