I was reading Don’t Let the Pigeons Drive the Bus to the children when I heard loud whispers from the parents. I looked up to see what caused all the noise and saw Tre holding the hand of one of the prettiest little girls I’d ever seen. She appeared to be around seven or eight, had skin like butterscotch, two chubby cheeks you could pinch all day, with two long brown French braids.
She had her father’s brown eyes and bright smile and wore a pink t-shirt under a blue jean jumper. During his bid for election, I’d been surprised to discover that Tre was a father, though he never married. He came from a prominent family and seemed the type to be married with children, even if it was a shotgun wedding. The little angel had a frown on her face, and he appeared to be exasperated, which was pretty much the norm for this section.
He hadn’t noticed me, but I knew he would soon because the little girl’s frown turned into a smile when she saw me and the other children. She snatched her hand away and ran to sit cross-legged on the floor with all the other kids. She looked up at me and smiled, and I could see Tre in her countenance.
I began reading again, though I became aware of Tre’s eyes on me. When I finished the story, everyone clapped. His daughter ran up to me. “Are you going to read another story?”
“Not until two. But if you need help finding a book, I don’t mind assisting you.”
“Yes. I want that book.” She pointed to the one in my hand.
“I can take you to that section. I need to make sure it’s okay with your parents.”
“Daddy doesn’t care.” She took my hand and pulled me towards the books.
My eyes searched the room and saw Tre leaning against a shelf on his cell, but his attention was on me and his daughter. He nodded at my unspoken question, and I then allowed his daughter to pull me along to the colorful shelf near the back of the children’s section.
“Miss, it’s over here.”
I found the book and pulled two others by the same author. “I think you’ll like these too.”
She took them and hugged the books to her chest. “Can you read these to me?” She looked up at me with hopeful eyes.
I really wanted to read them to her, but I wasn’t allowed to read to children outside of story time because then they would all want me to read to them. I bent to her level and stretched out my hand. “I’m Ms. Raini, what’s your name?”
She shook my hand. “Tracie.”
“I like your name.”
“Thank you. Yours is pretty, too.” Her dad taught her manners.
“I’ll tell you what, Miss Tracie. I have story time later today. Maybe you can come back and I’ll read both these stories to you and tell everyone that it was my special friend who chose the books.” I figured Tre would be way too busy to stay or come back, but it was the only thing I could think of because I didn’t want to hurt her feelings.
Her skip was joyful as she headed off with her books to tell her dad, who was still on the phone. He smiled absent-mindedly at his daughter and patted her back. She tugged on his sweater, and he held up a finger asking for a moment. Tracie’s shoulders slumped, and I wondered how often she had to wait to get his attention. I could only imagine a lot, as mayor of one of the most popular cities in the world.
Tracie stood next to him for a moment, twirling around in place before running back to my side and grabbing my hand. I glanced around the lively section full of parents and children in case someone needed my assistance and then decided I would intervene against my better judgment.
I tapped Tre’s arm, and I could feel his bicep through his sweater. Focus. Do not pay attention to how fine he is. He turned to me, frowning, deep in conversation with someone, but when he saw my face, he smiled.
“Something came up. I have to go.” He clicked without waiting for a response on the other end, which admittedly impressed me. “Hey, so you’re working over here today?”
“Yeah, this is my usual section. I’m only in coffee when they’re short staffed.”
“You mean I was lucky to have your vanilla latte?” He flirted before lowering his voice. “You never texted me. I was hoping you were working today, and when I didn’t see you at the café….”
“Tracie has been trying to ask you something.” My tone was short, although inside I danced a jig that he hadn’t given up on me yet.
“Oh.” He looked down at his daughter, who leaned into me as if I was her protector. “What is it, sweetie?”
“Can I come back later for story time? Raini…”
“Ms. Raini,” he corrected.
“Ms. Raini said she would read these two stories, and tell everyone that I’m her special friend who chose the books. Can we please come back, Daddy, please, please?”
He raised an eyebrow at me. “When is your next story time?”
