Crime and Periodicals: Green Valley Library Book #2

by Romance, Smartypants

  “I doubt it. She was on the phone until late last night spreading the news around.” At my confused look he smiled. “Trent Buckley asked her to the homecoming dance.”

  I clapped my hands and squealed a tiny bit. “I’m happy for her. She was hoping he’d ask.”

  “Heads up. She’s going to ask you to take her to the mall to go dress shopping. I know you don’t like crowded places.” How hard must it be for him to be so happy for Ruby when he is going through a breakup? He was such a good boy…man? Gah, he was growing up so fast it made me want to cry.

  “I’m trying to be better about stuff like that. As of last week, I’m pretty much making decisions that are the opposite of my normal instincts.”

  “Then maybe you can come to the homecoming game and see me play.”

  “I will. Harry said he wants to go. And I really want to see you play. I’ll think about it. Or maybe I should not think about it and just go.”

  “I’d go with the second option. Thinking is overrated. When you think too much, you sacrifice too much. If I were a selfish prick like Dad, I’d still have a girlfriend. At least until January, anyway.”

  “Yeah, maybe, but then you’d be a selfish prick, and we’d all hate you. Just be you, Weston. You are awesome.” I bumped his shoulder with mine when we reached the doorway.

  He laughed and opened the front door. “You are awesome too, Aunt Sabrina. Going to the Dragon Bar was dumb, but it took guts, and you did it for us. You’re still alive; don’t beat yourself up too much.”

  “Thanks, Weston.” I liked his perspective better than my own. My perspective was mean.

  “Let’s get a move on. I have a sudden craving for a huge ass stack of pancakes,” he said.

  “Me too, and I need an iced mocha the size of my head. I’ve been up for way too long.”

  “Shoot, Sabrina, I didn’t sleep at all. And I have football practice later, ugh.”

  We went into the house and headed to our respective rooms to get ready for the day.

  When I finished, I grabbed my purse and headed out to meet Weston.

  Ruby was on the couch reading a book. “Hey, Ruby. Congratulations on your homecoming date,” I said.

  “Thank you.” She beamed. “He called me last night. We talked for hours and hours.” She stood up and twirled around the living room just like Maria in The Sound of Music. She stumbled to a stop and grabbed my hands. I had never seen her like this—ever. It was the cutest thing. “Oh. My. God. We have to go shopping, Sabrina.” I exchanged a sideways look with Weston who shook his head with a grin. “Oh! Or maybe I can wear that prom dress Mom made for you when you went to the junior dance? Is it in the attic?”

  “It’s in the attic. And I think it’s a great idea, Ruby. I’ll get it down later.”

  “Eeeep! I’m going to get my purse from upstairs. Be right back.” She ran up the stairs with more energy that I’d ever had in my entire life.

  Weston sighed at my side. “I’ll tell her about me and Lizzy later, okay? I don’t feel like talking about it anymore today.”

  I hugged him again. Ruby had added a strange contrast to the collective mood in the house. It felt weird to be so happy for someone when your heart was possibly about to break like mine, or had already broken, like poor Weston’s. The only thing I could think to do was hug it out. We pulled apart and headed for the door after Ruby came bounding down the stairs.

  “Let’s all go get breakfast. Daisy’s awaits,” I said. I took my Jeep and Ruby rode with Weston.

  After we arrived at Daisy’s, Weston and I found a table in the corner while Ruby took off for the doughnut case to talk to Cletus, who was busy perusing Daisy’s finest. I quickly took a seat against the wall and opened my menu to hide behind. Old habits die hard. I peeked out. Weston’s eyes were closed. Was he asleep?

  “Wake up!” Ruby dashed up behind him and put her hands on his shoulders, giving him a little shake.

  He sat up in his chair and almost fell out of it. “I’m awake,” he breathed before opening his eyes.

  I shook my head at Ruby. I raised my eyebrows and gave her a look I hoped communicated that she should be nice. She didn’t know about Lizzy yet and I didn’t want her to feel guilty about giving Weston a bunch of crap for being tired. Over the years, Ruby and I had perfected the art of wordless conversation.

