Three
Emmy read the back cover of the book in her hand, saw it was a historical romance. Not her thing. Too hard to think past the chamber pots. She picked up another, read the synopsis, put it back. Some of the authors’ names were familiar, but most were not. In fact, some of the biggest names in romance were conspicuously absent. That was kind of cool. It was like Lucy was giving other writers a chance to shine. She picked up a book, saw the title wasLight the Way, and nearly put it back again thinking it was a religious romance. The cover simply depicted a man with bulging muscles embracing a gorgeous woman with a curly cascade of coppery hair. That image could be used for any subgenre of romance. Just to be sure, she flipped it over and read the synopsis. No, not religious. A slice of life romance where the male lead—Will—was a nurse. That was an unusual role for the sexy mantagonist, and it kept her reading. He lived in Cobalt, Massachusetts, apparently. A more romance novel town name she’d never heard. Feeling curious, she took out her phone and googled it.
Yeah, no Cobalt, Massachusetts. There were, however, many Chevy Cobalts for sale in Massachusetts.
Shaking her head at the author for naming the fictional town something so cutesy—and at herself for feeling the need to look it up—she finished skimming the back of the book. When she got to the part of the synopsis that introduced the female lead, she nearly laughed out loud. Bright Ammerman? This author named her female leadBright?
“Okay, I’m getting this one,” Emmy announced to the room at large.
“Bring it on over!” Lucy called without missing a beat.
Emmy found her at a cash register tucked away in the back corner, behind a display of strap-ons. She handed Lucy the book, spared a moment to appreciate the nondescript brown paper bag that Lucy grabbed from beneath the counter.
“I haven’t read this one,” Lucy commented. “You’ll have to let me know if you like it.”
Emmy didn’t respond, only watched as Lucy scanned the barcode on the back cover. Rather than the expected beep of success, the machine made a disgruntled noise. Frowning, Lucy pointed the scanner at the book from farther away. It didn’t work.
“Weird. Hold on.”
She put the book on the counter and began typing the ISBN into her computer. A moment after she hit enter, she frowned at the screen.
“I must have forgotten to enter this one into my system before shelving it,” she said, more to herself than to Emmy. She picked up the book again and looked at the front cover.When she next spoke, it was if she were addressing the book itself. “I swear I triple-checked my stock. How did you get out there on the shelf? Did you sneak in?”
“I guess even psychics make mistakes, huh?” Emmy said, unable to keep the smug expression off her face.
“Psychic, but still human,” Lucy said with a smile. She quickly flipped through some of the pages, ran her fingers over them. Frowned, cocked her head.
A prickle of unease skittered up Emmy’s spine, followed immediately by disgust with herself. What was she doing letting herself be taken in by Lucy’s performance? To compensate, she made sure to sneer as she asked, “Are you sensing bad vibrations?”
Lucy shook her head slightly, clearly not at all bothered by Emmy’s derisive tone. “I’m getting… something.” She shrugged and closed the book. “I’m sure it’s just an echo from the previous owner. It’s clearly used. But it’s still in good shape! How about I ring it up at my standard pre-owned price?”
“That’s fine.” Emmy handed over her card and waited while Lucy slipped the book and the receipt into the bag.
“Thanks for coming,” Lucy said, and she sounded sincere. “Tell May to come see me and tell me all about her guy.”
“I will.”
“I’m sorry you couldn’t hate me.”
“What makes you think I don’t?”
Lucy reached out and tapped the bag in Emmy’s hand. “You didn’t have to buy a book. Come on back if you ever have a burning romantic question you’re willing to pay twenty-five dollars to answer.”
“Thanks.”
Emmy left the shop feeling confused. Far from hating Lucy, she felt a reluctant kind of admiration for her. The supposed psychic had been right; Emmy didn’t hate her, and she was a little disappointed about that. Still, there was a bright side. She could now definitively say that May had not been taken in by a con artist. At least not in any way that would be harmful. Lucy wasn’t psychic, but she meant well. Good enough.
With her new book in hand, Emmy got into her car and started the uneventful drive back to her apartment. It was her day off, but she couldn’t start reading until she’d checked a few things off her to-do list. She had to check in with May, get groceries, call the dress place to make sure the final alterations on her maid of honor gown were complete. The steamy romance between Will and Bright would have to take second place to the mundane tasks of real life.
May texted her before she arrived home that evening.
Did you do it? Did you go see Lucy???
Yes, she is very happy for you
Yay! What did she say to you? Did you get a reading????
Apparently I’m in for a big life change and other vague nonsense
