20
WINNIE
“Can you help Olive with the morning buns?” I ask Carolina, not looking up from where I’m researching restaurants that Kathy would like. “I need to plan this date.”
“What?” Carolina slams my laptop closed.
“Hey!”
“You’re planning the date for the love of your life and your sister?”
“He’s not the love of my life. I have a different love of my life.”
“Excuse me?” Carolina drags me into the stacks of books. “You go from having no men in your life to having what, Fitz”—she ticks off on her fingers—“your stalker, and who is this mysterious third person? It better not be someone your mom dragged up.”
“No, it’s just the stalker.” I confess. “He—last night, he—well, I’m not sure the best way to say this, but—”
Carolina’smouth drops open in horror.
“He kissed me.”
“Where?”
“On the mouth, chin, cheeks, neck—”
“No.” She smacks me. “Where in the world was he kissing you?” She makes a wide circle with her hands.
“It was when I was jogging. He just grabbed me.”
“That sounds scary and frightening and deeply concerning…”
“No, it was actually really hot.” My face feels warm. I fan myself. “I think there’s something wrong with me, right? Or maybe it’s just stress from my living situation.”
“It’s latent pent-up sexual energy because the guy who is actually right for you—who is employed and doesn’t have a hobby of spying on women—”
“I especially can’t get with him while I’m currently having the filthiest sex of my life with a complete stranger.”
“I’m sorry, you had sex with this man?”
Several of my patrons look up from their romance-book shopping, very interested in our conversation.
“Shh! No. But I think it was leaning that way.”
“You were going to have sex with him outside?”
I squirm. “No?”
“You need a boyfriend. One without a criminal record.”
“Depends on what he was arrested for,” one lady remarks, basket stuffed full of books.
Carolina gives her a wan smile then drags me back to the storage room. “How do you know this is safe?”
“I mean, I don’t know that it’s notnotsafe.”
The door opens. “There you are.”
“Hi, Mom. I thought you had literally anything else to do today than come bother me at work.”