  She returned my look and nodded. She snatched up a menu and sat next to Weston. “I’m not getting doughnuts. I don’t know if I want pancakes or an egg white omelet.”

  “Why on earth would you want an egg white omelet? Ew.” I scrunched up my nose. Daisy’s made great food, but egg white omelets were gross, no matter where you got them. Ew and yuck and slimy and nope.

  She looked at me. “I want to lose some water weight. I want to look nice in my homecoming dress.”

  “Don’t be stupid. You don’t need to lose weight,” Weston said, face buried in his menu.

  Yeah, Weston! I internally cheered. Hearing that from me would be typical. Hearing it from her brother might actually make it sink in.

  “Weston is right. Get pancakes, or a normal omelet. Don’t worry about water weight.”

  “Fine, you’re right. I like Dr. Pepper too much to go on a diet anyway.”

  My eyes dropped back to my menu but I jumped a foot out of my chair when Ruby began waving wildly, grinning from ear to ear. I looked in the direction she was waving, and I was pretty sure the feeling that coursed through me was the out-of-body kind when I saw it was Wyatt she was waving over to our table.

  I wanted him to come over here. We needed to talk. But I also didn’t want to talk. Being in limbo was better than rejection, even though limbo felt horrible.

  I glanced over my menu at him. Holy crap he looked good. That uniform did things to me. Things I had no business feeling when I was sitting at a table with Ruby and Weston. Things they were probably old enough to read on my face. In fact, I knew Ruby had figured out exactly what I was thinking when she elbowed me with a smirk. Luckily, Weston had once again shut his eyes and fallen asleep in his chair.

  “Sabrina.” Wyatt’s smile was hesitant as he approached our table.

  Weston’s head snapped up and he blinked. “Where am I?”

  “Daisy’s,” Wyatt answered with a sympathetic smile and sat down.

  “Wyatt?” Weston’s face showed his confusion.

  “I think you should go home, Weston. You need to sleep,” I said.

  “I’ll go home with him and make sure he stays awake while he drives,” Ruby said and stood up pushing Weston’s shoulder to get him moving faster while giving me a significant look.

  Weston stood up to follow her. “Bye, y’all.”

  “See you tonight,” I said.

  They left. Now I was alone with Wyatt, and I didn’t know what to say. So many contrasting feelings pulsed through me leaving me confused. The top two were embarrassment and self-doubt. I was fighting hard just to force myself to stay in my seat and not run away from him.

  “How are you?” he asked me. I studied his face; the small smile that crossed it gave me no clues to his thoughts.

  “I’m fine.” I couldn’t stop twisting my napkin. I let it go and sat there blinking at him. “I’m just tired. I couldn’t sleep last night.”

  His expression softened and his smile disappeared. He didn’t answer; he just sat there and looked at me like he’d like to be the reason I was up all night. His eyes burned into mine. It reminded me of the way he had looked at me at Genie’s Bar when we danced, right before he kissed me. Something intangible existed between us, I was sure of it. His gaze reminded me of how Leonardo DiCaprio’s looked at Claire Danes in Romeo + Juliet—hot and full of longing. Sure, after that first hot gaze in the beginning of the movie the whole thing turned to crap and they died at the end. But that first look was everything.

  I swear I could feel it, him wanting me, and I wanted him too. I didn’t know what I’d do with him once I got him, but I was dying to figure it out. Okay, t
hat was a lie—I had a top ten list of things I wanted to do with him written down in my journal. I had a good imagination. Plus, I’d been reading romance novels since I was twelve.

  “Next time you should call me. I don’t care how late it is, I’ll help you sleep.”

  “Okay,” I breathed. He said next time. That must mean he wasn’t mad and wanted me to call him. Right? Maybe I should ask why he didn’t call me. I opened my mouth to speak but I couldn’t form the words. I shut my mouth and picked up my napkin again.

  Thud. Boom. Pow. Those were the sounds my brain just made as it ping-ponged from one confusing thought to the next. My feelings for him felt huge and overwhelming. The risk of being hurt was terrifying.

  “Hey, y’all. Sorry for the wait, are you ready to order?”

  Both our heads swiveled comically in response to our waitress’s simple question.

