The Boy with the Bookstore

by Sarah Echavarre Smith

Boyson

lol what a name

Always deliciously wolfish.

Wat

I’ve got it all: wild hair that hits all the way to the middle of my back and hides my face when it’s not pulled into a ponytail, thick-rimmed glasses, a penchant for biting my lip and stammering when I’m nervous, and the inability to maintain prolonged eye contact when a handsome guy looks my way.

I smile to myself at how almost every morning he comes in here he asks about my pet hamster, who I bring with me to work every day.

YOU WHAT

“How is it served?” he asks, his voice between a groan and a growl. “The marrow, I mean.” I watch, mesmerized at the slow movement along his stubbled throat. I swear I can feel my skin tingling as my internal temperature rises. Who knew talking about bone marrow could get me this worked up? “Sometimes they cut the bone lengthwise and you can just scrape your knife along the hollow part of the bone and out comes the marrow,” I say. “And sometimes they cut it into chunks and the marrow’s in the middle, so you scrape out as much as you can, but there’s almost always some left, so the best way to get it out is to just put the bone in your mouth and suck it out, really get your tongue in the hole and lick and . . .”

But this ooey, gooey, coconutty rice flour cake saved me. All the sweetness and satisfaction I crave from a pastry, but without the gluten.

This is a weird narration

“God, Joelle.” Another bitter laugh. “I know they should be put away somewhere safe—I did have them somewhere safe, in a display case. At my bookstore. But I can’t do that anymore because my shop is currently torn to hell with the renovations. So I have to kind of just make do with the shitty space I have now.” I bite my tongue at the tone he employs, like I’m a moron. Yes, this is my fault. I’ve made it clear that I want to fix it and compensate him. He doesn’t have to be so mean, though. “Max, please don’t talk to me like I’m an infant who doesn’t understand the situation we’re in. I’m fully aware of how much this sucks. And I’m so sorry for what Pumpkin did. But it’s not like I meant for any of that to happen. Just tell me what it costs. I’ll pay you back. I don’t care if I have to make payments, it’s the right thing to do and I want to do it.”

Does he like her at all?

All the bones in my rib cage shake.

Sir?????

I turn to Mom. “Are you sure you’re okay taking Auntie home by yourself?”

Why does she treat them like they're infirm

Everywhere you go, people can’t take their eyes off you. Nonstop. And you don’t even notice it because you’re too focused on others. Do you have any clue how sexy that is? Everyone else is so concerned with their image and what people think of them. But you don’t give it a second thought.

YOU DON'T KNOW YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL

“Do you have any idea how long I’ve wanted to do this with you?” he growls. I moan “No” and push my hips up higher. “A long fucking time.” “Same,” I rasp. “Same, same, same.”

Please

Together we plop down on the couch and dig into the slices of bacon, corn, and arugula pizza on sourdough crust

Why

we go wild on each other with our mouths and hands.

What

Right now, I’m too blissed out on orgasms from my insanely hot boyfriend to care about anything else.

I snatch the book from his hands and thumb through the pages. “The writing is so realistic. Like, I’ve never read such an engrossing love scene before. Especially one involving three people. That felt so real, at least from my perspective. Well done to the author.”

No one talks like this

“But I need you to know this, Joelle. None of this is your fault. You have no reason to say you’re sorry for anything. You’ve got the biggest heart of anyone I know. The way you approach every person and every situation with kindness, without any agenda whatsoever, blows me away. I love that about you.”

ohmyGOD shut up

And then I lather up my hands and slowly work between her legs.

DO NOT. PUT SOAP. IN HER. VAGINA.

I was stunned and confused at first. I immediately called and texted Max, hoping with everything in me that he’d pick up, we’d apologize to each other, and work this whole thing out.

You can't just say whatever you want to a person andnot expect consequences ????

“I want the same things you want, Max. Kids, a family, a life with you. Everything.”

Ugh gross

She leans down and gives our baby boy a kiss on the top of his head.

Ugh why

Having a baby is the single hardest thing I’ve ever done.

Sir???????

“Can you believe we named our son after a random song we heard at a bar?” Max chuckles. “I absolutely can since we couldn’t agree on a name and were desperate by that point.”

Y'all are the worst

I kiss both of them again. “Yup. I just can’t resist my bookstore boys.”

Thanks I hate it