"I’ll keep that in mind.”
She bagged the books before handing them across the counter.
“Thank you for supporting independent bookstores,” Nina said sincerely. “Have a wonderful day.”
“You too, it was nice meeting you.”
After the customer left, Nina stepped out from behind the register.
Where the hell was Ephrem?
He never abandoned the floor when customers were inside.
She looked toward the reading lounge.
Nothing.
The café area was empty.
She started down the Cooking and Nonfiction aisle, preparing to call his name when she saw that the office door slightly ajar.
She waited for Ephrem to walk out but instead the door opened wider and to her surprise Cairo, Jio’s little cousin walked out of his office.
What the hell is he doing here?she questioned.
The bookstore served as their meet-up spot a few times if they were headed to dinner or a fashion show, but she wasn’t aware that he’d become friends with Ephrem, and if so, why hadn’t anyone said anything to her about it? Nina didn’t wantto jump to any conclusions. Ephrem followed him out and said, “Call me when it’s over… good luck.”
Cairo was dressed up today in a very nice suit. She assumed he was headed to an interview.
“I will.”
“You better.”
Cairo laughed before slipping his sunglasses onto his face. In the corner of his eye, he saw Nina coming out of the shadow which caused his smile to fade.
“What you doing here girl?” he asked her as if this was his best friend’s shit and not the other way around.
She looked toward Ephrem before answering. “I bought my best friend a gift.”
“What did you get me?” His entire face lit up.
Nina cocked her head. The look she gave him was full of bewilderment.
“It’s up there.”
The moment felt very interesting and the energy shifting confirmed her thought. They headed to the front and she reached behind the counter.
“Here honey.” She handed him a small gift bag and Ephrem accepted it with the excitement of a child on Christmas morning. She’d never seen him be so giddy before, it was shocking.
Cairo announced that he was about to slide. “I need to get going.”
“You don’t have to leave. I’m about to go anyway,” Nina let him know.
“Nah.” He pointed toward the door.
“I got somewhere to be.”
She watched him disappear through the front entrance before turning back toward Ephrem.
