Twenty Six: The Bookstore

She received her first paycheck from Ardor and knew exactly where she wanted to spend it. Nathan took her to the bookstore where she met Kelsey for the first time. She took a cart, knowing she will be buying more than a few books.

She went straight to the Fiction shelves. She studied the covers, picked out the most interesting titles, read the synopsis and followed her gut instinct whether to put it in the cart or put it back on the shelves. She could do that for hours, while Nathan was in the Business section because that's what he was reading lately.

She saw him reading by the store window. The sunlight penetrated the glass and made his skin looked golden. He was looking down on his book, he pouted his lips. The world around him seemed to disappear, he wasn't aware of her watching him. He was like her when he reads, she thought. She could spend hours in that store, and he wouldn't be bothered waiting for her.

She turned to the Literature aisle, looked at the top shelves where all the dead poets lined up. She already owned most of the books. She tried to reach her favorite one but it was too high. A longer arm aimed for it from behind her, a scent of Nathan's cologne followed it.

"I've never read this one before," he said standing really close to her.

"That's my favorite, I left it at home ... I'm thinking to buy another one, just in case."

He laughed, "Just in case of what? But that's a good strategy though, always have a backup ... I want to read this ... I guess I've found the culprit, this was exactly where I met Kelsey the first time, she was buying books for you, wasn't she?" he looked straight into her eyes.

She shrugged with a smile, "Guilty."

"So ... if you had come with her that summer, I would've bumped into you instead of her?" he wondered.

She pursed her lips, "That's highly likely, this is a great store ... but then you wouldn't be dating the hottest girl in Gastonburry."

He looked down, lost his smile, and let out a long exhale. "Right."

"I think I'm done here," she said.

He looked at her half full cart, "Wow, that looks awesome, are you going to read them all in one night?"

She laughed, there were close to 20 books in her cart, "That's for the whole month or maybe more 'cause I need to do my report."

He grabbed the cart and took the poetry book that was going to be his new favorite, "This will be my bonus for you, let's check-out."

"What? I can't let you pay for that ... that's a lot of books," she refused.

"You deserve a bonus for all the work you put in, anyways, these books are going on my shelves, you won't be taking them back to Gastonburry, would you?" He had a point.

"I guess not."

"Great, so that's settled ... we'll have a reading fest tonight, I'll fix a nice dinner, we'll get some wine, we'll read, and then music, and then desert ... and then we can talk about it 'til sunrise ... you know, a stay at home nerdy weekend," he sounded excited.

She laughed, it sounded like a dream. It was something she would enjoy by herself, and now there's someone that enjoys it as much as she does. She remembered him saying, 'There's nothing sexier than a girl who reads.' Dido.

**********

Home made gourmet looked so easy in Nathan's hands. She sat by the kitchen island, reading one of their new books while cooked. "Wow, I'm liking this one, it's gonna be hard to put down," a wide smile spread across her face. She was four chapters in, the story was already clutching her.

"Oh I know the kind ... I wanna read that one too, no spoilers please," he was seasoning his food, flipping his tools like a pro.

Her face was covered by the book, eyes glued to the pages. Once in awhile she made humming sounds, a chuckle or an exasperating sigh. He smiled amused, splashed some white wine to the fish, then poured some for himself and some for Julie. "It's that good, huh?" he offered a toast. She quickly finished the last line, clinked her glass with Nathan's, then marked the book and closed it.

"It's really good," she gulped her wine.

Their eyes met. He wanted to tell her how much he loves looking at her getting lost in a story, but his face said it all.

"If you like suspense thrillers ..." she tapped on the book, "This is the best I've read in years ... but I have to finish it to conclude the entirety of it, and then I'll tell you all about it."

He laughed, "I'm gonna read that right after you finish, do not attempt to spoil that for me ... I'm gonna read some romance after this, you know, to infuse a little romantic spirit into the tragic stricken love life of mine."

