Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 132951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 665(@200wpm)___ 532(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 665(@200wpm)___ 532(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
I park in a public lot and guide her down the street. It’s a busy afternoon, with people out shopping despite the biting cold. Mildred stays close, hugging my arm and tucking her chin into the collar of her coat.
“Here we are.” I hold the door open and usher her in.
Her glasses fog up immediately. She takes them off and looks around, a smile curving her mouth. “A bookstore. It’s like you know me.”
“Not just any bookstore.” I take her glasses and use a cleaning cloth to rub away the moisture before I carefully set them back in place. “The best bookstore.”
She looks around, eyes widening in surprise. “Oh wow.”
“They just opened this week.”
It’s like walking into a storybook. Archways made of old library books frame each aisle. “It’s romance focused, and for every three books purchased, one is donated to a charity organization of your choice.”
“This is incredible.”
“Shall we browse?”
“Please.” I grab a book basket, and Mildred links her arm through mine.
She leads me down the romantasy aisle, and we scour the shelves of new and gently used books. She points out favorite authors and favorite titles, noting the ones she thinks I would like and adding books to her basket as we go.
We spend two hours browsing, picking for her, Everly, Victor, and Meems before we grab coffees and settle into one of the plush couches. Mildred nestles into my side while we read one of the books she selected together, like we often used to do in the library at home.
I press my lips against her temple, comforted by the weight and warmth of her against me. “I missed having you close.”
She looks up, eyes meeting mine. “I missed everything about you.”
My gaze drops to her mouth.
“You shouldn’t look at me like that when we’re in public,” she whispers.
“Then you and your lips should try to be less audaciously tempting, darling.”
“Still such a villain…” She laughs.
“Still such a beautiful menace,” I note.
She licks her lips, voice barely carrying across the space between us. “You should make a scene.”
“A big or little one?”
She holds her fingers apart the tiniest bit. “Just a little one. I want to come here again.”
I tuck my finger under her chin and bend until my lips almost touch hers. “I can’t express how devastated I was when I thought I might never have the chance to make another memory like this with you.” I brush my lips over hers. “I promise to give you the best versions of me, and to put that cruel part of me to rest. He’ll be buried for good now.”
Her palm rests against my cheek, her eyes warm with approval. “There’s my sweet villain.”
I slide another bracelet with the name of the bookstore and today’s date onto her wrist. We stay snuggled together on the couch in the bookstore for another half an hour, and then I take her to the Pancake House for something to eat, because she loves it there. She orders the strawberries-and-cream pancakes, and I settle on bacon and eggs. As I slide yet another bracelet with the Pancake House on it, along with the date, the pieces of my heart slowly knit themselves back together.
“A bookstore and the Pancake House is my idea of the perfect date.” Mildred sighs as she pushes her plate away. The strawberries and the whipped cream are gone, but she only made it through one pancake. Priorities.
“I hoped you would love it.”
She reaches across the table, flipping her palm up. “Thank you for knowing me.”
I drag my fingers over hers. “I want this date to be about all the things that make you happy.” We’ve both had enough of dressing up and being put on display these past few months. “And I have one more surprise in store for you.”
“I’m not sure how you’ll top this, but I’m excited for whatever is up your sleeve.”
I pay for dinner, and we leave the diner and drive to the next stop.
Her eyes widen as she takes in the sign above the venue. “Pierce the Veil are playing? How did I not know this?”
“You’ve had a busy few months.” I pull up to the valet.
She grabs my arm. “You got us tickets?”
“I got us tickets,” I confirm as I put the car in park. “Stay right here for a moment, please.”
“Yes. Okay. Yes. Oh my gosh. I’m so excited. Wait!” She stops me before I can open the driver’s side door. “Come here.”
Mildred pulls me to her and suddenly my whole world is strawberry shampoo and soft, warm lips I can’t ever get enough of. My existence aligns with that kiss. I would live in this moment for eternity if I could, here where I feel claimed again.
But we have a concert to attend, so after a moment, I gently pry my lips from hers. “Hopefully to be continued.”