Page 25 of Tides and Tidings

I thought back to the text thread and how much had changed. If you had told me back then that I would be living in Wippowa, dating Charlie, and living with him and Wren, I would have laughed. I was staunchly against relationships after how poorly my last one ended. I didn’t like being around kids. I was a completely different person now than I was a year and a half ago.

“Where do you wanna head next? We have four and a half hours—give or take—until dinner.”

I looked up as we strolled the cobblestone street. “They have a cute little bookshop down the street.”

“Show me the way.”

“We don’t have to. What did you have planned?”

“What’s the store’s name?” he asked, reaching for his phone.

“Novel Nook.”

He typed something on his phone before turning it towards me. “Is it this one?”

I nodded.

“That’s the place I was going to take you to.” His smile spread from ear to ear.

Excitement bubbled in my stomach before I stood on my toes, grabbed each side of his bearded face, and planted a kiss on his lips.

“That’s not getting you to the bookstore any quicker.”

I dropped my hands around his waist and folded them behind his back. He pulled me in and I felt my body relax into him. He was my safe space.

“I just felt your body relax. I’m happy you’re enjoyin’ your special weekend.” He placed a kiss on the top of my hair. “Tonight is going to blow you away.”

Charlie’s heart rate picked up. He’s been a little bit off. It’s not super noticeable, but he’s been zoning out today. I don’t know if he missed Wren or was anxious that the restaurant wouldn’t have something he liked.

“As long as I’m with you, I don’t care what we do,” I responded honestly.

“I just want to spoil you today. Let’s get goin’ to that bookstore.”

He led the way down the street and around the corner to Novel Nook. I gasped audibly. It was the cutest bookstore I had ever seen.

“Are you gonna try to make friends?” Charlie joked. Every time I went into a new bookstore, if the owner were there, I would talk with them.

“Of course I am.” I poked my tongue out at him.

We were greeted by a young girl sitting behind the counter. “Welcome in! Please let me know if I can help you find anything.”

I smiled at the girl. “Thank you!”

The shelves were perfectly organized by genre and author and had an incredible selection of book-related merchandise. It was bright and airy—very much like Sea Reads. I wandered around and spotted the romance section. I made my way over with Charlie in tow.

I don’t know who said never to judge a book by its cover, but I sure did. For me, the cover draws your eye to the book in the first place. The thickest book on the shelf caught my eye.

“You would pick up the biggest book,” Charlie observed. “Wait, don’t you have that one on your nightstand at home?”

I shrugged, unsure of how to respond. Not because I felt like I was being judged but because I genuinely couldn’t remember if I had this one at home or not. On more than one occasion, I’ve purchased a double or a triple copy of a book because I insisted I didn’t have it at home on my shelf. Reader problems, I suppose.

My eyes turned to slits as I read the back cover. “I think you might be right.”

“We need to make a list of books you have so we don’t have to play this game in every bookstore.” Charlie laughed, “I love you, but think you have a problem.”

“Are you going to stage an intervention?”

“I just might have to.” He bit back a smile before turning his attention behind me.