Page 183 of Checking Out the Librarian

You’re purr fact

Not a typo!!!

NGL a typo but I liked it

Lily plunked a full tea mug on Jonathan’s desk, and some sloshed onto the surface. He glared at her, but her flat stare went between him and the wall clock.

“Okay, I’m sorry I’ve been ignoring my lunch buddy. You’re right. But tea? Tea?”

“You looked real thirsty.” She stretched her sarcasm into at least ten syllables. “And I clearly don’t have the strong stuff you want, so you’ll have to suffer through my tea.”

He waited two beats, but then he couldn’t help it and cackled. “You are so bad at this. So bad. Thirsty? What I want? Ohmigod, did you even play sports if that is your trash talk game?”

“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes. “That was not trash talk.”

He pulled a tissue from the box on the corner of his desk and started to blot the spilled tea. “It certainly was not.”

“So, dinner tonight? At your place?” She was intent on collecting on the second promised dinner. She’d seen inside his apartment when she helped take the dresser to Connor’s, and the world hadn’t ended.

He’d scooped the litter box this morning and also vacuumed, so he might as well agree and end the torture.

Also, he owed her infinitely more because she’d swapped days off with him so that he could go see Connor and then found someone from the Bethel branch to also trade a day off.

“Can we do Korean? I sort of want some japchae.” Lily wouldn’t judge him. Well, she would, but for things he deserved, like why a librarian organized his books by color rather than alphabetically by author last name.

“What about a movie as well?” In the gap after Lily’s question, her lips formed a freshly painted curve.

Right, the HVAC guy was due today, thus the glossy bright-berry smack she’d applied and the hair loosened around her face. “I have to pack. And shop for a hostess gift for Connor’s mom, and⁠—”

“I’ll help! You have lists?” She looked like one of those Willie Wonka kids faced with infinite candy, but not the good one. “I’ve seen you making lists.”

“That’s all I have.” He was more than slightly panicking.

She nodded several times. “We’ll do this. We’ll shop and then take dinner to your place and I’ll be your fashion consultant.”

Lord, no.

“We were on track until that last idea.”

Jonathan

I found jeans that scream “ranch” instead of “look at this ass.”

They suck but I bought them

Do I also need boots?

Connor

My old ones from middle school are around here somewhere. They’ll fit

Jonathan

Smug bastard

Connor

Also bring both jeans so I can choose