I gently rubbed Tracie’s back and responded, “Two.”
Tre checked his watch. “Honey, it’s noon now. I can’t wait until the next time. We need to eat lunch and then go home. Daddy has work to do.”
She stomped her feet and raised her voice. “You always have work to do. Can we eat lunch here?”
His jaw tightened subtly. “Tracie, I don’t respond to tantrums.”
She folded her arms and grew quiet. I recognized her behavior and knew that Tre was going to lose this battle.
“We need to go. I’ll buy the books and maybe next weekend we can come back.”
“You always say that, and we never do.” She whined, “I want to stay here with Ms. Raini.”
He ran a hand across his well-groomed head and looked at me. “Are you busy? You can’t do a story time now?”
I stood straighter. “No. We have a designated time for a reason.”
“And what reason would that be, if you’re not busy?” he asked, somewhat irritated.
“Mr. LaSalle, the same reason you have schedules is the same reason I have one. Much as I would love to read to Tracie, I can’t.”
“Schedules can always be changed. Give me a sec. Stay here with Ms. Raini,” he instructed Tracie before he headed towards the front of the store.
I protested, “But…”
He disappeared around a bookshelf, probably headed to management.
“My daddy is going to ask if you can do a story time now.” Tracie beamed as I internally rolled my eyes, so disliking entitlement even in her adorable little body. “I hope you can read me a story. No one does that for me anymore,” she said with such sadness that I almost forgave her father for going over my head. Already believing that Tre would get his way, I took her hand and brought her to the small area designated for me to read to the children.
“Sit right here.” Tracie happily plopped down on the large rainbow-colored rug and crossed her legs.
I pulled out The Pigeon Wants a Puppy, and sat in the large, plush pink chair and began reading to her and then one by one other children trickled in, excited to catch an impromptu story time.
I was very animated and would always be extra dramatic as I read, which was why I had several children and parents who were regulars. By the time I finished the story, I had a small crowd of happy children. Tre stood in the back of the room on his phone. He mouthed, “thank you,” but I averted my gaze because I did this for her and not for him. I could tell he was one of those parents who never had time for their children and usually gave them things to keep them busy or outright neglected them. My attraction for him took a nosedive at the thought that anyone could be that way to his or her children.
“I want to introduce everyone to my special friend, who chose the books today. Wave at everyone, Tracie.”
She was excited as she happily waved to the other children before settling down for the second story.
After I finished, the children and parents, including Tre, clapped. A few parents walked up to Tre to shake his hand. I handed the books back to Tracie and she gave me a big hug, and I squeezed her back.
“Thank you, Ms. Raini. I hope I see you again.”
“Me too, Tracie.” I hugged her again. “You better catch up with your dad.”
“Okay.” She happily ran to him and reached for his hand as he spoke to a pretty woman who leaned in close to him, resting a manicured hand on his bicep.
My stomach tightened in unwanted jealousy. I turned away from the sight and straightened up the story time area, re-shelving books and pushing all attraction for Tre out of my mind. Saturdays were always chaotic, with children all over the place playing with the puppets, the blocks, and choosing books. I had to maintain the cleanliness of this area and assist customers when needed, but my schedule was off from reading to the children again, and I’d have to do it at two for those coming specifically to the bookstore at story time.
“Raini?” I felt him almost before I heard him say my name.
I slipped a book on the shelf before facing him. He stood close to me, probably so that any conversations we had would be private. I caught a glimpse of Tracie playing with the puppets nearby. “Yeah?” I placed my hands on my hips.
I guess he got the message because some of his cockiness faded. “Yeah…wanted to thank you for reading to my daughter. You made her day and mine, too.”
“Did I really have a choice?”
His brow furrowed. “What?”
I shook my head, reminding myself I needed this job until my artwork picked up. I went back to re-shelving. “It’s okay. She’s a beautiful little girl. You’re lucky.”
“Thank you.” He paused. “Look, I wanted to say thanks for doing this for me. I know it wasn’t a part of your schedule.”