  Wyatt recovered first and answered, “A large coffee and an egg white breakfast sandwich for me. To go.”

  To go. Disappointment flooded through my veins, dashing the hope that had flowed only a moment before. “Uh, an iced mocha for me, and a chocolate croissant, please,” I murmured.

  I was probably wrong about everything. I was projecting my out of control feelings onto him. He probably thought I was just a sad, crazy girl with a pathetic crush. Also, an egg white breakfast sandwich? Ew. We could never be breakfast buddies. I felt an embarrassed flush crawl up my neck to heat my face. I felt like I was shrinking, and my head pounded. Maybe all we had was a first look. Just like Claire and Leo in the movie. Dang it.

  I was stuck between wanting to know how he felt and wanting to stay right here in this terrible limbo. Was he giving me mixed messages, or was I just mixed up?

  As we waited for our orders an awkward silence descended between us. Not at all like that first day when we were silent in my Jeep as he drove into town. This time there were words unspoken between us. I had “I’m sorry about The Dragon Biker Bar. I’m not really a total idiot” on the tip of my tongue to say but was too embarrassed to let it out.

  I glanced at him; he was fiddling with his cell phone. Preoccupied with whatever he was seeing on the screen. I sighed and pushed my glasses up with a fingertip.

  He looked at me and opened his mouth to speak but the waitress bringing our orders stopped him. Instead he said, “I’ll see you later, Sabrina.” That small impersonal smile crossed his face before he turned and left.

  I had lost my courage. “Okay, later,” I said to his retreating back.

  Later? As in the generic “see you later” that everyone says? “Later” around town? Or “later” as in Saturday night for our freaking date?

  This was not a movie and it was not a book; it wasn’t even a love song. Those things had a beginning, middle, and end—a pattern. Life was unpredictable and scary, and I couldn’t help but wonder if it was worth it.

  I sipped my coffee and stared out the window, watching as he drove away in his patrol car. I wanted him to drive out of my head too, but he wouldn’t leave.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Sabrina

  I had spent the rest of the day with no sign of Wyatt. I never saw him “later” and we hadn’t “talked” at all. I had no idea what to expect.

  Saturday mornings at the library were either slow or crazy and there was usually no in between. I typically preferred slow, but the thought of a crazy day sounded good for a change. It would keep my mind off Wyatt and the potential rejection I would face tonight. I could keep my mind on the best ways to prevent awkward interactions with library patrons instead of obsessing about whether or not our date would happen.

  I had stopped contemplating what to wear tonight. I was thinking about what kind of ice cream to pick up at the Piggly Wiggly on my way home from work instead. It didn’t matter that I’d only known Wyatt a short time. I had already halfway fallen for him and my heart was just waiting to finish breaking—or falling, hopefully. Either way it turned out, I was gonna need some freaking ice cream.

  I smiled at Mrs. MacIntyre as I stowed my things in her office.

  “I have a meeting, dear. Can I trust you to handle the library by yourself again?” she asked.

  “Yes, you can trust me. I’ll be fine.”

  “I’m proud of you, Sabrina. I saw you saying goodbye to everyone at story hour the other afternoon. You’ve been spending more and more time helping patrons and less time avoiding them to do other library tasks. It hasn’t gone unnoticed. Keep it up.”

  “Thank you, I will.” I returned her smile as warmth coursed through me. It felt good that she had noticed. I didn’t even feel like running away to go hide from her compliment. I felt like I had earned it. Maybe the horror section would become just another shelf of books instead of my favorite spot to hide out in. Every day since I had met Wyatt had been a step forward. Even the time when I had called off work and hid in my bed was a step forward—instead of the relief I normally would have experienced, I’d felt guilty. Meeting Wyatt was the spark I had needed. But even if that little flame I had found with him flickered out, I would find a way to keep this fire of self-improvement burning. Somehow.

  Mrs. MacIntyre grabbed her things and left with a wave.

  I smiled to myself and scanned the library. A few teens were at the old computers in the corner, Jackson was in my usual haunt in the horror section looking for something scary to read, and Everett sat in the red rocking chair in the children’s section with Makenna and Melissa next to him on the floor, listening to him as he read them a story.

