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Miri
Ileft Davis back at the store. He and Archer were arguing about whether I should still lease the store and I left them to it. That space is mine. I’d let them fight it out before I came back in and told them I didn’t give a shit about their opinions. Although I really hope they get the tunnels figured out because I am not going to give it up. It’s the perfect mix of modern restoration and totally has the open and welcoming feeling that tourists will love. The location is right on the main strip and there is a chocolate shop just a few doors down. I had to stop and grab a piece of fudge after I left Davis, because it smelled so damn good out on the street.
Even though I love the building, I don’t want to be an idiot. Is that what I’d be if I rented out a store that had secret underground tunnels with magical chambers hidden inside their depths? Err… Yeah, best not to think about it. I’m going to focus on Davis and Archer going through the place and making sure that whatever other exits there are will be shut up for good before I officially move in.
Obviously, it’s not been an issue in the past because they never even knew about it. Although why I found the opening with a casual touch of the wall is another question I’m not sure I want to think about. Do I have a serious problem with denial? I refuse to acknowledge that question.
There is still tons to be done at my house, not to mention everything I need to do to prep for opening up my store. Still, my conversation with Davis yesterday and the tunnels we just stumbled upon has left me with way too many questions. He mentioned Lena is the go-to for information, which makes sense since she’s a librarian. The night I met her at Paul’s we clicked so I don’t second guess my decision and take off toward the library.
The library sits on top of the small rise of a grassy hill and could easily be mistaken for a house if not for the identifying sign out front. It’s a warm red brick Federal style building with two rows of windows and black shutters adorning the flat façade. There’s even a little cupola up top. I imagine you could have quite the view of the island and the ocean from up there.
I push open the door and the smell of old books and paper sweep over me. I’m tempted to go find a book and curl up in a private nook and read the day away, but I push that thought aside for another time. I’ve got shit to learn today.
There’s an old guy, who must be at least ninety, pushing a cart through the stacks to re-shelve books. There’s a checkout counter to the left of the front doors, which is where I find Lena doctoring up a torn spine. I lean on the counter and wait for her to finish.
“I’ll be there in one sec,” she says without looking up.
“Take your time. Looks like important work.”
Her head angles up, and she flashes me a genuine smile when she sees I’m the one waiting.
“Oh, it is. Mrs. Devereux checks this book out at least every other month. If it falls apart, I’m not sure what she’ll do. We can order a new copy, but the cover has been updated. She likes this one.” Lena holds up the book displaying a beefy dude on the deck of a ship with his shirt and long locks billowing in the wind.
I snort and nod. “I can see why.”
Lena finishes up with her tape and joins me at the counter. She’s wearing a fitted black three-quarter sleeve shirt tucked into a pair of white ankle length jeans and a pair of shiny black loafers. If I wore those pants I’d get my period, for sure. Even if it wasn’t due for two weeks. I’m not the girl who can wear white. For many reasons.
Lena’s long blue-black hair is down today, a straight sheet that falls halfway down her back. “How’s it going? You getting settled in at the house?”
“Yeah. It was surprisingly not that dirty.”
Lena’s eyes twinkle. “I suspect I know why.”
“Magic, right?” I cock a brow. No sense in pretending I don’t know about magic. Davis already outed Lena as the one who knows a bunch of mystical stuff, so why beat around the bush.
Lena hesitates for a second, and then her smile widens. “That would be my guess.”
The old guy walks by again with his cart, the little wheels squeaking obnoxiously. “That’s Frank. He’s been re-shelving books here since I was a little kid.”
“You’d think he’d be done by now.” I quip and Lena’s face breaks out into a bright, beautiful smile. She’s seriously like, a librarian wet dream. I’m not into girls that way, but dang Lena with a ruler would probably fulfill a few guy’s fantasies. I’d definitely watch the video.
“Did you come to get your library card?” Lena pushes up her dark frames, clicking something on the computer and then typing a bunch of stuff.
“I wasn’t originally, but sure.”
“What did you stop in for, then? Frank’s a pretty big draw but he likes his cat better than most people.”
Frank walks by again, his cart creaking loudly, and I wonder if he’s just pushing it in circles.
“Actually, Davis told me you have a pretty impressive collection of books on island lore and magic. I was hoping to pick your brain a little.”
“Davis, huh?” Lena peers over her black-framed glasses to look at me. “You guys have a better chat than the one at the bar the other night?”
I make a face and shrug, because I’m not sure if it was better or not. He was less of a dick, but I still wouldn’t call him pleasant. Not that my vagina gives a shit.
“I also heard you had dinner at Birdie’s place the other night.”
My mouth gapes open as I stare at her. “Is this entire town that gossipy? How did you know that?”