“I did it for Tracie. Not you or because my manager would have told me to do so. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to work. I may not be as busy as you, but I do have a job to do as well.” I tried to pass him, but he gently touched my arm. I hadn’t been this near him since we kissed all those years ago, and it had a heady effect on me. I hated not being in control of my emotions and hated that he could still make me feel like that insecure girl.
“Did I do something to offend you?” he asked with what seemed to be genuine concern, and I was annoyed again at myself that I still thought he was sexy.
“No, I personally don’t like people like you who feel entitled to get what they want when they want.” I looked away as I spoke, afraid if I made eye contact or I couldn’t remain resolved to make it clear that whatever interest he had in me was not returned.
He frowned again. “I apologize for cutting in line at the café the other day. I usually don’t use my power for personal gain, but we were already running late, and I honestly didn’t expect the café line to be so long during a weekday.”
“And today? Going to management to make sure I could accommodate your schedule isn’t an abuse of power?”
“Rain, what are you talking about?”
I was admittedly pleased that he already shortened my name, suggesting a certain familiarity, a comfort he felt with me though we really didn’t know each other.
“Daddy, I’m hungry. Can we eat now?” Tracie appeared by his side and gave me a reprieve.
“Sure, Sunshine, but let me finish talking to Ms. Raini, okay?”
“No need. Go take your daughter to get something to eat. She’s hungry.” I held my hand out again to Tracie. “Good meeting you, and make sure your dad takes you somewhere really nice and eat lots of dessert for me.”
With a serious expression, she asked, “What kind?”
“What kind do you like?”
Her eyes lit up. “A fudge brownie sundae.”
“Then get lots because I love fudge brownie sundaes.”
Tracie nodded happily and hugged my waist as I patted her back.
Tre had been staring at me during my exchange with his daughter. “Trace, go pick out a puppet and I’ll buy it for you. Go now before I change my mind.”
She ran off, leaving me alone with her father, I continued to look anywhere but at him. “I have to finish my work.”
“Would you look at me please?”
I bit my bottom lip and reluctantly met his gaze. He glanced at my lips before focusing on my eyes. “For the record, I never spoke to management and had no intention of doing so. Yes, I was a bit annoyed that you couldn’t adjust your schedule. But I only left to tell my security, who were positioned outside, that Tracie and I would be here longer so we could have lunch at the café and hang out until story time. I was pleasantly surprised to come back and see you reading to my daughter. I did and do have respect for your job and schedule. I have no idea what I did to make you cold towards me, but maybe you have a man, or maybe you just aren’t interested. I wish you no ill regard. Take care.” He turned and went looking for Tracie.
Feeling awful at the way that I treated him, I closed my eyes to the tears that threatened to fall and the recognition that Tre LaSalle would again vanish from my life. I had let my own perceptions about who he was in the past dictate how I saw him in the present. I’d changed since high school, and maybe he had too.
I couldn’t hold it against him if he didn’t remember me or that he’d been ass to me. We were teenagers and hadn’t yet learned about life. I’d seen him three times now in the past month, which meant he actively sought me. Each time he was pleasant, respectful, and charming, and I’d acted toward him as if he was anything but. I worked in a bookstore in a city of which he was the mayor, yet I sensed what I did for a living didn’t bother him.
I finished shelving books quickly so I could take my lunch break and get myself together before I became a bawling mess. I still had another three hours of work before I could go home and feel sorry for myself.
My phone in my back pocket vibrated. I made sure management wasn’t around before I quickly pulled it out and read the text. It was from Wyatt.
Free for dinner?
Yes. Pick me up for 7. I feel like Mexican.
Wyatt couldn’t have texted at a better time. I already had a man with whom I could be myself and was completely comfortable. Why would I search for something or someone else? I needed to get out of the funk that threatened to descend over a foolish teenage crush. I needed to close the chapter on Tre. I placed my phone back in my pocket and felt his business card. I headed to the nearest trash can, and stood over it, hesitating.
For some reason, I still couldn’t throw away the card.