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Leah clutched her pencil. She sketched out a mermaid silhouette for April’s dress, drawing dots and lines to the sketch to indicate the beading and seams. April informed her she would be wearing her hair up, so Leah included it in her drawing to give herself an even better visual.
She licked her lips as she worked, grateful to be thinking about something other than Cole. Why couldn’t she stop thinking about him? They hadn’t talked since she spotted him at Mack’s BBQ, and it was probably a good idea. Was it though? She missed him. She missed him even more than when they parted ways for college.
Was he thinking of her? Leah refocused on her drawing, switching from pencil to ink so she could harden her lines. Once she finished outlining, she dragged her eraser over her paper to remove the initial tracing. She couldn’t wait to select the materials. It was her favorite part outside of making the pattern. While the work did take time, April would love the result.
Then her eyes drooped as she sat at her desk. Perhaps a walk would help. Fresh air was always a good way to recharge. She closed her large notebook and grabbed her purse and phone. Giving Amber a signal, her store manager understood her boss was taking a break.
Leah inhaled deeply once she exited her store. From there, she paced down the sidewalk. Then the library caught her eye. Before she could change course to go inside, her phone rang in her purse. Sighing slightly, she answered. She hoped that Amber could handle the growing traffic, at least giving a few minutes to re-energize herself.
“Hello?” She answered her phone.
“For the record,” Leah’s father replied. “I’m not checking up on you, but your mother insisted I call since she doesn’t want to bug you.”
A smile broke through on Leah’s face. “I’m fine and sorry I didn’t stay that long after dinner on Sunday.”
“No need to apologize, sweetie.”
“Thanks, Dad.” She raised her chin as she looked up at the library. “I’m taking a quick break.”
“I’m proud of you, but if you’re at the library, that’s not a break.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Dad, I—” Then his chuckle filled her ears. “You and your jokes.”
“My little bookworm could never resist the library.”
“Fine, Dad. I’ll cut back on the reading.”
“Kidding. Take your break, and I’ll tell your mother I did my part and called you,” he said.
“She really has you checking up on me?”
“You know your mother. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Bye, Dad.”
Stifling her grin, she hung up. Once inside the library, she paced up and down the aisles. She passed the children’s section with picture books on the shelves and beanbag chairs on the floor. Finally, approaching the classic section, Leah searched for another one of her favorites. If only a woodsy cologne didn’t tickle her nose. Her eyes then searched for the source. Was he there?
****
While brushing his fingers against the pages of The Scarlet Pimpernel, Cole listened to the quiet flip as he turned the page. The classics had been keeping him company for the last couple of days. Seth had barely talked to him, so he gave his older brother space. Leah, however, still embedded his thoughts.
After leaving his parents’ house abruptly, he went to sleep off his annoyance. Craig seemed like a nice guy, but his “older brother” and “hometown hero” comments struck a nerve. Cole’s jaw clenched, but he answered as best he could.
Today, he stood inside Piedmont Valley’s library. Sturdy bookshelves surrounded him, lining the walls, marching across the floor, and curling around reading nooks and study areas. Senior citizens sat flipping through newspapers in cozy chairs, while other patrons used the computers for research and web surfing.
Though his brother didn’t hint his need to move out, Cole wanted a place of his own. Now he settled into a routine at work, his next task included finding a place to call home. Thankfully, Jeremy was a real estate agent, so he would give his friend a call soon. Once he got a better idea of what he wanted, he would set up a meeting.
Cole’s nostrils filled with the smell of crisp paper, along with the scent of pencil shavings. He lost count of the times he found Leah here, her head buried in a book. He even caught her sitting on the bleachers on the football field, a book in her hand engrossed in a story. He would kid that she never had fun, but she never took offense. In their friendship, he found a haven.
He could share everything with her. He never pictured his best friend being a woman. While other friends came and went, Leah remained constant. Time didn’t even tear them apart. The corners of Cole’s mouth quirked up.
“What’s funny?” a sweet voice asked.
He pivoted to find Leah smiling up at him. Her lashes were like fans upon her cheeks. Her rich and vibrant voice, like the middle notes of a cello, echoed in his ears. Cole clutched his book in hand. “Not much. Just checking to see what this book’s about.”
She rea
ched over, clasping his book between her thumb and forefinger. “The Scarlet Pimpernel?” Her eyebrows shot up, and she released her grip. “Nice choice.”
