Page 21 of Yearning Difficulties

‘Don’t get the books wet!’ one of them shrieked.

‘Sorry,’ I whispered.

George Brooks glanced up from his ancient computer and beamed at the sight of me. ‘Zella! How are you?’

‘I’m good, George,’ I said warmly. ‘Do you know Killian Bergery?’

‘I don’t,’ George said good-naturedly. ‘But look forward to doing so.’

Killian gave a small salute. ‘Nice to meet you. I’ve been in here a few times, I like it.’

‘Thank you. Volunteering for my festival next year, Zee?’ asked George hopefully.

‘Maybe,’ I said gingerly. I turned to fill Killian in. ‘I’ve volunteered for George’s summer Lake Pristine Book Festival for the past two years. You get a free yellow T-shirt, lunch every day and some great books. And a tote bag!’

‘This past summer wasn’t quite as dramatic as last year’s,’ Nick, one of the other booksellers, said airily.

‘I did hear about that one,’ Killian said. ‘We’d just moved to town. The famous actress?’

‘George’s daughter, Allegra Brooks,’ I said conspiratorially. ‘Before you say anything foolish.’

Killian’s eyes widened. ‘Wow. That’s . . . wow.’

‘Long story,’ George murmured, turning back to his computer.

Killian followed me as I started to browse. ‘Come here often with Dave the Grave?’

I laughed. ‘Killian!’

‘What? I’m genuinely asking.’

‘No, I didn’t.’

He made a small humming sound. ‘Not surprised. Books must give him hives.’

He laughed to himself but held his hands up in innocence when I glowered at him.

‘You shouldn’t make fun of people for being ignorant,’ I chastised.

‘Ah, Red, so you admit he’s stupid.’

‘Not stupid, ignorant.’

‘But he’s the worst kind of ignorant,’ Killian said. ‘He’s a rich trust-fund kid who has the entire world at his fingertips. Can learn anything he wants. Be anything he wants. And he still chooses ignorance. That’s the worst kind of person.’

‘I’m ignoring you now.’

He didn’t push me any further. Instead, every time I read the blurb of a book and studied it, he would pick it up and carry it.

As we wandered, I noticed Claire Monk regarding the two of us while she browsed the poetry section. She was in our year and the sight of Killian and I together was proving very interesting to her. Her friend was saying something to her but Claire only had eyes for us.

Killian caught her looking at us and offered Claire a nod of acknowledgement. To my amusement, she blushed and turned away.

‘Thanks again for last night,’ I said to him as we continued to move through the shop.

‘Not a problem.’

‘How was your mum after I left?’ I asked him, as I scanned the back of a historical fantasy hardback.