Page 50 of Beautiful Crazy
After we finish eating, I rinse the dishes and clean up the kitchen while Sutton gets dressed. It’s well after nine now, so he and I make a plan to run to the pharmacy for Gemma, and she begrudgingly agrees, saying she’ll take a shower while we’re gone. I don’t think I’ve ever met a more stubborn woman when it comes to needing a little help, which is honestly surprising given how big her family is, and how hands-on they all are with each other.
“Can you turn on some music?” Sutton asks from the back seat as soon as we get on the road.
“What do you like to listen to?”
“Whatever Mom plays.” He shrugs, and I smile.
Turning on the stereo, the playlist from my phone filters through the speakers on a low volume. The pharmacy is only about five minutes away, right next to A Book to Remember,the bookstore I’m told Georgia owns. After we pick up the antibiotics, we’re walking back to the car when Sutton asks if we can stop inside and see if his aunt is working.
The inside is almost chilly, a nice contrast from the hot, stuffy weather outside, and it smells like a mix of paper and something floral and sweet. Massive bookshelves line both walls, filled to the brim with books, and on each side, there’re rolling ladders like you see inBeauty and the Beast. A handful of people mull around, checking out books or items located on the tables in the middle of the room.
“Hey, Sutton,” a woman greets with a smile as she strolls up to us. She glances up at me, and despite the smile on her face, I can tell she’s confused. Probably because I’m clearlynotSutton’s mom or any of his family.
Quickly, I extend my hand. “Hi, I’m Everett. Sutton and I are just out picking up something for his mom, and he wanted to stop in here and see if Georgia was working.”
“Oh, hi!” Her smile brightens now that she—hopefully—doesn’t think I’m in the midst of kidnapping this kid. “I’m Lexi, one of the employees here. Georgia normally doesn’t work on the weekends, but she just stopped by. She’s in the back, I’ll go grab her.”
“Thanks, Lexi!” Sutton calls out as she disappears farther into the store.
Sutton and I walk around for a minute while we wait, and I’m amazed by the ambiance of this place. It seems like a fun place to hang out and read, with the array of comfy chairs near the front window. There’s what looks to be a coffee and tea bar in the far corner near the cash register. A table toward the front of the store catches my attention, and I smile to myself when I see what’s on it. A sign that readsGemma Astor, Local Authorin beautiful handwriting stands among several titles, all belonging to Gemma. Grabbing one, I flip it over and read the blurb. It sounds really good.
I’m impressed by how many books she has, and this table may not even have all of them.
“Well, hey there, little man!” Turning my head, I spot Georgia walking over to us, a smile tugged on her lips as she holds her arms out for Sutton. “What a nice surprise this is.” He runs into her arms, hugging her tightly. She lifts her gaze, meeting mine. “What do we got going on here, neighbor boy?”
I breathe out a laugh at the nickname she clearly plans to keep using. “We were out picking up Gemma’s new antibiotics, and he wanted to stop in really quick.”
“Well, that’s nice of you,” she murmurs. “How’s my sister doing? I heard about the allergic reaction.”
“Your sister is stubborn as hell,” I say with a chuckle.
Georgia nods, huffing out a laugh. “Yeah, she sure is. Always been that way.” Nodding toward the book still in my hand, she smiles and asks, “What do you got there?”
Holding it up, I grin back at her. “Can I purchase this?”
Humor plays on her features as she watches me for a moment before nodding. “Sure thing, neighbor boy. I’ll get you ringed up.” As she wraps the book in pink tissue paper, she asks, “What else do y’all got going on today?”
“Nothing, really. We’re going to head back to Gemma’s, give her these, and then maybe you and I”—I glance down at Sutton—“can play a little catch while your mom rests.”
“Yeah!”
“Sounds fun,” Georgia says with a grin, handing me the bag. “I’m going to stop by when I leave here in a few hours. I’m working on some inventory issues, but don’t bother telling Gemma. She’ll just tell me not to come.”
Chuckling, I nod. “Sounds good. Well, we’ll let you get back to work, but it was nice seeing you, Georgia.”
After Sutton gives her one last hug, we head back to his house. He heads to his room once we get there, once I tell him that we can play catch in a couple of hours, but I really need to get some grading done before I do. Tomorrow is Monday, and I never finished last night. I don’t see Gemma when I round the corner into her room, but the light is on and the door’s open to her en suite.
“Gemma?” I call out, not wanting to invade her privacy.
“In here,” she huffs out, and before I even lay eyes on her, I can tell she’s frustrated about something. It’s in her tone.
Setting the prescription bag on her dresser, I cross the room, stepping into the bathroom, finding Gemma standing in front of the counter, her hair wet and hanging down her back.
“What’s wrong?”
Huffing out a sigh, she looks at me through the mirror. “My stupid shoulder is sore after I washed my hair in the shower, and now the idea of brushing it all sounds exhausting. This is ridiculous.”
“Give it to me.”