Page 52 of Checking Out the Librarian

“Get all the way out,” she grumbled while she unsnapped the container lid.

Jonathan’s memory filled with images of Connor doing the reverse: pulling a cookie jar, a white ceramic one decorated with vintage black and white images of men fencing, from the back of the counter and transferring as many cookies as he could fit into this repurposed plastic container.

The man sent a hookup away with cookies.

Maybe hookup wasn’t even the right word anymore and it had only been two nights, two nights and two mornings. Maybe words were losing meaning.

“Ohmigod, these are delicious. So good. Did I say thank you?”

“I expect you to save two for me.” Jonathan lifted his third coffee of the day from his desk while he considered how to phrase his disclosure. “So. Connor and I are going on a picnic on Saturday.”

Lily coughed out a piece of cookie but caught it in her hand. Jonathan had to look away.

“A picnic? You”—she pointed at him far more dramatically than the information merited—“YOU are going to sit on the ground?”

Her look of disbelief encompassed his tan linen trousers, sky blue socks decorated with smiling cloud emojis, and buff suede loafers. If he were more truthful, he’d admit that he didn’t have a specific summer wardrobe, especially since the library was a steady temperature year-round, but this morning he hadn’t felt like his usual black, gray and white work clothing staples.

“The ground is dirty, you know that, right?”

“I assume there will be a blanket or chairs.”

“You’re going to eat with your fingers?”

“Cutlery is portable. And I do eat finger foods with my fingers. I do. Give me one of my own cookies back and I’ll demonstrate.”

She clutched the container to her chest with the hand that didn’t have her second treat. “Ohmigod. A picnic. Where?”

“I’m not telling, because then you’ll show up and mock me. Because you have no life, like you said. So no, my lips are sealed.”

“What’s bringing this on? This new Jonathan? I think I like him, but where did he spring from?”

“I’m cosplaying as a better person.” He’d achieved everything else at this point, so maybe he could also have a significant other. That seemed like a more fit description of what he could aspire to than boyfriend or partner, which he wasn’t even sure he wanted, or at least not until he’d unlocked some higher level of functioning-person status. He wasn’t fixed enough to be someone else’s partner yet, but maybe if he processed a bit more parental trauma drama, he could be.

I don’t have to be perfect. I just have to be Jonathan. He could probably handle a low-key significant other.

Connor was clearly the opposite of low-key.

“Good for you, I support you. Now, moving on, the important question remains.”

“Which is?” Jonathan would not adopt Connor’s habit of saying ‘what.’

“What are you going to wear?”

“I hadn’t considered that yet.” He’d focused on a lightning-fast changeover to get to work, and until this moment had been trying to not focus on the picnic. Which was a third date.

Ish. Date-ish thing.

Who was he kidding.

It was a date. A third date. A real date, with a nice man who made no attempt to hide his interest.

“Oh, we will be talking about what to wear, Jonathan, we will.” Lily’s grin was the evidence of yet another evil person on this day smiling over Jonathan’s miseries, that’s what she was, not a friend, definitely not assistance in his time of need.

“I could bring over wine, and we could go through your closet?”

“No!” She couldn’t come over. He kept the good bicycle inside, his bar stools were basic big-box pine junk that clashed horrifically with his Mid-Century Modern couch, and the overall vibe made even his few nice things look worthless. His apartment wasn’t ready for guests. He wasn’t ready.

“No problem.” She made a calm-down gesture, almost like petting the air, with her empty hand. “Just an offer.”