Page 71 of Library or Lattes?

James, Geoff’s son, brought two more lattes to the table. “My dad is trying to give you these for free, but this isn’t a charity, so I’ll have to ask you to pay.”

Lennie reached into her pocket and pulled out a ten-dollar bill. She handed it to him without saying anything. When he left, we laughed.

“Begone miserable boy energy,” Lennie declared.

By the time the Halloween party rolled around, the gang had convinced me to join in their group costume, and I decided I’d dress up as Max from Stranger Things. All I needed were jeans, sneakers, and a T-shirt, and I found exactly what I needed in the thrift store on Main Street.

“What do you think?” I asked Pop, posing with a peace sign.

“I think I’ve gone back in time, because your mom had an outfit just like that,” he said, then smiled. “She bought the shirt in a thrift store too. She loved finding treasures like that.” His voice got softer. “That’s what she called them. Treasures. She always said that the best things had history, that they lived a life before they got to you.”

He blinked and laughed. “The life of a shirt.” He shook his head like it was ridiculous.

“I love that,” I said, playing with the hem.

“I do too,” admitted Pop. “She saw the world her own way …”

I finished getting ready for the party, and I shoved Theo out of my head every time he tried to slink in. I was a Queen of Fire, whatever that was.

I had just finished with my hair when the doorbell rang.

“Pop, can you get that?”

But there was no answer, so I sighed and walked to the door. I opened it to find two little vampires. Vampires I recognized as Theo’s niece and nephew.

“Trick or treat!” they said together. I pretended to be scared before grabbing the basket of candy beside the door.

Alfie and Hadley Carmichael were standing at the bottom of the driveway, waiting.

“Hey.” I waved cheerily. As if Theo was the last person on my mind.

“Just one each!” Hadley came up the path to stop Elsie and Cohen from raiding the basket. “Sorry, Willa, I’m not sure where their manners have gone. How are you, honey?”

“I’m great, thanks. Heading out soon,” I said.

Hadley smiled. “Going out. Oh, I remember those days.”

Elsie and Cohen ran back to Alfie to show him their stash, but Hadley stayed behind. “Theo says he’s been running into you at the library?”

And there it was. The fast heartbeat, the palms that pricked with sweat, the desire to slam the door in her pretty face.

“Yeah …” I tried to sound like we hadn’t kissed right there on the street where his niece and nephew were playing.

“Let me tell you, he was such a grouch until he met you.” Hadley smiled and I looked at the ground.

“I don’t know about that …” I forced out a weird-sounding laugh.

“Well, whatever you’re doing, please don’t stop, he’s much more pleasant to live with since sweet Willa Taylor lit up his life. But look, I better go, those two are trying to get to every house in Oak Falls before bedtime.” Hadley rolled her eyes, then leaned over and hugged me. “I can see why he likes you so much.”

“Hadley?” Alfie called from the street, where he was being dragged away by the kids.

“Coming! See you later, Willa, and thanks for the candy.”

I closed the door, then leaned on it, just about stopping myself from sliding to the floor. No. I didn’t care if he was nicer to live with, he wasn’t being nice to me. I needed to focus on myself. And the party.

Pop appeared in the living room, and I actually smelled him before I saw him.

“Is that cologne?” I asked, sniffing the musky air.