“Hot,” Vienne remarks.
“Very,” I say. “And he subverts the nerdy book guy trope by being jacked as all hell. We’re talking muscles on muscles. He asks thoughtful questions to make sure I know why I want to do certain things, like when I started the book club.” I gesture absently at Gillian’s abandoned book. “And when I had a panic about cookies, he invited me over to bake and even provided these special, fancy ingredients, even though he likes plain food. He bought me one of the most thoughtful gifts I’ve ever received. He completely ignored the fact that I said he can make women come, because he knew I was embarrassed. He’s nice, but also kind, and he really loves his cat.” It all comes tumbling out of me in a tipsy flood.
“Wow, you’ve got it bad, babe,” Maggie says.
I drop my head to the bar. “I know,” I mumble. I reach over and steal one of her cheese sticks.
“What are you doing here with us, then?” Maggie says. “I’m gonna eat these things and then go home and crash.Youneed to go get your man.”
“Agreed,” the other two say in unison.
Maybe they’re right. I told him I wanted to take it slow, but slow is killing me. Why did I ever think I wanted to do that?
If I hadn’t opted for slow, I could be fucking himright now.
To hell with the elves. It’s time for me to have sex.
I nod to the gals and text him to let him know that I’m done with drinks, but he doesn’t answer. After a few minutes, I actually call him, but it goes to voicemail. I hang out until Maggie finishes her giant snack, and when I still haven’t heard from Spenser, I walk home, feeling a little dejected.
Scratch that. Not dejected.
Rejected.
JULIET
Things have been weird ever since the night Spenser didn’t text me back. He was distant at work during our next shift, and out of nowhere, he changed the schedule, putting me on mornings with Agnes, giving Jin my old shift.
A couple days ago, I poked my head in his office to ask him about it, but he said he was busy and makes schedules according to the needs of the store.
That’s bullshit, because mornings are slow and Agnes and Jin have always had it covered. The store does notneedme in the mornings.
Something is up.
I’m fidgety today, all confused and sexually frustrated. If Jin were here, I’d at least have someone to gossip with. Agnes is sitting behind the counter, reading a new spy novel, and while I know better than to interrupt her, I can’t help it. “Have you noticed that Spenser is acting strangely?”
“Mmph,” she grunts.
I plow on. “He’s barely said two words to me in the last week. That’s weird, right? And what’s with the new schedule?”
“Dunno,” she mutters.
“Come on, you must have noticed.”
Agnes sighs and sets her book down very deliberately. “You got an issue with Spenser, talk to him about it. I got no idea about the schedule or anything else. Now, unless you’re a paying customer, stop interrupting me.” She picks the book back up.
“Agnes, that is spectacularly unhelpful.”
“Good,” she says without looking up.
I glance around the store. It’s quiet, and she can handle any customers who need help. I march to the stairwell and up to Spenser’s apartment, giving the door a determined knock. It takes a moment before he opens it.
He stands before me in a white muscle shirt, gray shorts, and a sheen of sweat. I have definitely caught him in the middle of a workout. I’d like to stare, but I can’t afford to get distracted.
“Hey,” I say. “Can we talk?”
He doesn’t step back from the door. “Now’s not really a great time.”
“Oh,” I say, taken aback. Other than the debacle with the moth window display, I don’t think he’s ever told me no before. And that doesn’t really count, considering I didn’t ask. “Later, then?”
