“No, no, please. Go ahead, do your job,” then, because I’m feeling extra confident, I add, “You go get that bag!”
I decide then and there that I shouldn’t speak, ever. He laughs though, which I take as a good sign, the best sign. For me, laughter is the way to a man’s heart (at least, that’s how I think the saying should go.).
He swivels toward the counter, but not before craning his neck to look back at me one last time. That one action has me thinking that yes, everything is going to plan.
I see bookstore boy two days later.
Is two days too long of a gap? Will he have met someone else in those days? I used to be thankful that I only had to come into film school three days a week (Monday, Tuesday and Friday) but now I actually find myself counting down the days until I can come into the city again. Crazy, what crushes can do to you.
“You’re so down bad already,” Kiara sings, after class ends on Friday afternoon. I swat away at her hands as she pokes my sides, but I’m giggling as I do so.
“I’m calling it, y’all are going to be 100% dating by the end of the month,” Diane declares, wiggling her brows.
I shake my head a little too fast, the delusion of it all getting to my brain.
“Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves.”
“Anyways, don’t waste anymore time, go ahead!” Kiara exclaims, pushing me onto the street once the lights go green.
This time, I fight the nerves and push through the doors. I head straight toward romance fiction, making it look like I actually want to buy a book this time. My eyes gloss over familiar titles, books that I’ve already read countless times before.
Duke and I, Happy Place, Betting On You…
“Hey, it’s you again.”
The voice envelops my heart before the words do. I swivel my attention toward him, not wanting to appear too keen. Air catches in my throat as I meet his eyes.
It should be a crime to be this handsome.
“Hey, it’s me,” I reply, and my throat seems to strangle my words because it comes out all croaky. I clear my throat, coughing a little.
“We keep running into each other like this,” he teases, and I wonder if he’s flirting right now. Is this really flirting? “If we keep running into each other more, you’ll have me believing it’s more than a coincidence.”
He leans his shoulder against the shelf smoothly, and I decide that yes, I think this is flirting.
I like it. Alot. If only I could flirt back. Instead, I just gape at him, lips opening, then closing like a fish.
“I didn’t catch your name, by the way,” he continues, seemingly oblivious to my torment.
“It’s Ja-” my throat catches again. God, were there dust mites launching itself into my throat, or something? I cough, then swallow, before continuing, “Jaslene, if me choking before didn’t make that clear.”
His lips twitch, amused.
“I’m Rafayel.”
Rafayel. What a deliciously prince-worthy name.
“Are you looking for anything in particular?”
I’ve found everything I’ve been looking for. He’s standing right in front of me.
I say instead, “Just my next read to get me out of my slump.”
“Nothing from this selection interests you?”
“I’ve actually read most of them.”
His eyebrows shoot up.
