Page 32 of A Bookish Story

I take a copy from the display. “I think I’ll give this a read.”

“You’ll love it. It’s funny, too. I love my books to have a good balance of funny and tragic. There’s plenty of both.” She walks away with a smile and a finger wave.

The middle-aged woman follows her to the register with a book.

“What a nice lady,” Ryan says. “Get her name, would you? I’d like to put her in my will.”

“High praise for a book that doesn’t have an ending.” I tuck the book in my arms.

“I’m going to buy it.”

“No, you’re not. You’ve already read it and have dozens of copies available. Put it back.”

“Nope. I’m buying it.”

“Buy something else. Someone who needs the sale.” He waves his arm to indicate all the books surrounding us.

“You are rather dominating the square footage here. I’m sorry, are we feeling a tad guilty?” I cock my head. “Poor wittle bestselling author.”

“We’re not feeling anything at all. We’re thinking it’s time to leave now.” He reaches for my elbow.

“Not until I buy this book.”

“I can get you as many copies as you’d like in case two dozen isn’t enough,” he hisses.

“That’s not the same thing and you know it. I’m the face of this book. There’s an experience here I’m not going to deny myself.”

“Put it back, and that’s an order.”

“An order?” I snort. “Don’t you even dare.”

He straightens, taking his height advantage. “I’m still your employer.”

“And we’re not at work. I don’t take orders after hours.”

“You don’t take them during work hours.”

Seriously, just because I wouldn’t go back to get his coffee order right, or immediately jump when he gives me an assignment. The point is, I always get to it.

Now I pull on the book, and he pulls back.

Like we’re children, for several minutes, we grapple over the book. Every time he tugs on it, he brings me a little closer, which is not entirely a bad thing. For one thing, he smells like leather and sunshine.

“This is ridiculous.” He smiles through gritted teeth.

I’m about to agree because people are beginning to stare. They have probably never seen two grown adults haggling over a book when there are so many of them. I let him have it, then grab another one. He tries to take that one, too.

I give him a little half-hearted kick in the shins. “Give. Me. This. Book.”

He lets go of the book because maybe he’s also noticed that we’ve definitely attracted some undesired attention. Unfortunately, due to my kick, I lose my balance. I try to regain said balance by grabbing on to the tower of books on the display, not a good idea. Books, as much as they add to the richness of our lives, aren’t intended to hold the weight of a human being.

The display goes down, scattering copies everywhere.

“Look what you made me do!” I’m laughing but set the book down and start to pick up all the others.

“You’re ridiculous. This wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t tried to kick me,” he says, chuckling and shaking his head.

“This wouldn’t have happened if you’d just let me buy the damn book.”