“Good.” I nod. “Have you arranged to meet Anaïs and Nora?”
“Yeah, tomorrow I think.” She wakes up her laptop and checks her diary. “Yeah, tomorrow. They’ve said about Athena coming.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, that all right?”
“Course it is, she’s amazing.” I nod, a stupid smile pressing onto my lips.
“I bet she is.” Rue taps her fingers on the book.
“What you reading?” I lift my chin and look over to see if I can work it out.
“Actually, it’s one of Opal Bloom’s.” Her cheeks turn pink.
“Oh yeah?” My brow raises as I stalk over to her desk.
“Yeah, it’s sooo good. I ordered a couple in with your order.”
“Glad you’re enjoying them, I’ll be sure to let her know.”
Her eyes widen and glisten. “Do you think she’ll sign a few of the copies I bought?”
“She would love to.”
“Amazing.” She claps excitedly. “Let me go and get your books.”
“Thank you,” I mutter, as I walk around her shop. It looks amazing in here. “Rue, the place looks so good,” I say as she steps back into the room with a small box, a loud thud echoing around.
“Thank you.” She beams with proudness.
“Has it been busy?” I ask, facing her as she slices through the sealed box.
“Ebbs and flows, you know.” She looks up at me, eyes glistening.
“I’m glad. I’m sure it’ll be busy in the next few days.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” I lick my lips.
She pulls the protective paper from the box then reaches for the books. “Here we go.” She smiles softly, walking towards me and handing me them.
“Thank you.” My heart blooms with pride looking down at Athena’s books. I’m not sure why—she wrote these before me, after all—yet I am in awe of her.
“This one is amazing.” She taps her finger on the cover.
“Yeah?”
“Only one flaw, though… maybe.”
My ears prick. “What’s that?”
“The… y’know…” Her cheeks flush.
“Oh.” I laugh. “Yeah, we know.” I nod.
“Oh, good, they just feel a little…”
