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I've been replaying the interaction over in my mind, but I'm just as confused as ever. Why did PJ ask me to hold his other arm while he brushed his shirt? What was that about?
The only answer I can come up with is that maybe it was some sort of ritual, but yeah, that's pretty weak and doesn't make a whole lot of sense. But it's all that I've got.
I tug on the strap of my messenger bag and head inside, determined to get some answers out of PJ. And I don't just mean about what happened yesterday. I've never raised seeing him on my property last week, and neither has he.
That changes today.
The air-con blows down on me as I enter through the sliding doors, making the ends of my long hair move. I've gotten used to that, as well as to the specific library smell. I never would've guessed that books emitted a scent, but they do. It was a bit strange at first, but it's grown on me.
I park myself in my usual spot, on the lookout for PJ as I set out my folders and notes on the table. He's usually either behind the counter or meandering through the rows of books. A couple of times, he's been out the back and I haven't seen him right away. Looks like today is going to be one of those days.
I open my black folder and glance down at the notebook I keep hidden inside it. There's no way I want people to see what I'm actually studying.
Literacy Works: Learning to Read for Adults.
Harrick helped me order these books online. Apparently they have great reviews and are effective at teaching semiliterate adults like me how to read in as little as fourteen weeks. There's really no need for me to come to the library since I could read them at home…but then I'd miss out on seeing PJ.
It's funny in a way. Our littleexchangeyesterday only makes me even more curious about him than I already was.
He strikes me as being a bit unusual, but in an intriguing way. In a way that makes me want to learn more about him.
Not that I'm deluding myself by thinking he'd be interested in a simple guy like me. I work hard, I like the outdoors, and I eat a lot. That's about all there is to me. Why would a smart and interesting guy like PJ give me the time of day?
I've never been able to hold down a long-term relationship. My former partners, all three of them, wanted something I couldn't give. They wanted excitement. They wanted adventure. They wanted big-city life.
I'm a mountain man, through and through. I spent my whole childhood on the move, from big cities to small towns in the middle of nowhere to everywhere in between. I'm thirty-two and know what I want, and what I want is a quiet, settled life in Thickehead.
I like the people here, the way of life, the beauty of the place, and most of all, the stability.
Plus, it's nice being close to my brothers. Family is the most important thing to me. We survived a crazy childhood, and nothing makes me happier than living so close to Harrick and Marsh, being in each other's lives, and knowing that we're only a phone call and a short drive away from each other should anything happen.
I don't know what brought PJ here or how long he intends on staying, but I know I can't leave.
I check the time. I've been here for almost half an hour, and there's still no sign of him. I get up and walk over to the front counter.
"Hello?"
The man spins around. I've seen him here every day, too. Think he might be the boss librarian dude. His name badge tells me his name is Tr…ev…or.
He smiles widely. "Can I take a guess?"
"Excuse me?"
"A guess. If I guess correctly what question you're about to ask me, I win."
What is it about library staff? Are they all this wacky?
"Okay. Go on then."
"Good. In that case, I'd be willing to bet a date that—"
"Wait. What? No." I raise my hand to stop him. "I don't… I mean… No offense, but I don't want to take you out on a—"
"Let me finish, then you can resume your sputtering."
I lift a brow. Sassy dude, this one.
"I'd be willing to bet a date…as in,youaskPJout on a date, not me…that the question you came over here to ask is, where is PJ today?" He rocks on his feet, smiling brightly. "Am I right?"
