Page 72 of Dandelions and Smoke

RORY

After breakfast and a bit of dissociation from this morning’s heavy topics of conversation, we stop at Cozy Pines Publishing so that I can check out their new indie author hauls and pick this month’s book for ‘Framily Bookclub’. Last time I got to choose, I went with a firefighter romance, and now everyone knows why. Today the bookstore-and-publishing house is hosting local vendors, and I’m especially excited to check out the goodies that PVT Artistry and Well Read Candle Company are selling.

“Shut up and tell me this isn’t the cutest thing you’ve ever seen!” I squeal, holding the books-and-tea fidget keychain that Chief’s buying me up to the camera for Lettie, Hannah, and Abby to all admire over FaceTime.

I squeeze his arm even tighter as he grins down at me. I wasn’t in here for more than five minutes before my hand basket became heavier than I am. I finally understand why the girls always make sure to bring the guys on bookstore days.

“It’s so cute!” Hannah beams, pressing herself closer to the screen to get a better look.

“Imagine if the guys had those to play with instead of their⁠—”

“Lettie!” we all shout, cutting her off.

I get a few looks from nearby shoppers, but I ignore them.

“Ay. I was going to say sticks,” a very pregnant Lettie chirps.

“Sure you were,” Abby quips sarcastically.

Once they’ve helped me decide between the cowgirl and the single-dad romance books for our book club, we say our goodbyes, and I browse the aisles with Chief as my personal shopping assistant. A few minutes pass as I read the backs of several different books and try to narrow down which ones to get before throwing them all into the basket with a huff.

Chief laughs. “I don’t know why you even bothered.”

I smirk and shake my head because he’s right. He knows better than anyone how fast I run through books once I hyperfocus. There have been days when I’ve spent hours hanging out in his office while he works and I read. By the time he’s finished his shift, I’ve finished my book and am on to the next.

“I think it’s really cool, by the way, how you’re a part of all these different friend groups,” he says with unexpected appreciation.

“What do you mean?” I tilt my head, turning toward him as I smell one of Well Read Candle Company’s candles that has me transported right back to the Cozy Pines Cafe. “Ooo, this smells like coffee.”

I hold the candle out for him to smell, and he nods as I place three in the cart.

“It’s uncanny,” he declares, partially to amuse me. “And what I mean is, most people only have one group of friends that they stick to, but not you. You’re like the glue that brings all these friend groups together.”

I consider what he’s saying and realize he’s got a point. I’m like some common denominator.

“What’s that face for?” he asks, raising a brow.

I don’t notice my pinched expression until he points it out, but now that I’m caught, I’m forced to say out loud the thought that crossed my mind.

“I was wondering if that puts me on the inside or the outside. If I’m someone who brings others together when they’re already whole, does being the glue mean no one really needs me?” I shrug, not sure why my thoughts have gotten away from me and are choosing self-deprecation as their route of distraction instead of shopping.

“I think you already know the answer to that, but in case you need to hear it,” Chief sets the basket down on the shelf beside him and wraps his arms around me. “I need you.”

With Chief holding me tightly, my nervous system is forced to get a grip and regulate before I completely self-destruct with self-doubt. Breathing him in, I melt into his embrace. The smell of sun-warmed cotton and sharp bergamot envelops me, leaving me feeling weightless and completely overwhelmed all at once.

“Come on,” he says into the top of my head. “Let’s go home so I can show you how much.”

I tilt my head up, and the look he gives me is impossible to misinterpret. Quickly, I head to the register to check out. As I fumble with his credit card under the intensity of his darkened gaze, a crooked smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. Handing it back to him with a look that screams, Behave, we make it two steps toward the door before the cashier calls, “Come again.”

“She will,” Chief fires back.

I snort, laughter bursting out of me before I can stop it.

Once we’re back at his place, he’s a man of his word. We stay in bed the rest of the day, tangled in each other, in between watching all of my favorite movies that I’ve seen hundreds of times. After watching The Princess Bride, it’s time to pick the next movie. With a wide smile on his face, he turns on Pretty Woman.

“Aw, you remembered,” I coo, fluttering my eyes as I bounce on the bed.

After half-watching and half-fooling around, I push Chief aside and shush him as my favorite part of the movie unfolds.