Theo might be my best friend and one of the teammates I trust the most, but he was wrong about his sister. I think I messed up by listening to him instead of following what my gut wanted me to do.
If I had gone after her like I wanted last night, I wouldn’t have this growing sense of dread that she could slip through my fingers.
Two weeks ago I had no idea what truly caring for someone else felt like. Now that I have it with her, I don’t want to let it go or lose it.
Sighing, I scrub a hand over my face. I have to fix this.
The kind of guys she reads about in her romance books wouldn’t have fucked up like I have. My brows furrow when I think about what I respected about the cowboy in the book we both read. He knew what he wanted and he didn’t let anything get in the way of that.
I’m going to do right by her like he would. Do the right things. Say the right things. Pay attention to her and understand how to keep her happy. Because that’s what makes me happy.
Actually, no. Fuck that.
I’m going to bebetterthan anyone made up for a story because Lainey is my girl, and I’ll be damned if I don’t show her that when I should’ve been there for her.
First plan of action: buy her flowers. Then I need to stop back at the house for my suit.
I’m going to get my girl.
SEVENTEEN
LAINEY
The transformationin the banquet room for the evening takes my breath away. It’s amazing to see it all come together. The book arch at the entrance to the event came out amazing, and giddiness bolts through me at the line of people waiting outside for the doors to open.
Heston’s student body showed up for our town’s bookshop in a way I couldn’t have dreamed when I first decided to do this event. Tickets sold out and I heard from Candace earlier as she applied my makeup that people were looking for any available tickets on the local student-run Facebook group. Rather than make any kind of speech, I opted to post a thank you sign by the ticket check in with all the words I’d be too nervous to say.
I smooth the elegant tiered fabric of my black gown, waiting for the event to begin. Everything is set. If I flit around the room to check on stuff again, the DJ I booked from Heston’s Music & Arts department will make good on his joking threat to glue my feet to the floor.
This is the first time I’ve slowed down all day and it’s hitting me that I pulled this off. Not only did ticket sales raise a lot, the college has matched my donation to keep Derby Bookshop in business.
Alex was the first person I wanted to tell when I opened the letter in my mailbox on my way out.
Once I bit the bullet and turned my phone on this morning, I ignored the missed calls and texts from him, only allowing myself one moment for my heart to twinge. The first thing I did was put his texts on mute and silence his calls before burying what happened in the back of my mind.
My whirlwind schedule has kept me busy all day, holding thoughts of him at bay. I’m glad Candace invited me to get ready with her and her friends to take my mind off the anxious thoughts doomscrolling in my head once I stop focusing on the spinning plates keeping me distracted.
I startle when music spills through the room. The fog machines in front of the DJ booth add to the magical purple lighting. I give him a sheepish wave. It’s time to let everyone in.
Poking my head through the arch of floating books and their pages, I give the ticket table volunteers a thumbs up. I hang back once people start to enter the room, rolling my lips between my teeth when their expressions fill with excitement.
Some people go to the wall I set up showcasing Derby Bookshop’s history with photos Mr. Derby gave me and older ones I pulled from the library. Others find seats at the tables, taking photos of the book stack centerpieces. It’s not long before someone discovers the photo booth set up with a fairytale background and a variety of crowns.
After twenty minutes, people are still entering in a steady stream, the room filling. For the first time ever, I’m not doing everything I can to avoid a crowd.
“Hey, girl!” Candace arrives with her sorority sisters. All of them look gorgeous. She leans in to kiss both my cheeks. “Oh my god, this looks so amazing. You did all this?”
I shrug. “A lot of vendors donated their services.”
“You did such a great job organizing this. We’re hitting up the photo booth first. You’ll do it with us, right?”
“In a little bit. Enjoy yourselves tonight.”
Candace holds up her arms and does a shimmying dance with her hips. “You know it. Where’s your man?”
“Oh.” I twist my fingers, the elbow-length gloves suddenly feeling silly and too hot. “I don’t know. He’s?—”
“Late, but I promise I have a good excuse.”
