Jack smiled. He’d never seen his sister happier. Her fiancé, Seth Kim, was a good man, and he was head over heels for Tara. What more could he ask for in a brother-in-law?
“Let me know if you need an extra pair of hands for the brew,” he offered casually. He didn’t want to let on that he was desperate for some work.
“If you’re free, I wouldn’t mind having some help and company.” Alex chugged down his water.
“Were you getting lonely all by yourself back there?” Jack said as he poured himself some water, too. Watching his brother drink made him thirsty. Alex had this strange talent for making everything he drank or ate look so good. Someday, when Weldon Brewery made it to the big leagues, they should use him for their beer commercials.
“You know I’m a social creature. Why do it alone when you can do it with someone?” Alex grinned and headed for the back door. “I’m going to take a walk to prevent vitamin D deficiency. I’ll meet you back there in about half an hour.”
“Go for it. I’ll see you soon.”
Some of the tension eased from Jack’s shoulders. Having secured a task to keep himself busy for the remainder of the afternoon, killing thirty minutes wasn’t so daunting. He could do that just checking the tables and chairs for wobbles.
He only got through a few sets of tables and chairs when he heard ading.He pulled his cell phone out from his back pocket and glanced at the screen. His heart fluttered in a familiar dance, and the corners of his lips kicked up.
Lizzy:Guess where I am?
Jack:Somewhere hip and happening to celebrate your big win?
Lizzy:And I thought you knew me so well.
He prided himself in knowing her better than anyone else.So think.It was a bit early for a night of debauchery. And if she was indeed out partying somewhere, she wouldn’t be texting him. His eyebrows drew together. He certainly hoped she wasn’t holed up in the office. This was a special day for her. She should treat herself.
Of course. He chuckled, shaking his head. It was so obvious.
Jack:Not only can I guess where you are, but I can tell you which book you’re skimming through.
Lizzy:No way.
Jack:You’re at Hideaway Bookstore, reading through your favorite passages in Pride and Prejudice.
Lizzy:How did you know?
Jack:Because I know you, Elizabeth Chung.
And she was everything he wanted.
His smile turned wistful. He would never tell her that, of course. Not only was she way out of his league, but he didn’t want to risk losing his best friend. He’d been content with their friendship for the last twenty years. Well,contentmight be an overstatement. Content, resigned. Po-tay-toes, po-tah-toes. The point was he had no plans to shake things up. He would take their friendship with a side of pining any day if it meant he would always have her in his life.
Besides, a little pining never hurt anyone.
CHAPTER THREE
Lizzy smiled from her perch on the worn, floral couch nestled among the bookshelves and huggedPride and Prejudiceto her chest. Jack had guessed exactly where she was—Hideaway Bookstore. The small, idyllic shop was tucked between a wine bar and a Jamaican restaurant in the quaint, old-town street of Larchmont Village. The charming neighborhood was hidden in plain sight in central Los Angeles, just over five miles from her office. The only indication that she was still in the busy, sprawling city was the scarcity of street parking and the two-hour limit on the parking meters.
If it wasn’t for said parking limit, Lizzy might have lived out her weekends at Hideaway. Warm, walnut bookshelves filled every wall space from floor to ceiling. And a mix of standalone bookshelves of every size cleverly lined the store, creating hidden nooks and crannies that were perfect places to hide away with a book. In a way, the bookstore felt more like home than her condo. It welcomed her with a feeling of cozy comfort that told her it was okay to put her hair down. She could count on it to center her.
But Jack’s last text had made her heart skip a beat. Wondering why, she reread his message.
Jack:Because I know you, Elizabeth Chung.
She pressed the back of her hand against her warm cheek. She was being silly. Of course he knew her. They’d known each other since they were nine years old. He was her best friend. She shook her head and typed her belated response.
Lizzy:I guess that’s why you’re my best friend.
Jack didn’t respond right away. He probably got pulled away for work. She sighed and dropped her phone back into her purse. It would’ve been nice to text with him a while longer. She felt… adrift and could’ve used his anchoring presence. She hated to admit it, but Hideaway Bookstore wasn’t working its magic today.
“Lizzy,” Beverly said with a wide smile, coming to sit beside her. She gathered her long silver hair over one shoulder. “I didn’t see you come in.”
