Page 27 of Love is a Game

The roars grew louder, and Andrew pretended to be blown away by the force of them.

“Amazing! Okay, are you ready to sing?” he asked.

Sadie leaned against the wall as she watched him lead them in their song. They stomped and waved their imaginary claws. Parents matched their kids’ ferocious faces and played dead when the wild T. Rexes chomped at them. In front of them all was Andrew, just as committed to his dinosaur impression as the kids were and looking equally delighted. His face glowed in a way she hadn’t seen since high school. It was the first time she’d seen him look like he was genuinely enjoying himself.

“That was great,” he told them. “Let’s finish off with a dinosaur parade. Everyone stay standing, unless you want to be a four-legged dinosaur. We’ll go around in a circle this way.”

The chaos that ensued only seemed to encourage him. Kids jumped and ran in all directions. Parents tried to herd their own children into a circle but gave up pretty quickly. Three little girls ambushed Andrew, pulling at his shirt and grabbing at his legs. He bent down and growled, sending them running back to their moms, squealing in delight.

He pulled his arms close to his chest and turned his head from side to side, trying to look like a velociraptor, Sadie guessed. He was so completely transformed that she couldn’t help but laugh.

Her hands flew up to cover her mouth but it was too late. Andrew looked up and saw her watching. He faltered as they made eye contact, coming out of his stance for only an instant before going back into it when a little boy standing beside him called his name.

Sadie slipped back into the office, turning back for one last glimpse on her way. She couldn’t help the grin plastered on her face. Even she had to admit that was cute. Andrew looked like he was really in his element, and the kids seemed to love him. Maybe it was story time that kept him working at the little library.

The noise quieted and she saw Andrew return to the circulation desk, followed by a little boy carrying a book as tall as his torso. He showed the little boy how to hold his library card under the scanner light until the computer beeped. The boy tried to lift his book onto the desk, but it slipped, and his mom had to help him. Sadie couldn’t hear what Andrew said but the mom laughed. He did have a way with people.

She tried to focus on her work as the other families checked out books and left the library, but her eyes kept drifting out to the front desk where he sat. Even after the story-time attendees all left, there was a steady stream of people coming and going during the three hours she was there, much more than she would have expected for the middle of a weekday. They seemed to keep Andrew busy too. She heard people calling his name, saw them approach him for help. Unless he was scanning items at the front desk, he was on his feet, moving through the stacks to find books or put them away.

Despite the distractions, she managed to make a significant dent in the stack of tax forms by the time she had to leave. She marked her spot and closed up the box before putting it back on its stack in front of the desk, then packed up her things.

When she turned toward the door, she nearly bumped into Andrew. She hadn’t heard him approach, and the surprise sent her back a step, right into one of the boxes. She felt herself falling backward, so she pulled her laptop close to her chest with one hand while the other shot out for something to grab on to.

The only thing near her was Andrew. He caught her hand and pulled her upright, wrapping his other hand gingerly around her elbow to steady her. When she was back on her own two feet, he let go and stepped away, but the skin on her elbow still tingled where his fingers had been.

“Thanks,” she said, eyeing him as she caught her breath.

He shrugged. “Some of these boxes are really old,” he told her. “I’m not sure they’d survive you landing on them.”

“Probably wouldn’t do me a lot of good either,” she said ruefully. “You startled me.”

He shrugged. “I have that effect on women.”

She chuckled in spite of herself. They shared a brief smile, and she brushed at her elbow with her fingers, trying to erase the lingering memory of his touch.

He bent down, closing the distance between them for a moment, and picked up her purse. She hadn’t even realized she’d dropped it in her fall.

“Leaving already?” he asked as he handed it to her.

“Yeah, I have to get back home. But I got a lot done.” She gestured toward the children’s section and added, “And I got a show, so pretty good day.”

He rubbed a hand against his neck and looked a little bashful. “Right. Story time can get kind of crazy sometimes.”

“I thought it looked like fun.”

“Well, you know”—he looked at her with a small, crooked smile—“it might not be a real job, but it does have its perks.”

Sadie pursed her lips and nodded. “I might have been a little harsh in my assessment earlier,” she conceded. “I don’t think Mrs. Dobbs was ever quite that engaged in library activities.”

“You must not have known her very well. She could do a very convincing stegosaurus.”

Sadie pulled back, trying to picture the arthritic, old woman acting the way Andrew had. He laughed.

“I’m kidding.” He shook his head and tutted. “So gullible.”

She rolled her eyes. “Okay, I’m out of here. Don’t rearrange the boxes while I’m gone.”

“I make no promises,” he called after her as she walked out the door.