“It didn’t sound that way. I swear. It seemed like you knew where the boundaries were and were trying to find a way to repay him.”
“Yes, or maybe I’m just tired.”
“You’re allowed to be. Now, you have thirty minutes left on your shift. Let’s go figure out which books you’re adding to your pile, and then we can finish setting up the final display.”
“I don’t know what I’d do for books if I didn’t work in a bookstore,” I said drily. There was always the library, which I adored and used often, but sometimes I loved the luxury of choice.
“You know, that’s what I tell myself about owning one. As it is, Storm won’t let me buy any more bookshelves for the house.”
“That’s sacrilege!”
“Not when there’s a bookshelf on every wall in my house, and there’s physically no room. However, he’s thinking about building me a she-shed just for books.”
I nearly swooned. “That’s romance. True love.”
“Don’t I know it. Now, let’s pick out your books.”
We started up to the front as Miley waved us down. “Nessa, these flowers were delivered for you when you were in the back. A customer was here, so I couldn’t call you.”
“What?” I asked, confused.
Everly leaned forward. “Oh. Maybe it’s the man-boy.”
“Please stop calling him that. And I thought it was boy-man.”
“I don’t know. I’m making things up as I go along. So, who’re they from?”
I frowned and looked at the yellow roses mixed with daisies. It was an odd arrangement that seemed happy. I looked at the card and stared at the two women. “I’ve no idea who they would be from.”
“No dates?”
I frowned, shook my head. “One sort of recently. But it didn’t work out, and we both agreed on it being the end.”
“All right. Well, read the card.” Everly tilted her head, studying me.
I pulled the little card out of the envelope and sighed.
Thinking of you. I hope you’re having a good day. —Dad.
I blinked. “It’s from my dad,” I said, frowning. “Why would he spend money on flowers?”
“It was a sweet gesture.” I could hear the hesitancy in Everly’s voice.
“Maybe. Only Dad doesn’t need to spend money on flowers.”
“Thank him. He’s probably having a stressful time, just like you are. Maybe he needed to do something to make you smile.”
I leaned forward, sniffing the roses and the daisies. “I guess so. Although, Dad should know that yellow is my least favorite color. Not that I don’t love him and these,” I said with a laugh. “Of course, it’s Dad. Sometimes those details slip his mind.”
“That’s guys for you.” Everly shook her head.
“Not your guy.” Miley smiled. “Storm knows all about you.”
“He truly does,” I agreed.
Everly clasped her hands against her chest and sighed. “Yes, I’m lucky. One day, you’ll be lucky, too. Though, I will say you are already lucky because your father is sending you flowers to make you happy. Don’t think about the cost. You’re allowed to splurge on happy things.”
“Yes, let me text him a thank you, and then we’ll get back to the display.”
Everly waved me off. “No, text him and then take those flowers home. I know you have homework to do.”
“I do,” I said with a smile. “Seriously, they are cute.”
“And happy,” Miley agreed.
I sniffed the blooms again and quickly pulled out my phone.
Me: Thank you, I love you.
Dad: I love you too.
No more words were needed. I shook my head, packed up my things, and carefully got my flowers out to my car. I buckled them in, grateful for the square base, and made my way home. I had to go over my paper, and I wanted to look at the homework I planned to work through with Miles when he got there the next day.
It would be a long night, but I was used to them. It was college, after all.
I also needed to start looking at financial aid for next semester and investigating other financial avenues. I needed to go to grad school for certain parts of my future dreams. And I would need to get loans to help me through it.
I didn’t think working at a bookstore near another university would cut it. I had the applications for grad schools all over my desk, ready to be filled out. I just wasn’t there yet. Even though everything was online, I still printed out what I could so I could make a to-do list. It was just a little too much, and I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do.
I pulled into the driveway and parked off to the side, grateful that I was home. I got out of the car and nearly ran into a large body. I looked up and froze.
“Xander?”
“Hey. I was just walking by on the way to a friend’s and thought I’d say hi.”
Something tingled at the back of my neck but I shrugged it off. I didn’t know why he was here. Even if it seemed odd, I didn’t want to make things weird—even though it felt strange.
“I didn’t know you knew where I lived,” I said slowly.
He held up his hands. “One of my friends lives across the way there.” He pointed at one of the larger homes where I knew some students lived. “I saw you one day. Totally not stalking,” he said with an awkward laugh.
“That’s...great?” Things hadn’t been awkward when neither of us had offered to go on another date after our last one. Now, they sure as hell felt strange.
“It’s good to see you, Nessa. You look great.”
“Hmm.” I didn’t like the look in his eyes, but I wasn’t sure what to say. “I have homework to do, and I just got off work. It’s nice to see you, Xander.”
His eyes warmed, and I knew I probably had said the wrong thing. “It is nice to see you, too. I know we didn’t get to firm up any plans for our next date, but I figured since I’m here, why not?”
This was definitely awkward now. We were not on the same page, and I had no idea how to get out of this. I’d never let anyone down before. It wasn’t like I’d ever been dumped. Things had just fizzled out naturally. Or didn’t fizzle at all, like with Pacey.
“Xander...” I began.
His shoulders fell. “It’s like that, is it?”
“You’re a nice guy.”
He sighed. “Nice guy. Nice guy. It’s always the nice guy. I may be nice, but I can be bad, too. Or maybe that’s not what you want. Do you want the sizzle? We didn’t get that good kiss. You can’t just dump me without kissing me.”
Alarm shot up my spine. “Xander, I can’t dump you because we weren’t even dating.”
“We were dating. We went on two dates. Dating. Went. On. Dates. That’s what it’s called.”
“Xander. I’m sorry. I don’t want to say it’s not you, it’s me, but I’m not in a good place for a relationship right now.”
Could I put any more cliches out there? I really wanted to go inside, but he wasn’t going to let me. At least, not right now.
“I just think that you need to see what you’re missing. And then you’ll understand.” Before I could take a breath, his hands were on my shoulders, and his lips were plastered to mine. He pushed me back against the car. I froze, not knowing what to do. He forced his tongue into my mouth, and I screamed, pushing him back.