Page 155 of Safe With You

“I’ve got invoices calling my name.”

“They can wait,” I told her.

“They’ve been waiting since yesterday.”

“Exactly. They’re used to it.”

She gave me a look. “And this is why I have to be the responsible one.”

“You keep telling yourself that.”

She started toward the office before glancing at Ellis, who was already reaching for the stack of books we’d left on the cart.

“Don’t let me come back out here and find romance shelved by color.”

He looked down at the books in his hands. “I wasn’t planning to.”

“I’m still figuring out what you’re capable of.”

“That sounds mildly threatening.”

“It’s supposed to.”

He laughed as she disappeared into the back.

I carried the empty drink cups toward the trash before returning to the counter. The bookstore had settled into one of its afternoon lulls, with only a handful of customers wandering between the shelves. Outside the front windows, a couple pushed a stroller down the sidewalk while a man walked past with an ice cream cone already melting faster than he could eat it.

Mila had reclaimed her spot in the children’s corner, legs folded beneath her as she worked her way through another picture book. Across the store, Ellis had somehow ended up in conversation with Mr. Williams near the history shelves. Whatever they were talking about had Mr. Williams gesturing toward one of the books while Ellis listened like he had nowhere else he needed to be.

I reached for my tea and took a sip, only to get mostly melted ice.

They’d been there for hours now.

I couldn’t remember the last time I wondered when they were leaving.

The bell above the door chimed, pulling my attention toward a woman stepping inside.

“Good afternoon,” I called, setting my cup down. “Welcome to Chapter & Charm.”

The rest of the afternoon slipped by one customer at a time. A mother and daughter left with matching copies of Love Rehab by Kia Smith, and Mrs. Collins circled back because she’d forgotten to use her loyalty card.

A man spent nearly twenty minutes wandering the history section before admitting he had no idea what he was actually looking for.

By the time the clock crept past five, the shelves looked a little less full, the café tables were empty again, and the steady hum of conversation had settled into comfortable silence.

Mila let out a dramatic yawn from the children’s corner.

Ellis glanced over.

“I think somebody’s running out of steam.”

“I’m not tired,” she said, yawning again before she could finish the sentence.

“Mhm.”

“I just...” Another yawn interrupted her. “...need to sit down.”

“You’ve been sitting down.”