  “Hi, Riri, hi!” Harry called as he and Ruby made their way through the small lobby. Harry ran around the counter and threw himself into my arms. I picked him up and smacked a kiss on his cheek.

  He laughed and wiggled to get down.

  “Hey, Aunt Sabrina,” Ruby said. “Harry wants to sit in the purple beanbag and read Harry Potter. Our copy at home is not good enough.” She laughed and plopped into one of the chairs at the tables in the center of the library. Ruby was watching Harry until my father finished at the senior center.

  “Hey! It’s Mak and Mel! I like them!” Harry shouted excitedly and ran for the story area.

  “Harry!” Melissa shouted back, stood up, and met him at the edge of the solar system rug. “You’re here at the library! Sit with us. Uncle Everett is reading Fancy Nancy and she is a ballerina in this one.”

  I laughed as Mel did a little pirouette before she took her place on the rug again.

  “Sit here, Harry.” Makenna patted the floor between her and Mel indicating he should join them.

  Everett looked up from the book and waved to me. He looked harried; his hair was in a messy man-bun, and the hair tie was a pink glitter scrunchie. Mrs. Monroe must be sick or something. Wyatt had told me she usually watched his girls while he worked.

  I saw Jackson approach the checkout counter with his books. I gripped the edge of the counter and held on. My heart started to pound a nervous echo I could feel in my ears. I wanted to dart into Mrs. MacIntyre’s office and invent an emergency so I could hide from him, but I fought the urge. I owed him an apology for the trouble I almost caused at the Dragon Biker Bar and I was determined to give it to him. “Hi, Jackson.”

  He grinned and slid his books across the counter.

  “I’m sorry—for, uh…” I drifted off as I struggled for words. This was important; I had to do it. I felt like it would be a big step forward for me. I needed to look Jackson in the eye and say I was sorry. I inhaled a huge breath.

  “It’s okay,” he said before I could try again.

  My eyes shot to his. “You aren’t mad at me?”

  “I’m not mad at you, sweetheart.” His eyes held mine as he smiled at me.

  I released the huge breath I was holding and smiled back at him. “Thank you. I won’t do anything stupid like that again—probably.”

  “It was very stupid,” he agreed. “But it was also brave. Funny how those two things go hand in hand sometimes.”

 
I laughed softly. “Yeah, big feelings seem to keep pushing me out of my comfort zone.” Why was it so much easier to talk about this with Jackson? Probably because I didn’t have a super massive crush on him like Wyatt.

  “I’m glad.” He winked at me. “Comfort zones are boring.” His wink didn’t give me all the feels that Wyatt’s did, and I still couldn’t believe I had completely overlooked his potential. He was adorable, blond, sexy-hot, and some lucky girl would get—uh, lucky when she caught his eye. Plus, he loved Stephen King and that made him awesome. It had also made him my friend, I hoped.

  “You’re right, Jackson.”

  Suddenly there was a commotion in the children’s area. “My tummy hurts, Uncle Everett—” echoed across the library just before the retching started.

  Jackson spun around, Ruby stood up in alarm, the teens at the computers ran out the front door, and I grabbed the small metal garbage bin that sat at the side of the counter and made a mad dash toward Mel.

  I managed to thrust the garbage can under her face just before a wave of red vomit blew forth. It smelled a lot like frosting as it filled the can.

  “Oh, shit!” Harry cried and crab walked backward to crash into the shelf against the wall. Harry had a sensitive gag reflex and an extremely picky appetite; he threw up often. I could probably become a professional puke catcher if I wanted to make a career change. But I also had a tendency to curse whenever barf was involved—which Harry had picked up on—so keeping my job in the library was probably for the best.

  “I told you it would made her sick, Uncle Everett,” Mak said, matter of fact.

  “But—I didn’t let her eat any,” Everett stammered. He looked a little green as he stood there and stared at Mel and me in horror.

  “What did she eat?” I asked, hopefully it was just a full tummy and not food poisoning or something worse. I pulled Mel onto my lap on the floor when she finished throwing up. I pushed the curls out of her face and smiled down at her. “You’ll be okay, honey,” I murmured.