He lifts his chin in my direction. “Hey, Bailey.”
“Hey,” I say back, giving him an awkward wave. I’m a little surprised that he knows who I am.
“Nice hat,” he says, smirking. “Goes with the necklace.”
“Why, thank you,” I say, adjusting the white furry rim while ignoring the fact that what he said is most likely not a compliment.
“So, uh, you work here?”
I shrug. “I do, actually. But tonight I’m just here to wrap.”
He laughs, and a dimple in his right cheek makes an appearance. “Never would have guessed you and Drake had something in common.”
“I never would have guessed I’d see you in a bookstore on a Friday night,” I retort before I can stop myself.
He shoves his hands into his pockets. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Oh, um, I don’t know,” I say feebly, feeling my cheeks pinken. Why did I say that? He doesn’t exactly seem like the reading type, but really, I don’t even know Jacob. That sounded a lot meaner than I meant it to.
“So, yeah, I’m doing some shopping. For Christmas.”
Something in my heart gives a little flip. Any boy who comes to a bookstore for Christmas shopping gets bonus points. Now I feel extra bad that I insulted him. Most boys I know give gift cards for presents—if they even give a gift. Oliver and I weren’t together at Christmas, but something tells me he would definitely have been the gift-card type. Or, if I’m being honest, the no-gift type.
“And so you came in here,” I say, stating the obvious.
He nods. “Would you want to help me?” He holds up his phone. “I’ve got a list.”
“Oh,” I say, surprised. “I mean, I’m not technically working now but…” Known fact about me here at Winslow’s: giving people book advice is my thing. There’s something about matching the right book with the right reader, putting the right book into a customer’s hands: I love it. And helping a customer like Jacob is extra-satisfying, like watching my parents master a TikTok dance I’ve taught them.
I’m in.
What’s next on
your reading list?
Discover your next
great read!
Get personalized book picks and up-to-date news about this author.
Sign up now.