Page 29 of Library or Lattes?

“Pop, no, don’t …”

“This is such a huge opportunity for you!”

“It’s only an opportunity if it’s something I want.” I said it too quickly and realized my mistake at once. I’d forgotten I was sitting next to the person who knew me better than anyone, even better than Lennie.

“Just promise me you’ll look into it. Give the attorney’s office a call and talk things through, see what’s what.” Pop’s blue eyes glistened in the firelight.

“What’s what is that I’ll make us hot chocolate and we can watch a show instead.”

All week I’d found myself thinking about James. When I remembered his sad eyes, my hand in his, I gave myself that rush of electricity all over again. But after the last nerve danced up my spine, leaving a smile on my face, I’d remember April. The girlfriend. Fiancée. Whatever.

Lennie jumped on me in the hallway at school that Friday. “Whatcha doin’?”

“Not much,” I said, snapping into reality.

“Well, guess what?” Lennie was clearly about to burst with her own news.

“What?”

“I mean, you can totally say no and it would be fine. Like I won’t be offended at all, and I’d completely respect your opinion, but …”

“Len! Just say it!” I told her.

“Sara asked if I wanted to go get pizza with her … tonight.”

Lennie clamped her hand over her mouth so I could only see her sparkling eyes.

“Oh my God, really?” This was big for her. I hugged her tight.

“But it’s Friday. Movie night …” Lennie looked at me sadly.

It hadn’t even occurred to me. “Len, come on. We can have movie night anytime. We could have Tuesday movie night for all I care.”

Lennie looked relieved. “Thanks, Will, you’re the best. What will you do instead? Hopefully not hang with your pop … I mean as cool as Mike Taylor is, it’s a bit tragic hanging out with an old man on a Friday night.”

“I’ll tell him you said that,” I laughed. But even I knew my laugh sounded forced. Friday-night movies were our thing, and this was the first time we’d ever canceled for someone else. I didn’t mind, of course I didn’t. I was excited for Lennie, but it kind of just highlighted the lack of romance in my life.

“Oh my God, you could ask out Carter? Avery and Krista are literally dying with jealousy that he’s so into you.” Lennie laughed.

“He is not! He’s just being friendly. Oak Falls manners, remember.” I laughed too. Then James came uninvited into my head again, making my stomach flip. “I might just go to the Little Acorn. James and I had a look at the accounts last week.”

“Oh, James and I,” Lennie teased. “I suggested the wrong hot guy …”

As it turned out, Pop wasn’t even at home that night, since he was out on a complicated job.

So I did put on my black duffel coat and my green scarf to walk to the Little Acorn. I had my own keys and planned to spend the evening looking through the accounts after it closed at six.

But it was almost eight now, and the lights were still on. When I opened the door, the soft yellow lamps and the orange glow from the string lights welcomed me in. I was thankful for the heat that blasted my face after the fall chill.

“Hello?” I called, closing and locking the door behind me.

“Red?” I heard from somewhere in the back.

“I don’t know who that is,” I said, grinning even though he couldn’t see me.

James walked out in blue jeans and a green T-shirt. I genuinely had to steady myself against the doorframe as a rush of heat swept over me. He looked like he’d just come from some casting call for jocks, the way his hair swept to one side and part of his shirt was stuck in his belt.

“What are you doing here?” But the way he said it made me think he was pleased.