Page 37 of Check You Out

The chairs are all put away, and most of the members have left. Some of them are still lingering in the hall, chatting. Nicole left for another shift at Little Bennett’s. Sarah is in the corner, talking with a small group. Technically, we’re supposed to be cleared out of the room by now, but I’ll let the librarian kick them out when the place closes.

I want to spend more time with Aidan.

We’re friends now. I think.

We’ve been texting back and forth since our impromptu dinner on Saturday night, in addition to his visit on Sunday. Mostly, we’ve been sharing photos of our pets and reactions to the books we’re reading, with a smattering of Library Committee business.

I’m still not entirely sure what Aidan thinks of me. He’s polite and friendly in our interactions, but I feel like he’s holding back from me. Like he doesn’t entirely want me to know him. He revealed another layer with the panic attack and our conversation about what caused it. His expression looked scared, like a child who had his candy stash discovered by his parents. It softened once he realized that I wasn’t going to take away his coveted metaphorical chocolate. His face has more color now, and his breathing seems to have steadied.

“Sure,” I reply and loop my arm through his. “Are you feeling better now?”

He swallows. “Yes. Much better.”

“Good.” I run my tongue over my teeth. “If you feel like that again, let me know so I can help. Remember, we promised to be harmless to each other, and I keep all my promises.” I wait for a response, but he says nothing. I continue, hoping he doesn’t mind my yapping, “When I was ten, I promised Nicole that I wouldn’t develop a crush on Zachary Milton, because she had a crush on him, and to this day, I have kept that promise.”

He peers at me through half-closed eyes. The shadows from the streetlight cast dramatic shadows across his face. “Did you ever have to worry about that?”

I scrunch my nose. “No. Zachary was actually pretty mean. He would go around pulling on the girls’ hair and stomping on ant farms. I never understood why Nicole even liked him. Maybe that wasn’t exactly a good example of a promise I’ve kept.” I think for a second. “I did promise in sixth grade that I wouldn’t do drugs, and I haven’t. That’s a better example, if you need one.”

Aidan chuckles and says, “I wasn’t concerned about whether you can keep your promises. I trust you.”

A smile creeps up my face. We reach my bookstore, and I turn to him. “Would you like to come up for some tea?”

“Sure,” he replies.

A few minutes later, and we’re in my kitchen. He’s sitting at my table, Thelma curled up in his lap, having jumped up at once there when he sat down. She’s purring loudly and headbutting his hand as he strokes her. Her signature move.

“You’re such a pretty kitty,” he coos to her, and warmth fills my chest. I’ve always been a sucker for men who are kind to animals. If I found Lloyd and him adorable, I find Thelma and him utterly charming.

“How long have you had her?” Aidan asks me, tipping his face up to me.

“I got her when she was two, and she’s nineteen now, so seventeen years. She used to be a barn cat.” I fill my kettle with water and turn on the stove. “That cat has been with me through five boyfriends, two colleges, quite a few jobs, and one major parental loss.”

His eyes grow wide. “Wow.” He scratches under her chin. “You’re a real ride or die kitty, aren’t you Miss Thelma.” He studies her for a moment. “Was there ever a Louise?”

I nod, pulling down two mugs. “But when the barn where she lived was closing, someone else took Louise, and I took Thelma.” I open my tea cabinet. “Damnit, Nicole!” I hiss out when I spot the empty shelf. I stamp my foot and whirl to face him, crossing my arms and leaning against the counter.

“What?” Aidan asks, his expression shifting to one of concern. “What did she do?”

“She put all of my tea on the highest shelf.”

“Why?” He blinks and tilts his head to the side. “How? She’s shorter than you.”

I shrug. “She probably snuck in here earlier today and used the stool. She pranked me. She likes to do that. But—” I open my oven and pull out the baking sheet laden with cookies. “She left some cookies.” I shake my head and start putting the cookies onto a plate.

“That certainly is an interesting prank.”

I turn around, taking a bite of a cookie. “Well, she feels bad, so she leaves me something to take the sting out of it.” I hold out another cookie to him. He sniffs the air like Thelma does when I offer her a new treat and eyes it warily. “Her famous spiced chocolate chip cookies.”

His eyes grow wide. “The ones that always sell out in the café?”

I nod, grinning between bites.

He takes it from me, examining it. “I’ve never seen them. I didn’t they think existed.” He takes a bite. He chews several times and emits a low moan. I feel the rumbles in the pit of my stomach, and my already warm core heats up like the stove behind me.

He swallows and takes another bite. “They’re sweet, but also—is that salt? How are they salty too?”

I point to the top of the cookie. “She sprinkles flaky salt on them once after they come out of the oven. It’s her secret.”