Sometimes Love Finds You While You’re Waiting Out the Rain At Your Favourite Bookstore

Lightning flashed, lighting up the small used bookstore. Linzie looked up and braced for the incoming clap of thunder. She loved the rain, but thunder and loud noises in general set her on edge. Looked like she was going to be here for quite a while. She looked around, trying to settle her nerves. The hole-in-the-wall used bookstore and café was all oranges and browns, warm colours that made it feel like a second home. The shoulder-high bookshelves were a rustic brown, as were the picnic bench seats that were attached to the tables. She loved it here, couldn’t get over the soft background music, the ruffling of pages all around, the old book smell and the murmurs from people like her who loved being amongst books. It was hands down one of the main reasons she’d moved into the neighbourhood.

She looked around and smiled when she saw the waiter approaching with someone’s order. Evidently, it was the guy next to her. The lean, bearded guy was always here, alone, head buried in books. She loved that about this place, how everyone was familiar, a regular, even though she didn’t really know them. Her stomach growled softly when the scent of the food wafted to her. She eyed the sandwich and fries. Her favourite. She was getting that. Exactly that. She signalled the waiter, her friend, Carl, before he walked off.

He smiled and approached her.

“Hey, Linzie.”

“Hey, Carl. Can I have the chef’s special BBQ steak sandwich?”

His face fell. “Sorry, we’re out.”

“Carl, why are you doing this to me?”

He laughed. “I would never do that to you. You could try the pulled pork BBQ sandwich.”

“I want the BBQ steak,” she said, pouting.

“We could split mine, if you want?” The familiar guy at the next table said.

They both turned to him.

“I haven’t touched it.” He added, raising his hands up.

“If you’re only saying that to be polite, I’m giving you this singular opportunity to pull back the offer.”

He laughed. “Not being polite.”

She looked up at Carl. “Carl, please take it, run to the kitchen and slice it before he changes his mind.”

Carl laughed. “Can I get you fries and a vanilla milkshake with that?”

“Yes, please and thank you.”

“So, I take it you really love the chef’s special BBQ steak sandwich.”

“It’s basically my raison d’être. That and reading.”

“I can respect that. I’m Felix, by the way.”

“Linzie.”

Carl walked back with two plates, with half a sandwich on each. He’d added a side of salad to her plate so it matched Felix’s.

“Your fries will be a minute. There’s a bit of a queue, but it’s moving fast, so don’t panic.”

“Wow, Carl, thanks. I will hold off on the panicking, but not for long. You’ve been warned.”

“You’re welcome to my fries as we wait,” Felix said.

“As we’ve established, I will not say no, Felix.”

He laughed. “How can I have a problem with that?”

He slid the basket of fries closer to her and slid across the bench so they could share it more easily.

“Yeah, you’re not that lucky,” she said, wagging a finger at him, jingling her bangles lightly.

“Noted.”

He added a huge dollop of ketchup on the side of his plate, then pushed the basket of condiments to her.

“Thanks,” she murmured, munching on a crispy fry. “Gotta go wash my hands. Wait for me.”

He laughed. “What kind of siblings did you have?”

“Take a guess,” she called, walking away.

What are you doing? She asked her reflection at the sink. We said no more men; you are not sticking to the program. You already had your heart broken; you want to go back there again? No, obviously not. She was just having a little fun, figuring out if she still had it after almost two years on the bleachers. She shook her head, enjoying the sway of her chin-length blonde bob. She smiled. She looked so damn good today. She fluffed her hair, enjoying the way the light glinted off the bangles and rings she had on nearly every finger. Everything about this bookstore was perfect, not least of all the warm lighting that added a rich hue to her dark skin. She listened to the muted rain sounds. Out of respect for her hotness, the rain and his hotness, she was going to enjoy herself, flirt a little and go home. No harm, no foul.

“So, what are you considering?” Linzie asked, looking at the small pile of books where he’d previously been seated.

He shook his head, mouth full of the big bite of sandwich she’d just watched him take. She waited and watched him hurry to swallow, fighting back a smile.

“I know you did that on purpose.”

“Did what?” She asked, all innocence.

“Oh, now I know you did it on purpose and after I was so kind to you?”

Lightning flashed, illuminating his amused look. Oh, that was one beautiful smile. Lord! Focus, Linzie.

“You want to talk about kindness? I’m having dinner with you. You have any idea how lucky you are? You’re having a great day, buddy, one for the books.”

He laughed. “Okay. I’m considering these two African mythology books I’ve had my eye on for a while. Also, two mystery novels and a non-fiction, Empire of AI.”

“Interesting. That’s the one by Karen Hao, right?”

“Yeah. You read it?”

“Yes. Highly recommend. It will piss you off, maybe even scare you, but I guess if you’re out here reading mysteries you don’t scare easy.”

He laughed. “I’m not sure how to respond to that. On the one hand, I don’t want to look like I scare easy, yet on the other hand, I want it to be known that I sometimes just want to be held, too, you know?”

Thunder chose that moment to clap, catching her off guard. She gasped before she could bite it back.

“No, I don’t.” She answered deadpan.

“Your fries and milkshake,” Carl said with a slightly amused smile.

“Thanks, Carl.” She said with a stern look.

He laughed, ignoring her non-verbal communication.

“Enjoy.” He said, needlessly dragging it out.

