Before Lei can begin to unpick the bullshit I just dropped on her, one of her employees knocks at the door. “Sorry Lei, there’s a woman upfront who’s looking for a book and she can’t find it in the stacks. So I wasn’t sure if I am supposed to have her order the book through us, or send her to another bookstore?”
“Thanks Tammy I’ll be out in a second and help her, just let the customer know that I’ll be with her in a moment” Lei tells Tammy. She looks back to me, “Before we head back out there, I want you to know that there’s someone that is just for you Eli, you just have to be patient and you have to get rid of Becca if you want the right person to see you. Now let’s go see about this customer.”
I follow Lei to the front, and I feel my phone vibrating in my pocket, I go to reach for it when I hear the most beautiful sound ever. “Hi, sorry to be such a bother but I was wondering if there’s a way I could order a book from here? Or would it be easier for me to just go to B&N?” she asked Lei. I forget about my phone and stop completely behind Lei with my heart beating so fast in my chest. I don’t think she sees me because she’s only looking at Lei which is bullshit. How can she not see me when I tower over Lei? Wait, is she ignoring me? I don’t know why but it pisses me the fuck off to think that she is purposely ignoring me. I step to the side of Lei and she still doesn’t acknowledge me, what the fuck? So I stand there listening to their book conversation instead.
“No way, you came to the right place girl” Lei tells her. Her smile, she still has that damn smile that could make a man worship the ground that she walks on. I try moving closer to the counter but Lei gives me this what-the-hell-are-you-doing look so I take a step back again. I hope I don’t look like a creep staring at her like a drooling dog.
I clear my throat and say “Good morning beautiful” and all she does is look at me and nod her fucking head. Is she serious? I hear Lei laughing under her breath, so I give her my shut-the-fuck-up-Lei-not-today look.
“Sina right?” I hear Lei asking. “I’m not sure if you remember me but I’m Leila, Leila Stevens? We went to junior and high school together?”
Sina squints her brown eyes and she smiles the most gorgeous smile and I feel my heart hurting. “Oh my goodness, yes I remember you. It has been a while, how have you been Leila?”
Lei walks around and gives Sina a hug “I’m doing great. How have you been? I haven’t seen you since we graduated high school.” Sina’s smile slowly turns into a little sad smile, and I know she’s remembering her past because her shoulders fell a little as well.
She takes a deep breath and says “Yeah, things didn’t work out here for me, so I left for college and ended up staying in New York.”
I figure Lei notices Sina starting to look uncomfortable so she changes the subject by saying “Well, I’m glad you came back and I see you love books?”
Sina’s face lights up, “Yes, I guess you can say that. I was heading to B&N’s but my brothers suggested I stop here first. Also ‘cause this place makes magical cupcakes and delicious coffee, their words not mine” she laughs. I swear I would give up anything to hear her laugh all day, something about this woman was stirring up feelings that I have never felt before, not even Becca, who by the way just walked into Pixies wearing the shortest dress ever. Fuck my life right now, just fuck my life.
“Hey Baby, I knew I’d find you here” Becca says. I watch Sina close her eyes as her whole body language morphs and shuts down.
Sina opens her eyes and looks at Lei saying,“You know what, it’s okay I’ll just go check out B&N maybe they have it there” , as she turns and heads for the exit.
Lei beats her there before she walks out the door. “Umm hell no. You, my sweet gorgeous customer, are going to come with me to my office so we can order that book for you” She grabs Sina by the hand I watch her lead her to the back office. Lei gives me an irritated look over her shoulder and says, “You can see your way out Eli.”
“Why is Leila such a bitch every time she sees me?” Becca moans next to me. I forgot she was even here.
I look at her and say “Don’t Becca. I told you she has her reasons and you’re not going to talk shit about her either so stop.”
She just rolls her eyes at me. “Anyways, was that Masina Peterson I just saw standing here in sweats and a big ugly sweater?” she spits out.
I stand there with a disappointed look on my face. “Don’t be a bitch Becca. You need to leave her alone. Do you fucking hear me?” I snap at her.
She looks at me as she snarks, “It isn’t my fault that Michael chose me over her boring ass. And
