Page 132 of Make Me Laugh

The next stop ends up being an independently owned romance only bookstore I’ve never heard of.

When we walk in, the girl behind the counter gives a friendly smile. “Hi, welcome to—oh my god, you’re Hex, and you’re West Parker.” Her expression changes to shock as she jumps from the stool. “Holy shit, hi.” She comes out from behind the counter. She’s a tiny thing with a pink pixie cut. “I’m the owner, B.”

The bookstore has a few shoppers in it, their attention shifting to me and West.

We meet in the middle and shake her hand. “This place is amazing,” I express with a smile I can’t wipe away.

I look around, admiring the stacked cases with all types of subgenres. Fantasy, sports, dark, fluffy. I gotta show West what a monster romance is while we’re here…

The place isn’t the typical pink and frilly romance bookstore. B might be dressed in florals and look like a garden fairy, but her bookstore doesn’t. The walls are dark green like most of mine at home, and the decor has a gothic academia vibe to it.

This is the moody bookstore of my dreams. “I wish I could say it was my idea to visit, but this was all West.”

“My social media girl was tickled when you followed the store last month. We saw you were on tour here this week and kinda hoped it meant you’d come in,” B tells us.

Last month? How long has West had today planned? I assumed Frankie told him about my birthday, but now I’m not so sure. We chat for a few more minutes before she excuses herself to answer the phone.

West and I walk the stocked ebony wood shelves. “Read that.” I point at a few books individually. “That one too.” We pass a stack of one of my favorite series. “Got the shattered mirror on my calf for that series. She’s cursed to die, and he’s forced to kill her.”

I show him monster and alien romance next. He flips through a few pages, jaw dropping when he skims a spicy tentacle scene. “Now those alien dildos make sense.” I can tell he’s taking notes, mentally jotting down all the things he’s going to try to do to me next.

A girl comes up, shyly saying hello and asking if she can get a picture with me, giving a few more people the courage to come up and say hi too. I’m learning to step out of my comfort zone, to make sure I’m giving these people—Hex’s fans… my fans, the version of me they deserve. I don’t want to fuck up their perception of the witch who got them into reading.

Wow. I have fans. I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to that.

I pause and look around, taking in what my life has become in two month’s time. I can’t say every single moment has been perfect, because that’s not realistic, but when I think of it as a whole, my life is infinitely better than it was before I joined West on tour.

I’m finding myself, learning who this newest version is more and more every day. I don’t know her yet, but one day I will. I stepped way outside of my comfort zone, and the world didn’t crash and burn to pieces… I still worry my heart might though, especially when I see West chatting with a few of the guys who’d come in with their partners. I love how kind he is to everyone he meets, making people feel welcome no matter who they are.

“Do you think I can get a birthday picture?” Someone from behind me interrupts my thoughts. Their voice makes me hesitate, because holy shit, they sound like…

When I turn, I find Frankie running in place, ready to explode with excitement as her cute new bob bounces at her shoulders.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” I gasp, wrapping Frankie in a hug.

She squeezes me tight, like it’s been three years and not three weeks since we’ve seen each other. “I called West last week to tell him it was your birthday today, but he already had most of this planned. Then I might have cried when I told him this was our first one apart since we were tiny baby infants.” Frankie sure has a way with words. I laugh as she continues. “He bought my flight cause I’m an unemployed loser.”

I haven’t told Frankie about the job yet—even though I’ve already accepted the position. I think it’s because I’m not ready to see someone excited about me coming back to my “real life.” Not when it means leaving the man who’d planned an entire day full of all my favorite things and flew my best friend in as the cherry on top…

We meet up with Kell and Enzo for dinner at a Ramen place with an impressive collection of pinball machines. After a few hours there, trying to top Kell’s high score and failing, we end up back at the house, playing board games until well after my birthday’s over.

Enzo’s the first to go to bed, followed by Kell and then West not long after.

Before he leaves, he comes up behind me on the couch and ruffles my hair. “You’ve officially outlasted the twenty-somethings. I guess age really is just a number.”

Frankie lobs a pillow at him, and I stare down the hall too long after he disappears.

“Oh no,” she whispers, staring at me with a knowing smile.

“What?” I ask accusingly.

“You like him.” Her grin grows. “A lot.”

I puff a frustrated sigh. “It’s not…” Frankie’s raised brow makes me forget whatever lie I was going to tell. “This is all your fault.”

Frankie pretends to cackle like an evil villain. “My plan is working. Free comedy shows for life!”

I should tell her about the job at Hell & Hollow, and I should tell her that I’m falling in love with West, but I don’t do either of those things, and a few seconds later, she yawns, her eyes watering like they always do. She stands up and stretches. “Okay, I’m done.” She bends down and gives me a quick hug. “I’m going to sleep in the extra room so you don’t have to sneak into bed with me after you leave West’s.”