Page 69 of Check You Out

“I’m also reading,” he remarks, and my attention immediately snaps to focus.

“You’re reading? What have been reading?” I ask, trying to keep my voice even.

Dan taps his fingers against the table and points a finger in my direction. “So, when my girlfriend broke up with me, she left a book, and I decided to read it.” He grimaces. “I liked to read as a kid, and I don’t know, I just felt like picking it up and having a go.” He fiddles with the strap on his satchel. “I am sorry for all the times I got on your case about reading too much. It’s a part of my work with my therapist to acknowledge all the ways that I’ve been a dick to people.”

“Did they actually use those words?” I inquire.

He snorts. “No, more like ‘be accountable for all the ways I have mistreated people’.”

“Mistreated does seem a little too clinical,” I remark, a flash of boldness streaking through me. Xander raises an eyebrow.

“That’s what I said. I have been a dick to people,” Dan remarks, and I let out a little huff. At least Dan and I have the same self-deprecating sense of humor. “Well, anyways, so it was one of those dragon rider books, Fourth Wing, and I really liked it. Then I read the rest of the Empryean Series, and then I read The Priory of the Orange Tree, and now I’m reading The Poppy War by RF Kuang.”

I gawk at him for a long moment. “You’re reading fantasy? You read Fourth Wing? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you read anything other than law books.”

He shrugs. “Have you ever read those?”

“You made me read one when I was kid. They’re very boring.”

He points a finger at me. “Exactly. Watching paint dry is more entertaining. When I told my therapist about it, he said that reading helps with stress relief. And building empathy.” He pauses. “He encouraged it.”

I peer at him for a moment, utterly speechless. My father is reading fantasy books and enjoys them. He’s really diving into this whole changing his life thing, and I’m not sure how I feel about it. Skeptical, yes, but also hopeful. I like this new version of Dan.

“You should have him visit Charlotte,” Xander remarks, peeking up over his phone. “Also, I can’t find anything on this Ferdinand O’Connor guy, other than what we know already. But she might. She knows everyone.”

I grit my teeth and grimace. Do I really want to introduce Charlotte and Dan right now? A few minutes ago, I wasn’t sure I wanted to, but then he started talking about books. “Really? She does?”

“Of course.” Xander claps me on the back. “She’s on five thousand committees, and if she doesn’t know, then she’ll steer us to someone who does.” He waggles his eyebrows and mouths, “she’ll be fine.”

Dan nods before rising from his chair. “Well, what are we waiting for? Shall we?”

“Give me a minute.” A grin forms on my face. “I need to order a London Fog.”

“A what?” Dan asks.

A corner of my mouth upturns. “Charlotte’s favorite drink.”

29

Charlotte

The bell over the door twinkles for the umpteenth time that morning, and my attention snaps to the door. While right now the bookstore is quiet, customers have been cycling through since I opened. Thelma snoozes on her cat bed in the window, lightly snoring. I’m the only one here in my sunny bookstore. I’m an anxious ball of nerves waiting for Aidan to visit. Every time the door opens, my focus is redirected to see if it’s him. Every time, I’ve been disappointed to find someone else and have to hide it

My hope dashes when I see this visitor isn’t Aidan.

Again.

“Hey,” I call to Nicole as she walks in with a vicious grin on her face and a swagger to her step. I do my best to stifle a mocking groan.

“I figured you could use some entertainment.” She chuckles.

“Always, because my life would be so boring without you,” I reply. “Hey, have you seen Aidan today? I’m just expecting him, and well, he’s not here yet.”

“No,” she replies and lets out a low chuckle while settling in my chair behind the counter. Thankfully, the store is empty right now, otherwise I would kick her out of my chair. “But I’m happy you’re feeling anxious. I haven’t seen you worry over a man in, like, forever. It gives you a nice rosy glow.”

I lean against the counter and cross my arms, frowning. “When are you going to take your own advice and ask Liam out?”

She rolls her eyes and picks at her nails. “Not happening. Last night he told me he’s still in love with his ex-fiancée.”