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She looks off into the distance, unfocused, but I can see the sadness in the lines on her forehead. “Oh. Right.”
“But it’s okay,” I reassure her as I get to my feet. “We don’t need the keys anyway because we’re going for a walk. You still want to do that, right?”
Eventually she nods. “We can stop by the library. I’d like to pick up a new book.”
The library. I wonder if Mylo’s working.
“The library, eh?” Vanessa says, her eyebrow curving up as if she’s reading my mind. “I’m going to head home for a snack, but you ladies have fun on your walk.”
Vanessa hugs both of us before she leaves, and Mom and I stroll along the quiet neighborhood roads as we make our way to the library. I expect to see Mylo manning the front desk when we arrive, but a short, older woman with long gray hair tied back in a loose braid is there instead. A flash of disappointment passes through me, but I ignore it. Maybe it’s his day off. Plus, this way, Mom can check out a book and we can get out of here quickly. It’s better that he’s not here.
The Sudbury Public Library might be the oldest building in town, and it’s the most beautiful by far. Built in the mid-1800s, the three-level, red brick building has thick square columns at the entrance, an ornate gold design in the transom window above the main door, and high ceilings throughout.
It has several conference rooms that can be reserved for use, large comfy chairs around the fireplace, and the kids’ section is designed like a jungle with an area for Mylo’s weekly story time that includes a high-backed brown leather chair and lots of thick cushions shaped like lily pads spread out over the deep blue carpet for the kids to sit on.
Today, there are only a handful of people milling about, which surprises me, even on a weekday. I expected a crowd.
I’m about to follow Mom to the second floor of the library when I hear his deep, velvety voice coming from behind me. “I am really looking forward to this. Thank you so much for coming in,” he says to someone.
I whirl around to find him shaking the hand of a woman who is so gorgeous, my mouth actually falls open at the sight of her. Our bodies are similar in shape and size––fabulously fat––with her being an inch taller with a slightly broader chest. Her posture indicates the kind of confidence I possess, and her skin is a deep brown shade with cool, jeweled undertones.
She has long black braids that reach the middle of her back, and several gold braid cuffs are evenly spaced throughout her hair. Everything about her is striking, including her teal cat-eye glasses, hot pink lipstick, and her big wide-set eyes in a warm, copper shade. Eyes that happen to be locked on Mylo at the moment.
“I’m excited,” she tells him, reaching for his hand.
“Me too,” he says, shaking hers. “Nice to meet you, Charlotte.”
“Oh, call me Charlie,” she replies. Her voice is low and melodic, and I’m not jealous at all because other women are not my competition, especially when it comes to a man I’m not interested in dating. Not jealous at all.
She leaves, and his eyes widen when they meet mine. “Samantha, lovely to see you here.” His gaze drifts to my mother, and he strides toward us, stopping in front of my mother to bow. “Ms. Rodriguez, welcome back. Your beauty grows with each passing day.”
His charm is off the damn charts. I’m surprised there isn’t a line of women out the door just to talk to him.
My mom’s cheeks are as red as I’ve ever seen them. She giggles like a schoolgirl and says, “Mylo, I insist you call me Elena.”
“You two know each other?” I ask, surprised by the comfort between them.
“Of course. Elena is always looking for romance recommendations,” Mylo replies as he steps behind the front desk and starts digging through a stack of books that’s almost as tall as he is. It’s too warm for his typical button-down and sweater vest, so today he’s wearing a short-sleeve, light green button-down with tiny blue ducks on it, and a navy bow tie with matching navy chinos paired with crisp white Stan Smith Adidas sneakers.
He’s dressed like the biggest nerd in school, but with the kind of muscles all the jocks would envy, and a sense of style made for the runway. And I can’t stop my mouth from watering at the sight of his back muscles flexing as he lifts a new stack of books off the floor and puts them on the counter. In the next moment, he’s pushing his glasses up his nose, and my thighs clench together. What a spectacular contradiction this man is.
“Want another alien romance?” he asks my mom. “I know I set one aside for you. It’s here somewhere.”
“How often do you come in here, Ma?”
She ignores me. I’m not even sure she heard me as her expression is still flustered and giddy.
“Ah, here it is,” Mylo exclaims as he holds up a book with a shirtless man with green and orange scales on the cover. “This one is by January Bell. I read it last week, and I think you’ll really enjoy it.”
“Jackie finished the one about the ice planet two days ago, so you will start this one tonight, rightmi’ja?”she asks me, and a lump forms in my throat.
“You want me to read this to you?”
“Well, yes,” she replies. “My eyes aren’t what they used to be.” When I don’t say anything, she adds, “You’ll read to me, won’t you?”
“Y-yeah,” I stammer as I try to find a way out of this. “I mean, sure…except, wouldn’t an audiobook be better? A professional narrator is certainly going to do a better job than I ever could.”
“An audiobook,” my mom says, pursing her lips as she thinks. “It’s just I liked falling asleep to Jackie’s voice, and I want to fall asleep to yours too. Jackie said it was good for my memory.”
