Chapter Twenty-Two
Ezra
Clark and I were working the counter at the store the next afternoon, and with only a few scattered customers browsing back issues from the ‘90s, we had plenty of time to catch up on gossip. Sitting behind the register, we were slapping down playing cards in a game of Spades to pass the time.
Clark scooped up a trick he had just won, tapping the cards on the counter to straighten them. “I still think you have a crush on him.”
“I told you, we’re just friends. And anyway, we tried to have sex. It was cute, but we just don’t have that special spark.”
“It sounded like you had that special spark the other night,” he said, tossing the next card down. “I heard you two moaning all the way from the other side of the house.”
I waved my hand in the air. “Stop trying to make me and Irving be a thing, Clark. I get that you want me to date someone, but Irving is not going to be the one.”
“Because you won’t be satisfied unless a powerful, dangerous man is plowing you into oblivion.”
I shrugged, tossing down a card and scooping up the trick. “We all have our needs,” I joked. “More importantly, though, Irving’s my friend now. You’ve seen us! We’re a powerhouse team, kind of like you and Valeria. Even my moms said it was true.”
“I will humbly admit when I am wrong. That guy from the Steel Rose totally showed up and chased away the teenagers, and I’m even starting to believe you that he came and cleaned the windows the other week. I just don’t know about this next thing you two are on about.”
I scooped up another trick, tossing the cards aside. “There’s more to the story, that’s all. And I’d like to know for certain that those guys aren’t going to show up and break our windows some night, rather than just assuming the violent criminals have wandered off to their next evil scheme.”
“So comic book store of you.”
I grabbed a plastic mask on a string that was hanging on a display beside the counter, then held it up to my face. “Only one hero can best the graffiti bandit and also win the heart of the mysterious stranger.”
“You’re wearing a Mickey Mouse mask.”
I spun the mask around. Indeed. “Well, Mickey Mouse would probably succeed at that quest, too. He’s a real charmer.”
Clark laughed, then scooped up the last trick. “Anyway, that’s part of the problem. I’m pretty sure you’re obsessed with this whole thing because of your crush on Brick more than you are obsessed with the store’s safety.”
I waved my hand in the air. “That’s not true. I haven’t delivered a monologue on Brick in at least a couple of weeks.”
“Not since you started hanging out with Irving,” Clark said, picking up the cards to shuffle them. The bell chimed above the door, and Liza came strolling in, bright blue lipstick lighting up her face. “But you still find a lot of occasions to mention his name.”
“He’s a really mysterious figure—can you blame me?”
Liza joined us at the counter, snapping chewing gum in her mouth. “Talking about Brick again? I thought you were finally starting to move on to your next obsession.”
I groaned, then held the mask back up to my face. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I said in a high-pitched voice.
Liza laughed and snatched it out of my hand. “I’m not complaining! He scared off those kids and cleaned our window. I’m just sad that he’s leaving town.”
“Unless Ezra and Irving have a say in it,” Clark added.
“Okay, okay,” I said, holding my hands in the air to show I had enough of the ribbing. “You’ll all be happy when I come back with the scoop, though.” I glanced at the clock on the wall and realized it was getting later in the day. “Liza, are you checking in?”
“Yup!” she said, tossing her backpack behind the counter. “You going on lunch?”
“I am,” I said, grabbing my wallet as I left the counter. “Plus, I’m running an exciting, secret mission while I’m out.”
“In that case, tell Irving I said hello!” Clark chirped warmly.
“I’m not running the mission with Irving,” I called over my shoulder as I left the shop.
It was funny to have everyone at the shop teasing me about Irving. Usually, if we were joking around, they’d tease me for how much I carried on about my crushes. It was one of the reasons I was pretty confident there weren’t any lingering feelings between Irving and I. When I had a crush on someone, I would run my mouth about that person nonstop, and I hadn’t been obsessed with Irving.
Sure, I talked about him a lot, but it was because of our friendship. We’d be spending a lot of time together, especially since we got wrapped up in figuring out Brick’s story. It had struck me a few times that Irving could have just walked away from the whole thing, considering he didn’t work at Northstar. But the more time passed, the more I felt like we were a team, and the more I got the impression he felt the same way.
