Chapter 7: Chapter 6

LILLIAN

Lillian yawned, stretching out in the comfort of her bed. She was grateful for the solitude after the previous night’s debacle.

A shudder ran through her as she thought about what could have happened if she’d let those intrusive hands wander further—or if he’d followed her home after she’d rejected his advances and told him to get lost. She was thankful that her old school friend, Jared, was now a local cop and had intervened before things got out of hand.

She’d only gone to the bar for a quick drink. The bar in her hometown wasn’t like the ones you’d find in a city or read about in books. It wasn’t a seedy joint filled with lecherous men trying to get into your pants.

It was a cozy, welcoming place. Sure, every town had its share of drunks, but it wasn’t a dangerous spot. Her siblings and their spouses, along with other friendly couples, frequented the place every Saturday. They’d suggested she go there if she was feeling bored, and she didn’t think it was a bad idea.

Then a guy took a seat next to her at the bar. He seemed vaguely familiar, but she couldn’t place him. Not that it mattered. He was already a few drinks in and didn’t seem to recognize her either.

He started flirting—or at least, his slurred, barely coherent words seemed to be an attempt at flirting. She tried to dissuade him, but he was relentless. The bartender tried to intervene, giving her a sympathetic nod that suggested this wasn’t the first time the guy had caused trouble.

But that didn’t mean she was going to put up with it. She decided to cut her evening short and head home. As she paid for her drink and stood up, the guy took it as an invitation to grab her arm and pull her toward him.

His breath reeked of alcohol, and she turned her head to avoid it, not holding back her curses. The creep seemed to get a kick out of her resistance and thought it was a good idea to grope her.

That’s when Jared walked in and pulled him away from her, robbing her of the chance to knee him where it hurt. Still, she thanked her old friend. They caught up briefly before she finally headed home.

He offered to walk her home, but she assured him she was fine. He shrugged and said he’d stick around to make sure the drunk didn’t follow her. At least she couldn’t say her time back home was completely dull.

It had been, until a few days ago. She’d craved the peace and tranquility of her small coastal town, but now she was yearning for something more. That’s when some old high school friends spotted her wandering aimlessly.

It was strange that she hadn’t run into them earlier, but maybe Jared had mentioned seeing her. She hadn’t changed much, so it wasn’t hard to recognize her. Her old classmates hadn’t changed much either.

Not drastically, at least. She’d heard horror stories of people not recognizing their old friends after years. Maybe movies were to blame for exaggerating everything. Real life and real people were simpler.

Changes were mostly subtle—weight loss or gain, hair loss, wrinkles, changes in style. Changes in heart and mentality happened too, but not as often as they should. Regardless, it was a pleasant surprise.

She was invited to a reunion party and, with nothing better to do, she decided to go. She now had something to look forward to at the end of the week. It wasn’t like she needed to buy a new dress or anything—they were meeting at the beach.

One of her sundresses would be perfect. To pass the time until then, she visited the local library. She used to love reading as a kid, but she had given up the habit when she started working.

She didn’t even own any books because it saddened her to see them sitting there, untouched. Now, she saw it as a chance to rediscover the joy of getting lost in a book. She should’ve thought of it sooner.

It would’ve been a great way to stave off boredom. The second she stepped into the library, a wave of happiness washed over her. The familiar surroundings, the soft lighting, the scent of books—it was pure joy.

She didn’t even know where the city library was, and even if she did, she wouldn’t have had the time to visit. But here, it was different. It was better, and the timing was perfect. The librarian was still the same, just a decade older, but then again, so was Lillian.

“Hello, Mrs. Jones,” she greeted, her smile wide. “Remember me?”

“Well, if it isn’t my favorite bookworm!” Mrs. Jones greeted back, her grin warm and welcoming. “When was the last time you walked through that old door?”

“It’s been years. But it seems like everything’s still the same,” Lillian observed.

“Well, some things have changed,” Mrs. Jones informed her.

“Really?” Lillian asked, intrigued.

“We’ve got a bunch of new books, and I’m not alone anymore. I’ve got help.”

“An apprentice?” Lillian chuckled.

“Sort of. He’s fresh out of university, and he’s putting everything he’s learned to good use—whether he likes it or not.”

“You’re working him hard, aren’t you?” Lillian laughed.

“Well, I must admit, carrying stacks of books and climbing up to the highest shelves has become a bit of a challenge over the years. I wouldn’t want to risk an accident. Breaking a bone at my age could be fatal, and I wouldn’t mind living a few more years.”

“So, the apprentice is doing all the heavy lifting?”

