Chapter 5
Macy
We stare at each other in silence for a moment. The butterflies in my stomach are fluttering so fast I feel faint. I have to do something, say something to break this awkwardness.
“Sorry,” his velvety voice purrs.
“No,” I whisper with a pant, “It’s fine.”
Is it fine? What is wrong with me? Oh God, that felt nice.
“I mean, it’s…” I look around the room again pondering what to say, “weird.”
“Weird?” his face wrinkles and I clench my eyes.
Ohhh, I didn’t mean to say that. Quick, think again.
“I mean…this whole thing is weird.”
That’s right keep going Macy.
“I mean, I just can’t believe we’ve gotten locked in here. I’m sorry I freaked out earlier,” I square my back against the shelf again looking out the glass wall in front of us. Rows of preserved books, and machines for repair fill the dark brick space.
“It’s just, well, I really like this job. I don’t want to ruin it. And if we are stuck in here all night, that means it will be known that I brought someone down here I wasn’t supposed to. I could lose all of this,” I look around perplexed.
“I understand,” he offers nonchalantly.
“No I don’t’ think you get it. I’ve always wanted to be head librarian,” I begin to fidget in my lap, “I know that sounds stupid and mundane, But I have okay? I just love books and the worlds they build and I feel so at home in the library and…” I realize I’m going on and on and I need to pace myself.
I clasp my lips shut.
His eyes widen, “Go on.”
“Well,” I sigh, “have you ever had anything you were so passionate about, you couldn’t imagine being anything else?
His head cocks to the side as if he’s thinking, “yeah actually. Science,” now he begins to fidget. “I always wanted to be a scientist but my dad told me it was a waste of time and that I needed to focus on the family business since I’d be taking over one day.”
“What’s your family business?”
“Furniture,” he says dryly and when he presses his lips together that slight dimple shows again. Gosh he’s handsome. I’ve never quite let myself look at him like this.
“Like you make handcrafted furniture?”
“Like we sell furniture,”
I nod my head, “I can see how being a scientist might be more exciting than that.”
He chuckles and it soothes me again. I like his laugh.
I feel my phone vibrating and I jerk it up, “Ah ha! A text came through!”
“Who is it?” he jerks over to see.
“Oh, it’s no body,” I flag my hand around, “just a reminder to pick up my prescription, but I got one…a text! That means I have service somewhere, somehow!” I jerk myself off the ground and start to pace the floor with my phone in the air. I’m sure I look nuts right now but I desperately want to get out before tomorrow morning.
The handsome man gets up and starts to pace with me as well. He stays in step with me, concerned and hopeful and I feel the heat of his body. It feels good.
I’m pacing around the tiny space so much I’m starting to get dizzy and having no luck with a signal. My body is suddenly starting to feel flush and I don’t know if it’s his proximity or the situation itself but I feel faint. In a wave of frustration, I let myself fall to floor again in the seated position.