Find You in the Dark (Find You in the Dark #1)(9)
Author: A. Meredith Walters

At that moment Rachel’s phone went off. It vibrated across the counter top and she had to grab it before it fell off the edge. “What’s up, Mom?” She asked after answering it. I resumed my seat on the stool and picked at my bright blue nail polish as I waited for Rachel to get off the phone.

“Seriously? Do I have to?” I looked up and Rachel did not look happy. Rachel sighed heavily. “Fine, I’ll be there in ten.” Rachel hung up her phone and looked at me apologetically. “You’re bailing on me?” I whined. Rachel got up and grabbed her purse. “Sorry, Mags, but my mom needs me to take Caitlyn to some stupid birthday party. She was called into work. Duty calls.” Caitlyn was Rachel’s eight year old half-sister and permanent pain in the butt. Rachel lived with her mom and sister. Her dad had been out of the picture since Rachel was five and Caitlyn’s dad bailed a few years back. Her mom worked as a nurse over at County General and often got called in, leaving Rachel to play mommy.

“That’s cool. Just call me later.” I told her, not wanting her to feel guilty for having to cancel our afternoon. Rachel gave me a hug. “I still want to hear all about your run in with Clayton. I know there was more to that conversation than you’re telling me.” She wagged her finger at me and I chuckled. “Sure, whatever you say.” I said, following her to her car.

I waved as she pulled out of my driveway. Mom and Dad had already left and I was stuck in the quiet house alone. I really didn’t feel like being by myself so I tried calling Daniel. I got his voice mail and didn’t bother leaving a message. Well, that exhausted my entire social circle; how sad. So I was then faced with an endless afternoon with nothing to do.

Grabbing my keys, making sure my house key was on the ring, to appease my mother, I got in my car with no real agenda. I headed over to Fayetteville, the next town over. Once there, I made my way toward the older part of town and pulled into a small parking lot. I looked at the beat up sign in front of the tiny brick building and smiled. Ruby’s Bookshelf was my favorite store. I hadn’t been here in months and it seemed a great way to pass the afternoon.

The door chimed as I went through it and I breathed in the familiar smell of incense and old books. The owner had the best collection of eclectic and used books. In the front of the store were glass cases full of crystals and new age jewelry. The shelves on the walls were lined with tarot card decks and rune sets.

I made my way to the back of the store, where it broke off into a separate space for the used books. I stopped first at the small cart just inside the room, looking through the “new” items Ruby had gotten in. I picked up a collection of essays by William Faulkner and went to a worn armchair in the corner.

I was so engrossed that I didn’t know he was there until I felt someone beside me. I looked up to see Clayton Reed standing beside my chair, his arms loaded down with books. He turned up one side of his mouth in a half smile. “Hey, Maggie.” He said quietly, not looking away from me. I felt the insane urge to smooth my hair, but I resisted, not wanting to come across like a moron.

“Hey.” I said back, closing the Faulkner book and getting up so I could return it to the stack. “So, what are you doing here?” He asked, shifting the books in his arms. I looked around and lifted my hands. “Oh I don’t know, baking a cake. Learning CPR, take your pick.” I remarked sarcastically. Clay smiled, apparently appreciating my dry humor. He dropped his armful of books on a nearby table and started going through them, checking them over carefully, selecting one, then disappearing down an aisle to place it on a shelf.

I walked over and picked up a beat up copy of Kurt Vonnegut’s Dead Eye Dick. Clay appeared at my side and looked over my shoulder at the book. “You ever read it?” He asked. I shook my head and looked at him. Wish I hadn’t done that. Because being that close to him literally took my breath away. Why did he have to be so cute? And smell so good? It was almost disconcerting and more than a little hard to deal with when I was trying to be all normal and stuff.

“You should. It’s one of my favorites.” I started to hand it to him but he gently pushed it back into my hands. “No, you take it. Read it when you’ve got time.” “Uh, thanks.” I murmured, tucking the book into my bag.

I followed Clay down another aisle as he put more books on the shelves. “So you work here or something?” I asked him. Clay arched his eyebrow at me. “Nah, I’m here to go fishing, or learn tight rope walking. Take your pick.” He volleyed my sarcasm back at me and I grinned. “Touche, Mr. Reed. Touche.” He chuckled and handed me a pile of books to hold as he carefully put them in their proper places.

After a few minutes, Clayton finally answered me. “I started working here last week. You know, after I moved here. My aunt Ruby owns the place.” He said shyly. Again, he seemed uncomfortable with revealing anything personal. “Really, your aunt owns this place? It’s seriously my favorite store. I try to come in here at least once a month.” I told him, genuinely enthused.

Clay smiled. “I’ll tell her you said that. She’d be pleased.” “So your aunt…do you live with her?” I asked, digging again for any little bit of elusive information. Clay turned back to the books he was putting away, his shoulders suddenly very tense. “Yeah.” He said shortly.

He was definitely communicating loud and clear that he did not want to talk about this topic. Too bad for him, because I wasn’t listening. “So where are your parents then?” I asked, following him again as he moved down the rows of books. “They’re in Florida. Where I’m from.” He answered. Okay, he was not very good with the details. “So, you’re not living with them because…?” I trailed off.

Clay turned around and looked at me. His cheeks had two bright blotches of red and he looked annoyed. “Look, I’m not trying to be rude or anything. But I don’t really know you. I’m not one to vomit up my life story to random people.” I felt my gut twist. I tried not to be hurt by his words. He was right after all. He didn’t know me from Adam and here I was grilling him about his life. I was the one being rude and invasive.

“Sorry, Clay. I’m not trying to be nosy. I’m just interested in getting to know you is all.” I told him sincerely. The tension left Clayton’s shoulders and he seemed to relax. He turned back to shelving the books. “Why are you so interested in me?” He asked quietly. Hmm. How to answer that one? I didn’t want to tell him that I thought he was the most gorgeous creature I had ever seen and wanted to have his babies. That might be a little much. So I gave him the next true statement that came to mind.