Page 14 of A New Chapter

Chapter 8

It was almost five o’clock on Friday afternoon when Emma heard from Zack again. Kelly had just left the bookstore to go on another “hot date” with her poetry-reading boyfriend, and Brett would arrive soon to take over the evening shift. This time, Emma recognized the phone number on the display and answered, “Hi, Zack, what’s up?”

“Question. Don’t friends share their personal phone numbers so they don’t have to call each other at work?”

Emma smiled even though he couldn’t see her. “Yes, I believe we’ve graduated to sharing our personal numbers. When we hang up, I’ll send you a text from my cell phone, and then you’ll have it.”

“Whew, I’m glad I’ve moved up a notch on the friendship ladder.”

Emma’s grin stretched even wider. “So, is that all you called for?”

Brett walked in the door at that moment, and Emma smiled and waved when he approached the front counter. A young girl in the romance section glanced up at the same time and perused Brett from head to toe. Some women are so obvious, Emma thought and turned her attention back to the phone.

“Actually, I called to tell you that Gracie won’t be coming to story time tomorrow. Alicia’s taking her to a fair in Ann Arbor instead.”

“Oh, well, thanks for letting me know,” Emma replied and felt a wave of disappointment at the thought of not seeing them on Saturday.

“Since Gracie will be gone all day, I wondered if you would like to hang out with me when you get off work?”

Did he just say make out with me? No, you idiot, he said hang out! “What did you have in mind?”

Brett sat on a stool nearby and peered at Emma over the top of his stylish black-rimmed glasses. While he watched Emma, the girl in the romance section watched him, probably hoping to catch his eye.

“Well, I saw a banner in town advertising an arts and crafts show this weekend. Would that be of any interest to you?”

“Sure, I’d be interested, but I can’t believe that you would be.”

“Why not?”

“You just don’t seem like an artsy type of guy.”

Zack chuckled. “Ok, you caught me, but it was either that or a monster truck show, and I figured…”

“You figured right. I would have passed on the monster trucks.”

“See, I really am learning.”

“But does this mean I eventually have to go with you to one of those things?”

“Maybe. Isn’t that written on page eight of the friendship handbook?”

Emma’s loud laughter must have startled the girl in the romance section because the rather tall pile of books she had been holding toppled to the floor, and Brett gallantly rushed to her aid. The poor girl’s face turned bright red when Brett bent down to help her reassemble the books into a neat pile.

“Zack, I have to go. I’m working until two o’clock tomorrow, so what time do you want to pick me up?” Emma asked.

“Oh, more progress! You didn’t even ask if we should meet there.”

“What time Zack?” Emma repeated with feigned impatience.

“How about two-thirty?”

“Ok. See you then,” Emma replied and hung up. Brett carried the romance reader’s books up to the counter, and she trailed sheepishly behind him. The girl was probably eighteen years old, and she had the fresh look of youth on her side. Emma decided to make a hasty retreat in order for Brett to work his magic. Plus, he might be able to sell her a few more books while he was at it!

“Have a good evening, Brett. Call me if you need anything,” Emma said, and she gave romance girl an encouraging smile as she headed out the door.

The arts and crafts show was in full swing by the time Emma and Zack arrived in downtown Clarkston. Zack drove around the block a few times before they got lucky and found a decent parking spot. It was a comfortable seventy-degree day with clear skies, perfect for an outdoor festival. When Zack had picked her up, Emma thought he had looked particularly yummy (another one of Kelly’s descriptions) in his navy blue cargo shorts, gray t-shirt, and aviators. He sported a few days’ worth of scruff on his face that gave him that extra edge of true male hotness, and Emma had to remind herself not to stare.

She was dressed in her usual weekend attire: white skinny jeans, striped t-shirt, and Keds. She had let her hair dry naturally so that it fell in soft waves to her shoulders. After wearing a dress on their previous outing, Emma didn’t want Zack to think that she was trying to impress him. Today, she dressed like she would if she were going to the craft show with Kelly.