And I might love even more than that…
Roan called me Sunday to tell me that he wants to talk aboutus.
He had to help his parents with something important, so we couldn’t see each other then, and I’ll be hung up at the shop tonight.
And of course tomorrow is the big re-opening.
Looking around, I can’t believe that we actually pulled it all together. I still don’t have quite everything I wanted stocked and set up, but the place looks completely different than it did before. And I’ve stocked the kind of books I think this town will like.
My own eyes keep returning toStarhoofthough. When Meg gets here today, I’ll give her a copy. I know she’ll read it since she’s enjoyed everything else I’ve recommended.
And I’ve got another surprise for her too.
I’ll admit, I’m sweating a little about that. But seeing her too shy to even say hi to her school friends at the Mingle tugged at my heart. I’m willing to take a risk if it winds up opening her world a tiny bit.
“Taylor,” she yells as she flies through the door, as if summoned by my thoughts. “Whoa, what’s that?”
She screeches to a halt in front of theStarhoofdisplay, and I feel a little nervous about telling her how special the book is to me.
“This is a book I was lucky enough to discoverwhile I was working in publishing,” I tell her carefully. “I loved it so much when I read it. It just came out, and I definitely wanted it in the shop.”
“Wow,” Meg says, sounding awed as she picks up a copy and flips it over to scan the description on the back. “Whoa, neat…”
“I want you to take a copy,” I tell her. “I was hoping maybe it could be our next book club read?”
“Thanks,” she says, hugging it to her chest. “I definitely want to. Did you meet the author?”
“I sure did,” I tell her.
Somehow thinking back to it now, I’m able to just focus on how exciting it was to share that day with the wonderful author, instead of beating myself up about what happened afterward.
“That’s so cool,” Meg says, shaking her head in wonder.
“Now listen,” I tell her carefully. “I have another surprise for you today. I hope it’s okay…”
“Hey-yo,”someone calls out as they open the front door.
Meg turns in surprise and freezes in place as two teen girls come in, backpacks slung over their shoulders.
“Hi, J.B.,” I say to Darcy’s daughter, who is peeling off her puffy coat. She’s got headphones around her neck just like she did at the Mingle.
“Hey, Taylor,” she replies. “This is my friend, Lily.”
“Hi, Lily,” I say to the other girl, who has longpurple hair in two braids. “This is Meg. She and I have a book club together, just the two of us. And we just finished the last book in theFire of Andaloorseries.”
“No way,” Lily says, glancing at Meg like she’s impressed. “You’re already reading theFire of Andaloorbooks?”
Meg nods, looking really pleased.
“That’s epic,” J.B. says, nodding to Meg.
“Raised right,” Lily says, arching a brow at me like I’m cooler than she thought.
“Well, we got the idea to read the books because of Taffy over at the library,” I admit. “And she got the idea?—”
“From me,” Lily says, smiling. “Right on.”
“Come on in and get comfortable,” I tell the girls, indicating the lumpy sofa and the wooden rocking chair by the big window. “I’ll just grab some snacks.”
