Page 129 of The Emma Special

“If you’re getting rid of the dusty rowing machine you stashed down there to die, I call first dibs.”

“You could just get a membership to the gym with me.”

Daniel kicked the door shut. “Don’t ever say that to me again. I’m not joining a sissy lawyer gym.”

James dropped his end of the couch. “I get it. You’re scared of Mason. I won’t tell.”

Daniel went boneless and collapsed onto the cushions. “This kinda smells. Like coffee shop, but also… something else.”

“A bunch of old grandmas is what Emma described.”

“That’s the one.” Daniel sat up and patted the seat next to him. “I like my granny though. She always smells like she just took something sweet out of the oven, so I guess this is okay.” Daniel patted the seat again, eyeing James to join him.

“I don’t want to sit on it.” His blue T-shirt with the sleeves cut out stuck to his front and back with sweat. He pulled up a dry-ish corner of the hem and wiped his face.

“You afraid you’ll get it dirty? That’s rich.” Daniel wiggled in the seat, rubbing his back and head all over the cushion.

James just shook his head. “You’re disgusting. Come on, let’s grab the rest. Then we’ll order pizza.”

The men walked back outside into the heavy afternoon air. The humidity was thick enough to swallow, and it was impossible to take a full breath.

“I can’t believe what you paid that guy to save this from the dump.” Daniel hopped into the back of his truck and began sliding the boxes of books toward James. “You know he’s robbing you.”

“Probably. He was in a mood, wasn’t he? It’s not good business to throw this out. If he wanted them gone so badly, why not post a sign first? The couch I understand he wanted to ditch, but I don’t regret what I paid.”

“Katie said the new guy was mean, and she wasn’t kidding.”

James hefted one box onto another. “Emma was in tears yesterday. Do you think he said something to her?”

“Slow down, speed racer. You look ready to attack. But, yeah, man. Doesn’t make sense. Why buy a coffee shop if you hate people?”

“If the Kiss and Tell Club ran the shop, they’d party every day. Confetti from the ceiling.”

Daniel scrunched his nose. “Gross. I think I’ll stick with Hookers and Honkey Fish, and if they change owners, maybe I’ll buy my girl her favorite booth.”

James stacked another box on top and eyed Daniel. “So, Katie is your girl now?”

“I didn’t say that. But if I had a girl, she’d have a favorite booth.”

James picked up the boxes and turned toward the house. “Call me when you need to help save her favorite jukebox from the dump too.”

They arranged the couch, two floor lamps, and the shelf to look similar to how it had been set up at Brews and Books. They threw the books up on the shelves as quickly as possible, in no particular order, and broke down the boxes. James wasn’t sure when Emma would be back, but he wanted the transformation to be complete before she saw it.

Daniel paused, a handful of novels in one hand. “I don’t think she’s going to need all of these books. Did they already read these?”

“I don’t care. She can do what she wants with them.”

“What do you think that guy paid for the building? I didn’t even know it was for sale and shazam, all the women be crying.”

“I don’t know. I know how to find out though.” James pushed himself to standing, leaving the flattened cardboard box against the wall.

Daniel shoved the books onto a shelf and slapped his hands together, sending dust swirling in the air. “Ooo! Is it secret backdoor hacking? I want to see your super powers.”

“It’s public record. Anybody has access to it.”

“Yeah, if they know where to look in the secret inter-web of entanglements.”

James sat at the desk in his room and opened the laptop. “Sure. Hey, get off. I don’t want your sweaty butt on my bed.”