He chuckled.“Yeah.I remember that much.”
My head snapped up.
His smirk faltered.
“You bringing up the past,” I said sharply, “doesn’t make forgiving you come any faster.”
His hands went up in surrender.“Last time.Scout’s honor.”
“You were never a scout.”
“Okay, trouble.Criminal’s honor.”
Despite myself, a tiny laugh escaped me.He looked far too proud of pulling it out of me.
He waved a hand at the books on the table.“What's all this anyway?”
“I was doing a case study before you rudely interrupted,” I told him, taking another sip of the coffee before setting it down.“But you brought me this, so I'll let it drop.”
“Note to self, bring Savannah coffee anytime you piss her off.Got it.”He smirked.
“Already planning on making me mad isn't something to be proud of,” I countered, rolling my eyes and shifting my focus back to the books.“Now go away.I have a case to finish.”
“I like having a failsafe.You know, just in case.But if you would rather me think of other ways to—”
I threw my pen at him and he laughed too loud, dodging out the way.His reaction earned us an evil eye from the guy two tables down.
“Be quiet!”I scolded, my voice diving to a whisper.
Chuckling under his breath, he got up for my pen before handing it to me and taking his seat again.
“Don't you have better things to do?Go… draw a tattoo or something.”
“I just came from a client, actually.Figured since I was already on this side of the bridge, I'd see what mischief mygirlfriendwas up to.”
“Thisrelationshipwill end sooner than you think if you get me kicked out of the library.”
“You won't get kicked out.”
“You don't know the librarian like I do.”
Mr.Downey has been at Kingsview for just over a year now, and he was as strict as they came when it came to orderly conduct.He reveled in peace and quiet, which was probably why I'd never had any issues with him.
“If you think I'm bad, you should go date him.See how well that goes for you.”
Then, mid-conversation, he tilted his head, studying me like he could hear the static inside my brain.
“What are you doing later?”he asked.
I blinked.“What?”
“What are you doing later?”he repeated, slower this time.
“I—why?”I asked, the question coming out flatter than I intended.
He took a lazy sip of his coffee, eyes locked on mine over the rim.“Because I’m asking you out.”
My stomach dropped.Not in a romantic way—more like an elevator free-falling.