"Oh, come on, long distance relationships are not tragic, although, it is kind of sad to spend Friday night with a book nerd at home," she giggled.

"Trust me, it's tragic, and this is not even close to sad ... I actually prefer this than a noisy night life, and it's better with company."

They clinked glasses to that.

They started eating while discussing about books they've read, their favorite authors, movie adaptations, and everything else other than their tragic love life. After dinner, they sat in the living room area with their book of choice, and spend comfortable silence together. Commenting on what they were reading once in awhile, and went back to it right after.

He really did read a romance novel. He read only selected few, he said. But nonetheless, he was reading it. Julie never came across a guy who reads as much as she does, a romance novel especially.

Two hours into their reading session, his phone rang.

"Hey," he picked up.

She could tell from his tone, it was Kelsey.

"What?" he sounded surprised. He stood up from his reading position, and walked to the front door.

"Surprise!!" Kelsey's voice can be heard from the living room.

"Oh my God! Hi!" Nathan replied.

The silence that followed can only be assumed that they were kissing. She would've jumped to welcome her but she didn't want to interrupt their kiss.

When she finally stormed into the living room, they hugged and screamed. "I miss you so much! I thought I'd crash into your island weekend here and get a taste of that New Year's party I missed," Kelsey said with twinkles in her eyes. She looked around and saw all the books and wine bottles, "Wow ... you two are really going all the way tonight, aren't you?" she laughed.

Julie glanced at Nathan who was standing idle by the dining table, unsure of what he needed to do.

"You want some wine, Kells?"

"Oh, yeah, I could use a pre-drink, come on let's get dressed and go to that rock n' roll bar you told me about," she took the glass from Nathan's hand.

"Now?" he asked.

"Sure ... why not? I did came all this way for the weekend, Gastonburry was a bit dull ... so I thought I pay a visit to my hot boyfriend and let him take me out on an island night life," she came over to Nathan and kissed him.

"Yeah ... I think you should catch up and check out The Rockabillies ... or other bars you might like, I'm just gonna stay home and read tonight," Julie said. Nathan gave her a sharp disagreeing look.

"Yeah, babe, let's get out and have some fun, a little dancing, some island cocktails, and then we come back and catch up some more," she bit her lower lip and ran her hand under his shirt. She caught his lips and engulfed them in her kiss, Julie looked away.

"Julie, you sure you don't want to come?" he tried.

"No, you guys go ahead and have fun ... I'm just gonna finish this one and drink all your wine," she lifted her book with a grin.

"Oh don't mind her, she won't put down her book even if it's the end of the world," Kelsey pressed herself against Nathan, he couldn't possibly say 'no' to her after she took an eight hour flight just to spend the weekend with him.

"Okay ... let me change first," he took her hands out of his shirt and went to his room.

"Did Preston told you I was coming?" Kelsey threw herself by her side.

"No, I was as surprised as Nathan was."

"Good, I told him not to tell you, he said if he called you he would definitely slip up, so he wants you to call him after I get here."

"He's not out clubbing on a Friday night?"

"Nope, he's waiting for your call ... he's been brooding lately, its annoying, he's not much fun without you."

Nathan came out of his room in a long sleeve shirt pulled to the elbow. He wore his favorite washed out jeans and smelled like a Friday night. His eyes fell to Julie's, hoping she would change her mind or begged him not to go.

"Great! Let's go!" Kelsey jumped to her feet.

11 PM Friday night was her best time. Nathan looked down, there was no chance he was getting out of this one.

"Have fun guys! I won't wait up!" Julie waived at them.

"Thanks babe, we'll catch up tomorrow, 'kay?" Kelsey kissed her cheek.

Nathan didn't even say his goodbye, just a simple waive and a disappointed look on his face.

"Don't forget to call Preston," Kelsey added as she slipped her arm around Nathan's.

Julie caught a look from Nathan's eyes. "I won't," she said.

They stepped out and Nathan slammed the door just a little too hard.