Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 101168 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101168 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Now, given a second chance, Edgar drank them in greedily, his heart starting to beat faster. The weight of the box he held became irrelevant.
“Well, hello there, stranger.” Jamie’s voice was music and their grin even more engaging than Edgar recalled. “Remember me?”
Yes, he thought. I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind.
Edgar’s throat went dry, and his tongue insisted on attaching itself to the roof of his mouth.
“Hi,” he managed to choke out, more growl than word.
Get it together, man.
“Well, how lovely. Everybody’s friends,” Mr. Bainbridge said with tangible delight. Edgar couldn’t help but like him.
“Did you wanna put that down?” Jamie asked mildly, and Mr. Bainbridge fluttered into action.
“Yes, of course, forgive me, dear boy.”
Edgar carefully put the box down on the floor and held out his phone. Bainbridge swapped his wire-frame glasses for a pair of metal pince-nez he fished from the breast pocket of his vest.
“You use your finger as the pen,” Jamie explained when Bainbridge squinted down at the phone.
Bainbridge did and beamed. “Well, isn’t that remarkable.” He brandished his finger like he was wondering what other unexpected things it could do.
“Do you want it in your office, Carl?” Jamie asked.
“Yes, yes, much obliged, dear human.”
Jamie grinned and waited for Edgar to shoulder the box, then led the way through the maze of antiques.
Edgar’s mind raced as he tried to think of the right thing to say to explain why he hadn’t waited to see Jamie after their performance, so much so that he almost smacked into Jamie’s back as they made a quick left into the office.
Bainbridge’s desk was covered with papers but for one cleared spot that held a sandwich wrapped in wax paper, and every other surface was crowded with so many boxes and objects that Edgar could hardly turn around.
“Maybe here?” Jamie moved the sandwich to the windowsill, and Edgar placed the box on the desk.
“So, um,” he began, shoving his hands in the pockets of his khakis. “You work here?” Edgar asked.
“No. I was picking something up from Carl.” Jamie had a lovely voice. Soft and a bit rough but musical. Edgar wanted to keep asking questions so they wouldn’t stop talking.
But before he could, movement flickered in Edgar’s periphery. He whipped his head around so quickly his neck kinked, every muscle tensed and ready to run, and searched for the creature.
No, not now. Please, not now!
From the top of a bookcase stuffed with old leather-bound volumes and objects of fascination, it leapt, landing on the desk with a solid thwump.
A cat. A fucking cat.
Edgar sucked in a breath through his nose and tried to convince his heart that this was not a convenient time to explode.
“Jesus fucking Christ.” Jamie put a startled hand to their chest. “Gertrude, not cool! You okay? She’s a devil.”
“Fine,” he croaked. The adrenaline faded, leaving him with shaky muscles and drenched armpits. He reached a trembling hand out for the cat to smell, but she wasn’t interested. “I should…” Edgar cocked his head toward the door, not trusting his voice further.
“Lemme walk you out. It’s a bit of a labyrinth.”
Edgar trailed behind Jamie, shielding his eyes from the bright sun as they adjusted from the dimness of the shop.
“Sooo,” Jamie drawled. Their voice was still casual, but they looked uncertain. “I hoped I’d see you after my act.”
They’d hoped!
“Yeah, uh.”
Edgar raked a hand through his hair. They were staring at each other, and Edgar’s heart pounded. This was the moment to say something smooth and flirty. Explain that he’d wanted to stick around after Jamie performed. Maybe come right out and ask Jamie on a date.
“I’m really sorry about that. I wanted to see you too—I meant to see you. But I started feeling…unwell.”
Instantly, Jamie’s expression changed to sympathy.
“Shit, sorry to hear that. I hope my act didn’t make you sick,” they added.
“No, no, the opposite. Your act was…stunning.”
A delicate blush rose in Jamie’s cheeks. Edgar’s mind was flooded with what else would make Jamie blush.
“Wow. Thanks. I… Thank you.”
“I wanted to talk with you again, after,” Edgar clarified. “I didn’t want to leave.”
Jamie smiled. “I wanted to talk to you too.”
Edgar’s heart hammered. They had wanted to talk to him! They had wanted him to stick around! Say something good, his brain demanded. Say something suave and flirtatious!
“You ever been to a cat café? I work at one.”
Yeah, nope, not that.
But Jamie’s face lit up.
“That’s adorable. Where is it? I wanna go.”
Yes! Accidental success.
“Yeah? You should come. I’m there nine to one on weekdays and all day on Saturdays.”
Edgar couldn’t believe how well this whole awkwardly blurting random facts thing was working out.
Don’t get your hopes up. People say things all the time that they have no intention of following through on.
But then Jamie smiled, and Edgar was made of hope.