He approached her.
“Look, we have the same book.”
She looked at the book in his hand and nodded. “Is this the part where we realize we have all these things in common and then fall in love, like we’re in some romantic comedy?”
His smile flickered but he regained his composure.
“I know you saw me with it and picked it up.”
She frowned. “I did not.”
“Mhmm. Next you’re going to tell me Eggers is your favorite author and you’ve read all his books and love him. And it will be a lie.”
“I HAVE read all of his books. This is a gift for a friend.”
“Mine too.”
She wrinkled her nose at him and then cracked a smile. “Of all the bookstores in all the world, you had to walk into mine. And bug me.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Oh, this is your bookstore? You must be wealthy. I’ve heard there are over sixteen miles of books here.”
“Eighteen. But who’s counting?”
He laughed and she cracked a smile.
“You’re kind of a wise ass, aren’t you?”
She fidgeted with her book and scraped the ground with the tip of her left Puma. “Maybe a little.”
“I like that.”
She reached into her bag to look for something.
“Oh I didn’t ask for your number yet.”
“That’s fine,” she said as she pulled out a copy of an old Jacques Cousteau book. “I wasn’t offering. I am planning on going to the park to read my book.”
His eyebrows raised again and his face gained a look of surprise. “You won’t believe this but –“ he reached into his messenger bag and pulled out a different but just as worn Cousteau book.
Now she looked surprised but tried to hide it by picking up a random vintage book from a nearby shelf.
“Ever read this one?”
“Nope. Is it good?”
“Quite.”
“Maybe you could read it to me in bed tonight.”
An older woman who was clearly eavesdropping from across the aisle dropped her book and shuffled away, mumbling to herself.
“Why sir, how forward of you!” she said with a giggle.
His smile started to grow as well. “Well…I was just…er…” he started cracking up and her face broke out into laughter as well. She fell to the floor, shaking with giggles as he collected himself and offered her a hand.
“Had enough of this little game?” she asked him as she accepted his hand and stood.
“Sure. You laughed first though,” he said as he pulled her to her feet.
“No way! It was totally you!”
She looked into his eyes and gave him a quick peck on the lips.
“Let’s go home.”
A Flash of Inspiration 