“How’d you go?” Chase asks as he drops his arm around my shoulder.
“Good. This was so much fun,” I say looking up at him and kissing his stubbly cheek.
“That’s good. I knew you’d have fun. Come for a walk with me,” he demands more than asks, and honestly, there’s no way I could say no. I nod my head.
“We’ll meet you soon.” Chase calls over his shoulder and walks me out of the shop.
“Where are we going?” I ask curiously. We start walking down the main street of Briar Bay. It’s lined with old buildings that hold a lot of boutique shops targeted for the wealthy holidayers that flock the streets.
“It’s a surprise,” he says mysteriously. I decide to be patient and not pester him.
We turn a corner and stop. Chase waits for me to turn and face the shop.
Holy shit.
No way.
We’re standing in front of a used bookstore. Tale as Old as Time.
“Wow,” I say speechless. I can see through the window that there are rows and rows of shelves stacked with books.
“Come on,” Chase says and gently pushes me in front of him as he holds the door open for me.
I step in and turn in a circle trying to take it all in at once.
This is incredible. I can’t believe Chase brought me here. I turn to him and kiss him the same way I did earlier this morning.
A voice clearing reminds me that we aren’t alone. I pull away and my cheeks are flushed with embarrassment.
“Welcome to Tale as Old as Time, I’m Chris Chippendale. But you can call me Chip.”
“Your shop is beautiful Chip,” I say looking around again.
“Thank you. Feel free to browse and let me know if you need any help,” Chip says before he takes off towards a stack at the back of the store.
“Go look. Pick whatever you want,” Chase says nodding towards the shelves.
“Are you sure?” I ask again, still not convinced this is real.
“Positive. Go. I’m right behind you.”
I don’t say anything else. I start to browse the books and occasionally hand off a book that I want to Chase. I spend hours browsing and not once does Chase complain.
He handed me some red frogs earlier and then took the book I was holding. I fell in love with him that little bit more.
I’m standing in front of the first editions that are locked away behind a glass door and looking at the books with awe. I’d love my own first edition library.
“Pick one,” Chase says startling me.
“No, I’ve picked enough. One day I’ll have my own first edition library. Until then, a girl can dream,” I tell him while I pull my phone from my pocket to read the text message that just came through.
“What’s the first book you’d buy for your first edition library?” Chase asks.
“Alice in Wonderland,” I say as I show him my phone. It’s a text from Dad.
Dad:Hope you girls are having a good weekend.
“At least he’s trying,” Chase tells me as he pays for the twenty books that I have stacked up at the register.
