and only read paperback novels. I always knew when I needed to take a break from the internet because there’d be this pit of anxiety in my belly and my thoughts would constantly race. It was a clear sign I needed a hiatus. Since streaming was my job, I factored the detox weeks in as time off. Most of my followers were understanding about it.
“Yes, but I’m not sure I can discuss a book I haven’t read. Maybe I should just sit there and keep my mouth shut.”
I laughed loudly. “You keeping your mouth shut. Now that’s something I haven’t witnessed before, and I’ve known you since you emerged from the womb.”
“For your information, Mam says I was a very quiet baby.”
“Maybe you were, but I don’t remember it.”
“She said I slept all the time, and it was a chore to wake me up even for food.”
“Now that I can imagine. You sleep twelve hours a night.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I sleep the requisite eleven and a half just like everyone else,” he joked.
“You have the sleep schedule of a newborn puppy,” I said just as the bus approached our stop. We hopped off and made the short walk to the library, an old red brick building with a blue-painted door. It was very quaint. I hadn’t seen any pictures of Rosie, but I’d just been imagining a female version of Neil. It might’ve been a bad idea because now I was in danger of developing a minor crush on Neil’s sister, too.
I mean, if Neil appeared in front of me now wearing a sexy librarian get-up, aka, pencil skirt, heels, tight blouse, and glasses hanging off the tip of his nose, I’d still fancy him.
Maybe I’d fancy him more …
“What are you thinking about? You’ve gone all quiet,” Billy prodded.
“Nothing. Come on, let’s go inside.”
I linked my arm through his, and we stepped into the main lobby area of the library. It was after hours, but there were a good few people about. I hoped that meant Rosie’s book club had attracted more attendees than she expected. I was surprised that I cared about Neil’s sister’s feelings since we hadn’t even met yet. Perhaps it was because he cared about her, and I cared about him, so if she was happy, then that meant he’d be happy, too.
I cared about his happiness.
How odd.
On instinct, I pulled out my phone and shot off a quick message.
Afric: Just arrived at the library. Happy to report a bunch of people have shown up.
His response was immediate.
Neil: That’s a relief. Rosie really wants this to be a success. Thanks for letting me know. And thanks for going along. It means a lot.
Afric: As I said, I’ve nothing else on. How did everything go last night?
I was more than a little eager to hear how Neil’s night on the town had panned out.
Neil: Exactly as I predicted.
Afric: Meaning?
Neil: Next to Callum, I was invisible.
You’re not invisible to me. The thought came unbidden. I frowned at my phone, worrying my lip as I typed out a reply.
Afric: I’m sure you’re overexaggerating. After all, you do have an arse that won’t quit, and women notice these things ;-)
Neil: You’re just trying to make me feel better.
Afric: Yes, but it’s also the truth.
Neil: Okay, I’ll have to take your word for it since I find it impossible to properly see my own backside in a mirror. I always end up straining my neck and pulling a muscle.
Afric: Did you just admit to checking out your own butt?
Neil: Not in the way you’re implying.
Afric: It is exactly in the way I’m implying.
Afric: I better go. The book club’s about to start.
I grinned as I shoved my phone back in my pocket, not giving Neil the chance to respond. I could just imagine him getting all flustered and worked up over my teasing, the vein in his forehead popping.
Billy and I entered the moderately sized reading room, where chairs had been arranged to form a circle. A number of people were already taking seats, some with dog-eared copies of the book, others with new, pristine paperbacks. There was something about libraries that always made me feel cosy. I was a sucker for the smell of old paper mixed with the faint hint of mildew and the atmosphere of enforced silence. I wasn’t even being sarcastic. That shit was pure soulful.
A woman who appeared to be in her mid-twenties stood by a table fussing with a stack of note cards. She