I legit find a Taylor Jenkins Reid next to a stack of Matt Dinniman, which is flanked by Richard Osman and Grant Ginder. It’s utter chaos.
The other is that Niall has curated a wonderful selection of books. I recognize a number of titles I personally recommended he carry as I walk from shelf to shelf.
Wait, does that sign sayA Danny Diamond?
The sign hangs under a copy of Jennifer Niven’sHolding Up the Universe. I find similar signs under several of theHeartstoppertitles and the full collection of Jeff Zentner. Each gives a brief description of the book, a quote, and if it has won any awards.
I find the signs sprinkled around the store, and it dawns on me that he created them for either all the books I’m covering this semester, or other recommendations I’ve given him over FaceTime.
It’s kinda sweet.
I’m moving some books around when I feel a presence looming over me. “I didn’t realize I hired new staff.” I look up to find Niall smiling at me, holding out a coffee.
I take it from him, smelling the aroma of hazelnut. “I need you to explain this table over here.” I pick up my bags and bring him back to the chaos table.
“This is the table where I put my recommendations. Like the owner’s reads of the month, something like that.”
I point to one of theA Danny Diamondsigns. “So, you took the time to hang all of those, but you didn’t think to have a sign to explain this table?”
“Hasn’t stopped anyone from buying them before,” Niall murmurs under his breath, shuffling the books around. He takes a look at my bags. “Did you push the whole shelf of Cadbury into your bag? Literally deprive all of Dublin’s many children?”
“Keep it up and I won’t share any.” I slowly take out bar by bar to show him what I got. His eyes light up as I pull out my Mint Crisp and he snags it out of my hand. “Cheers!” He darts back to the register, to help a few people having queued since he came over.
I walk behind the line and check out his bakery case. The case is mostly picked over, but I notice some of the items we’ve discussed in the case. Cherry lemon poppyseed cake, Toblerone cookies, barmbrack, An assortment of scones and your other typical bakery fare.
“What do you fancy?” Niall lingers behind the bakery case, his gloved hand pointing to the top row. His eyes run over the options, stopping at the poppyseed cake. “I’m guessing this.”
It’s exactly what I would have chosen.
When I take a bite of it, I realize two things. That cherry and lemon are an underrated combination. The second is that this is, by far, the best poppyseed anything I’ve ever had in my life.
“Niall. What the fuck.”
The woman to my left looks at me, then at the case. “I’ll take the last two of those.”
***
Later on, I’m sitting down to a steak and cheese sand—no, toastie, when my phone buzzes.
One Direction:All ready for your first day of school tomorrow?
One Direction:You have all your notebooks and pens
One Direction:What do you call it? Brown bagged lunch?
One Direction: I could walk you over so you don’t get lost.
I smile at the sentiment, and how ridiculous it is.
Daniel:I think I should manage. Or at least attempt it
Daniel:I’ll call you if I end up in London or something accidentally
One Direction:Make it a text, yeah? Bit early for a call
One Direction:Also that’s literally impossible to just end up in London
One Direction:They sure dodged a bullet not putting you in the Geography department
