“What’s that?”
“Nothing,” he says quickly. “Keep going.”
My lips twist. “I think you’ll really enjoy where we’re going for dinner. And, if you’d like, I’m happy to makeyoumy dessert.”
He eases out a breath. “You’re pretty smooth, you know that?”
“Just being honest.”
Isaac grabs my hand, squeezing it tightly between his own. “Only with me, right?”
I understand what he’s saying. “There’s only you,” I agree.
He nods. “Yeah, okay. Let’s go.”
The bookstore isn’t terribly far away. Isaac looks from the front of the store to me hopefully as I park.
I make him sweat for only a second or two before nodding. “There’s a café inside.”
Isaac exits the vehicle with a sort of enthusiasm I haven’t seen from him before. He looks almost chagrined as he slows his pace so I can catch up, but I offer him a wide smile, not wanting him to feel the need to dampen his excitement.
His head is on a swivel as we step through the doors. There’s a table of bestsellers set up right in front of us, but beyond that is rows and rows of books, separated by genre. Isaac takes a deep breath, as if soaking it all in.
“Your natural habitat,” I murmur.
Isaac swats my chest. “You’re one to talk. Tell me this isn’t the best thing ever?”
I shrug because I can’t. “Food first?”
Isaac stares longingly at the books for another moment before nodding. “Probably a good idea.”
The café isn’t terribly busy. We order our food, waiting for it to be ready before finding a seat at a small table beside windows that overlook the store. Isaac unwraps his sandwich as I do the same.
“Um, I didn’t say it before,” he begins, “but you look great, too.”
“Yeah? Better than the books?”
“Don’t push it,” he deadpans.
I snort, which has Isaac grinning to himself. “What have you got going on this week?”
“The usual,” he answers. “School. Studying. Seeing you?”
“My free time is yours,” I confirm.
He takes a big bite of his sandwich to hide his blush. “What, uh, nights do you work at the bar?”
“Friday and Saturday. The rest of the week, I’m at the tattoo shop. Or, you know, making videos.”
Isaac cocks his head. “Wait, you work at the tattoo shop, too?”
“Just clean-up after hours. It’s a short shift, but it’s enough to help with the weekly groceries.”
He’s quiet for a moment. “You’re really busy, aren’t you?”
“Not too busy for you.”
“No, that’s not what I mean. I just… I’m suddenly feeling very young. Here I was, thinking about how I’m a year ahead of Todd and Lumi. They’re both graduating this year, and then what? They’ll be moving on while I’m still getting my doctorate. But you’re already ahead of all of us. You’re working three jobs on top of planning your own business, and what am I doing?”
