I narrowed my eyes, but something in her tone made me uneasy. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Oh, nothing,” she said, innocently reorganizing a stack of books. “Just that you seem awfully fixated on someone you claim is your frenemy.”
“I’m not fixated,” I protested, but even I could hear the defensive edge in my voice. “She’s just… interesting to mess with, that’s all.”
Brenna raised an eyebrow. “Interesting, huh? That’s new. What happened to her being a stuck-up number-cruncher?”
I opened my mouth to argue, then closed it again. The image of Jules in her casual clothes, effortlessly picking up diving theory, flashed through my mind. “She’s, well, surprising. There might be more to her than I thought,” I admitted reluctantly. I’d been trying to forget that she’d given up her own delayed computer upgrade to ensure that Annie’s hours didn’t get cut. That image definitely did not mesh with my image of the cutthroat CPA.
“Mmm-hmm,” Brenna hummed, a knowing smile on her face. “And that has nothing to do with why you rode your bike halfway across town at the end of the day to ask me about the name?”
I ran a hand through my hair, suddenly feeling exposed. “Look, it’s not like that. It’s a puzzle, okay? She’s irritating and I like messing with her.”
“A puzzle you seem very eager to solve.” Brenna wore a huge grin now.
I shook my head. “Whatever. Thanks for solving the mystery for me. I should get going.” I held up the book in my hand. “Can I take this?”
“Sure.” She plucked the book next to where it had been on the shelf and gave it to me before tapping the newbook. “Read this one,Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. It’s more your lane.”
I brightened. “Hey! I’ve heard of that one.”
“Will wonders never cease? Love you, brother.”
“Love you, too. Thanks for the info and the books.”
As I headed for the door, Brenna called out, “Anytime. Have fun with Julianne!”
I paused, my hand on the doorknob. “It’s Jules,” I corrected with a broad, shit-eating smile. Begrudging admiration was no match for ammunition like this that I could use anytime the fancy struck me. “And I’m going to call her that at every opportunity.”