She listened to the soft patter of the rain, watched it slide down the windows and centred herself. Her heart stopped racing, her breath returning to its normal pace.

She took the fresh basket of fries and slid away from Felix on the bench.

“So, it’s like that?” He asked with a laugh.

“What do you mean?” She asked.

“Linzie, are you seriously not going to share?”

She popped a fry into her mouth.

“You’re really going to make me sit here and watch you eat those fresh fries?”

“I don’t kink shame, Felix.”

He smiled. “That’s good to know, Linzie. Really good. Now, will you please share your fries with me?”

She smiled and slid the basket of fries towards him, then slid closer.

“Just for the record, I don’t kink shame, either.” He said, biting a fry.

Linzie’s mouth went dry. Oh Lord. She grabbed her milkshake and drank. She was officially playing with fire.

“What about you? What’s in that stash you got there?”

“A self-inflicted headache, that’s what. No mysteries, though. A few non-fiction on the current fucked-up state of the world and a bunch of romance novels to balance out the doom and gloom.”

“Are you going to take it all?” He asked, looking from her to the three piles of books, then back to her.

She shook her head at him. “Don’t judge me, Felix.”

“I would never. Heck, I’m trying to help. I could help you narrow it all down to maybe a solid fifteen?”

She shook her head, feigning disappointment. “That’s a judging tone, Felix.”

He sighed. “I am not judging you, Linzie; who amongst us has not tried to buy their weight in books at a used bookstore?”

“Regardless. You can’t help me choose; you don’t know me like that.”

“We can fix that.” He said, just as lightning flashed, lighting the little bookstore up.

She narrowed her eyes at him and started bracing for the thunder.

“We got nowhere to go until the heavens let up. Plus, everyone’s talking about the 36 questions to get to know anyone. We could fix that, just like that.” He said, snapping his fingers.

“Ain’t that the one to help you fall in love with anyone?”

He shrugged. “Tomato. Tomato.”

“Yeah, I’m not trying to do that. Hard. Pass.”

He shook his head, feigning sadness. “Who is responsible for this? Tell me the bastard’s name.”

The thunder chose that moment to hit. She froze, sure for a second that things were falling. It had been so loud that time.

“Hey, you okay?” Felix asked, his eyes soft with concern.

She took a deep breath. “William Ruto. The bastard.”

He nodded. “Say less, wantam.”

She toasted him with her milkshake. “Wantam.”

She crossed her fingers, hoping he’d let the thunder thing go. How do you justify such fears as a full-grown adult? Please, just let it go. Her eyes went back to the window, the raindrops sliding down. She listened to the soothing taps of the drops. Her favourite sound. Her racing pulse slowed.

“Let’s do it anyway,” he said.

“Do what?” she asked, puzzled.

“The questions.”

“Please tell me you don’t believe that BS.”

“Hey, the way I see it, we got time. You can prove them wrong. I can help you narrow down that pile of books to a respectable twenty, max. Win-win.”

She laughed. “That’s barely fifteen books total.”

“Oh wow. I’m learning a lot about you Linzie. Will only eat the chef’s special BBQ sandwich, refuses to believe New York Times-approved experts and can’t count to save her life.”

“I’m taking notes too, Felix. Way too cocky. Highly susceptible to argument from authority logical fallacies. And…” She bit her lip before what she was thinking slipped out – hella charming. So charming.

He smiled at her, hand lightly playing with his beard. “Are we going to do this or what? It’s starting to seem to me like you’re just scared, Linzie.”

She leaned back. “Whip out your little expert questions, Felix. I cannot wait to prove you wrong.”

“I can just tell you’re going to be a sore loser.”

“Tick-tock, time’s a wastin’, Felix.”

“Okay, Linzie. Okay.” He scrolled through his phone. “We take turns asking each other the questions. Question one. If you could invite anyone in the world to dinner, who would it be?”

“That’s it? That’s the quality of questions. Oh, Felix dear, I’m afraid they lied to you.”

He winked at her. “You let me worry about that, dear. If you could invite anyone in the world to dinner, who would it be?”

“Wait. We need some rules.”

“Okay.”

“If you fall in love with me and this goes to hell, I get custody of this bookstore. You have to find another place.”

He tugged at his beard, eyes closed. “How about 50/50 custody?”

“No. Best offer. You get two, maybe three weekends a month, and you need to be quick about it, no hanging out for hours on end.”

“Now, who’s scared it will work?”

“Not me.”

He nodded. “I’ll take it.”

She took out a piece of paper and wrote out the terms. She signed her name and date at the bottom, then slid it to him. He met her eyes, smiled, then signed.

She waved, trying to get Carl’s attention. “We’re going to need a witness.”

“Damn, you’re taking this seriously.”

“I don’t play about this place.”

He nodded, his expression solemn. “You don’t play about what’s yours. I get it.”

Her heart skipped. The way he was looking at her–as if what mattered to her mattered to him –sent heat flooding through her.

“What’s up?” Carl asked, laying the empty tray on the table.

“We need you to witness something for us.” She said, sliding the paper and pen towards him.

He skimmed through it, then looked from one to the other and, without another word signed it.

“All the best,” he said, grabbing the tray.

She folded the paper and slid it into her purse. “Toni Morrison.”

He leaned closer, without skipping a beat. “Interesting. Why?”

“There’s something so tough about her, intimidating without being domineering. Plus, she’s so smart. I like that in a woman. What about you?”