Marlon just nods, that proud grin never wavering. I shake my head, still in disbelief.
“But Marlon, I want this day to be fun for you too, and if you’re not into books…”
At this, he places his hand behind my back, and gently pushes me forward, through the entrance.
“Hush. Seeing you happy ismyfun. Now go, please, indulge. And no protests.”
Hindering me with no choice, I step through the entrance, and instantly, the aroma of numerous books hug me. I don’t want to spend too much time lingering here, now knowing that Marlon has planned this trail.
I head toward the young adult shelves firstly, and skirt my eyes over the selection.
Titles, both unfamiliar and new, jut out at me. I bend down, tracing the spines with my fingers, feeling like a giddy child at a toy store.
Finally, I pull forward a Chloe Gong trilogy into my arms, as well as Jenny Han’sThe Summer I Turned Pretty. Afterward, I weave through the crime and thriller section, and pull Bram Stoker’sDraculafrom the horror section.
Marlon trails behind me, browsing the books for himself. Yet, when I turn to check whether he’s actually examining them, I catch his eyes on me, before they skirt away.
“What are you interested in?” I ask him, once I’ve reached the last section.
“I haven’t read much, outside of high school,” he answers sheepishly, “But if you count manga, I read a lot then.”
My lips twitch, my stomach twinging affectionately at his answer. Once I’m satisfied with my selection, I carry my small pile toward the counter. The lady behind it smiles at me kindly as I approach.
“A good selection,” she observes, and I beam back.
While she registers the books through the system, I reach into my bag for my wallet, when suddenly she says, “Oh, no need dear. Your boyfriend told me he’d handle everything. He’s handed me his card already.”
My lips part in shock. I turn to Marlon.
“You can’t pay for this!” I exclaim, my neck heating profusely, “You’re already doing so much!”
“Uh-uh, what did I say, Garcia? You shop, you enjoy, and you leave it to me,” he states.
“You let the gentleman pay dear, don’t fight it,” the lady interjects, winking.
I shake my head, disbelief coursing through me.
Marlon taking me on this date and covering it? Other than my parents, who’d occasionally treat me with toys and books when I hadn’t been able to support myself before the brief casual-time job I took in high school, I’ve never had people pamper me this way. Had people gift me so casually. Other thanhe-who-must-not-be-named, no one has done this for me.
When the lady is finished with packaging the books, Marlon grabs the bag over the counter.
“Now, you both have a lovely day,” the lady chirps, her eyes darting between the two of us.
As we enter Marlon’s car, I tell him, “Okay, that’s enough for today Marlon. I can’t have you -“
My words are cut off as he presses his fingers against my lips. The contract creates a blaze, one that begins at my lips, and courses throughout my entire being.
He leans forward, eyes focused on mine.
“I want to. So let me.”
Words fail me as he pulls away. As we drive off, I can’t help the thought that this is everything I’d ever dreamed of in a date.
And it’s all happening with Marlon.
Just as Marlon has promised, we stop by three more bookstores, both of which are a brief drive from each other.
Both bookstores are uniquely charming, and there’s something about the intimate, quiet space that’s different from a commercialised franchise like Books and Bricks.
