I didn’t expect how steamy it was and I found myself flushing as I reached a certain scene.
“Adira,” hearing my name made me shut the book so fast that I lost my page.
I looked up at the source of the voice and found Nathan standing next to my table, a steaming coffee in hand and a book in the other.
He was in the most casual outfit I have ever seen him in; beige trousers complete with a brown belt, a grey sweatshirt and white sneakers. His hair was tousled and scattered around his head in curls. As much as he looked casual, he still made it look somehow professional. He had a bag slung over one shoulder.
“I didn’t know you liked to read.”
“I didn’t know you read either.” I nodded towards the book in his hand.
“It’s one of the perks of my job. It was a pain in the ass in the beginning but now I actually like it. What about you?”
“I don’t read; I came here for the coffee and was roped into buying a book.”
“Can I sit?” I was nodding before I even realized and he sat next to me. I used that opportunity to glance at the title of the book he was holding and I have to say, I was pleasantly amused.
“Lord of the rings,” I read it out and he just shrugged.
“I’ve read it a million times already. Kayla just told me that they had a new edition, I had to come and get it before someone else did.”
“Who’s Kayla?”
“She’s owner of the bookstore.”
“You’re on first name basis with the owner?”
“I come here almost every day. It would be weird if I wasn’t on first name basis with her.”
I hummed and took a sip from my hot chocolate. This is actually pretty good; I made a mental note to patronize this place more often. I turned back to my book and started looking for my lost page.
“What’s the book about?” I jumped again when I heard his voice and struggled to find words to explain.
“It’s about female empowerment.” I ended up saying and he quirked a brow. It’s not technically a lie, it is about female empowerment. It is about a woman choosing to take charge over her own sexuality and her body. It might be a half truth but it is a truth nonetheless.
“That sounds good; you wouldn’t mind if I borrowed it after you were done, would you?”
“I only give my things to people I actually like.”
He held his hand against his chest in mock hurt, “I’m wounded, I thought we were already becoming friends. We are reading together after all.”
“I would be able to read if you didn’t talk so much.”
He held up his hands in mock surrender and made a show of opening up his book and reading. When I was sure he wouldn’t speak again, I opened mine and continued from where I had stopped.
I tried my best to enjoy the book, and I did, but the store was crowded, and every time someone stopped at the window or stared a little too much, I thought they were staring at me and would start up a scene.
It actually began to piss me off because for once, I wanted to enjoy me time without having to worry about work, the media or anything else. For once, I was having fun as Adira and the impending news on my neck was bearing down on me and freaking me out.
I could almost imagine how it would go. They would recognize me and text their friends to say they had seen me. Then they would start asking stupid questions and ask if the news is true. I would ignore it and try to leave but by then the media would have been alerted and would be waiting outside.
From there, it can go either of two ways. If they are of the nicer breed, they would leave me alone. But if they are of the meaner breed, they would harass me until I reached my car, try to trip me, and call me names and shit. By tomorrow, I will be on another magazine being labeled as a bitch or being labeled as rude and disrespectful.
I didn’t realize I had started tapping my foot anxiously until I felt Nathan’s hand rest on my knee. My movements ceased almost immediately and I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye. He didn’t make it known that he was watching me, in fact, he didn’t even act as if he had done anything. He just kept his eyes on his book but they were stationary so I knew he wasn’t reading.
I let out a heavy exhale and decided to leave the moment as peaceful as it was. For once, we weren’t bantering or fighting, or even trying to piss the other person off. We were just two people sitting in a bookstore and reading books.
With one last glance at him out of the corner of my eye, I picked up my book and continued reading.
