Page 67 of Out of Bounds
Smiling to myself, I get back to work slottingpaperbacks in their rightful position on the shelf. But my mind’s definitely elsewhere.
I know that after everything that happened with Ratface, I should be more cautious, guarded. My heart’s barely healed from that trauma and here I am falling in love all over again.
But this is Cam. He’s the lone exception to the rule, I feel it deep down. We’ve been friends forever and I know he’s different. Funny and driven, smart and athletic, plus he cares about other people. He’d never do me like Ratface did.
Never.
I silence the negative Nancy voice urging me to be careful. If I listen to that bitch, I’ll be single forever, leading the Thunder Creek Library Romance Book Club with only Ms. Mabel by my side, and that isnota position I want to be in.
No offense to Ms. Mabel, but I much prefer my romances to be real. A book boyfriend is cute and all, but nothing replaces the actual feeling of being with someone.
Especially if that someone is Cam. His lips on mine, large, strong hands caressing my skin, heat shimmering between us, all the delicious tension.
“Excuse me, Miss Sloane?” A quiet voice interrupts my daydream and I feel a slight tug on my skirt.
“Oh, hey, Abigail. What’s up?” I smile down at the cute little girl, her brown hair in two braids tied with purple ribbon.
“Is Story Time happening soon?”
I check my watch. “Oh yes, it is. Sorry, I lost track of time. Let me grab the book. You can head over to the cozy corner and grab a bean bag.”
Abigail makes a beeline for the bean bags while I hustle over to the desk and fetch the book of the day, a storyabout a family of dogs taking a trip to the beach. I head over to the cozy corner and wave at the group already assembled, waiting patiently for me to take my seat.
“Hey, y’all. Thanks for coming to Story Time today!” I slide down into the old wooden chair that’s probably been at the library longer than I’ve been alive.
“Today we have a fun story about a dog family going on a summer trip to the beach. Have any of you been to the beach?”
At least ten hands shoot up into the air and several kids start chattering to their friends about their beach trips.
“I’m glad to see you’ve all had so much fun at the beach! We’ll share our stories later, after I read the book. Right now it’s listening time. So I’m going to need y’all to zip your lips—” I motion across my face, pretending like I’m zipping my mouth closed. “And turn your listening ears all the way up.” I cup my ear and a few of the younger kids mimic me.
That’s the moment Cam saunters in, flashing me his most devastating smile before sinking down onto the floor with the rest of the kids. Except he’s a solid foot and a half taller than most of them, his broad torso towering over everyone. My mouth goes dry and I can’t remember what I was even saying as I stare out at the group.
“Miss Sloane, are you going to read the story now?” One of the boys sitting on the front row nudges my knee and I jerk back to reality.
“Yes, yes I am, now that everyone’s good and quiet.A Rottie Family Adventure: Summer Beach Days.” I flip to the first page of the story and begin to read aloud, comprehending exactly zero words.
Luckily, it’s an early reader picture book, so at least I don’t stumble over the simple prose. But all I can thinkabout is Cam, sitting at the back of the audience. Every once in a while, my eyes slide over to his and I can’t catch my breath. The way he’s staring at me, listening to the story as if he’s enraptured with the Rottie family—and with me—is almost more than I can handle.
I’ve never felt like this before. So appreciated. Seen. Adored.
Not even the day Ratface proposed, which I suppose should have been a big freaking red flag. But I guess you don’t know what you don’t know.
“The Rottie family pulled into their driveway as the sun set. Daddy Rottie turned to Mommy Rottie. ‘That was a wonderful adventure, Mama. Pawsitively wonderful.’”
“Mommy Rottie said, ‘Thank you, Papa. I thought so too. Next time we’ll go camping!’ The End.”
A round of applause breaks out as I close the book and a few of the children hop up, their attention spans expired.
“What did y’all think of the story? Did you like it?” I ask, setting the book down on my lap.
“Yes!” Several of the kids shout and I smile out at the crowd, pretending to smooth my skirt but really drying my clammy palms. “Great! Now it’s time for y’all to share your beach stories. Who wants to go first?”
At least ten excited hands shoot into the air and I listen to all the stories and chatter from the kids about their beach days. Checking my watch, I notice the hour’s almost up, though.
“Okay, y’all. I set paper and crayons out on the tables. You’re welcome to draw a picture of your own day at the beach and we’ll display them on the bulletin board behind the desk. And remember to get your stamp for coming to the program today. It counts toward the Summer Reading Challenge!”
At that, a bunch of the kids jump up and run over to the tables. A flurry of paper and crayons fly across the table as they fight over their favorite colors. A few of the older kids stay behind, though, eyeing Cam as he rises from the colorful carpet.