“Exactly. You know how dusty books can get. But he’s a good kid, a quick learner, and when I’m gone…”

“Why would you be gone?” Lillian interrupted.

“I have to retire at some point, dear. I’m getting old.”

“You’re not old, and besides, you love it here.”

“I do. But it’s time for younger people to step in. Fresh minds that can bring new ideas. I’m old, and it’s hard for me to keep up with the new trends, no matter how hard I try.”

“You’ll never be old.”

“The mirror begs to differ,” Mrs. Jones chuckled. “And so does my body. But I don’t mind. I’ve lived a good life, and I’m happy to pass on what I know to someone who cares. Someone who wants to see this place thrive.”

“Damn, I should’ve become a librarian!” Lillian exclaimed.

“Nah, you’d spend more time reading than helping the readers. You’d be utterly useless around here.”

“You’re probably right,” Lillian laughed. “I get too lost in stories. Or at least, I used to when I was a kid.”

“Until real life sucked you in?” Mrs. Jones asked, her voice filled with understanding.

“Yes, that’s exactly what I mean. But now I’m on vacation, and I can read again. Make up for lost time.”

“In just one summer?” Mrs. Jones raised an eyebrow. “You’re quite the optimist, aren’t you?”

“By nature, yes.”

“So, what kind of book are you looking for to get you started?”

“I’m not sure yet,” Lillian replied, thoughtful. “I haven’t read a book in a long time, and I don’t know where to start. I think I’ll browse the shelves a bit. See what catches my eye.”

“Old habits die hard, don’t they?” Mrs. Jones asked, a knowing smile on her face.

Mrs. Jones knew that even when Lillian knew what she wanted to read, she would still browse the shelves.

“Yes, they do.” Lillian winked.

After that, Mrs. Jones left her to her browsing. Lillian found that Mrs. Jones wasn’t lying. There had been many additions since her last visit. Or maybe she just didn’t remember the library’s collection all that well.

Regardless, there were books that seemed new, both in title and in condition. She ran her fingers over their spines as she walked by. How comforting, yet how daunting to choose from all these stories.

She decided to be practical. She couldn’t read them all at once. So, she picked out three books she’d never read before and took them to the desk.

There, she finally saw the young apprentice, a guy around twenty-two. He must be fresh out of university. She could almost remember her own time. It wasn’t that long ago.

The young librarian wore glasses with a vibrant blue frame and a T-shirt with a skull on it. His ears were pierced multiple times, and she half expected to see a tattoo, but if he had one, it wasn’t visible. If he did have one, would it be a skull like on his T-shirt, or something silly like a butterfly or something?

He was a librarian of the new age. Interesting. His contemporary style might just draw in the younger crowd. Mrs. Jones was a relic of a bygone era.

She wasn’t particularly stern, but she had never married, a fact that was oddly linked to her profession. Lillian never quite grasped why. Plenty of people chose not to marry, and they weren’t all librarians. Regardless, this guy was a breath of fresh air—a much-needed change.

“Can I help you check these out?” he offered kindly.

His courteous demeanor seemed at odds with his unconventional appearance, and she mentally chastised herself for making snap judgments based on looks. It was a terrible habit, especially considering she’d been on the receiving end of such judgments for the past three years. She should have known better.

“Yes, thank you,” she responded, handing him her library card.

It was a wonder she still had it. She hadn’t brought it with her when she moved to the city, but before she left, she had purged her room of unnecessary items, knowing her mother would be too sentimental to do it herself. The card had been left in a desk drawer and had practically materialized when she decided to visit the library.

She smiled at the memory, but the librarian was too engrossed in the books she’d chosen to notice. He made comments about her selections and suggested other titles he thought she might enjoy.

Mrs. Jones sat nearby, not interfering but beaming with pride. The young man was passionate about his work. He loved it, it seemed. She felt a pang of envy for hating her own job. His eyes sparkled as he spoke.

“You should check out our online catalog,” he suggested. “It’s up to date, and you can browse to your heart’s content.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Mrs. Jones give her a sly wink. Lillian suppressed a laugh and promised the young librarian she’d explore the online catalog.

She left the library, clutching her books to her chest, feeling inexplicably joyful. It was funny how such a simple thing could fill her with such happiness. She found herself wishing for more of these simple joys.

The books and an upcoming reunion party were the only exciting events on her calendar that week, but that was okay. It was enough. It was exactly what she needed.

She dove into her books immediately, and by the night of the party, she had nearly finished two of them. She had also perused the library’s online catalog to choose her next reads. She had always been a fast reader, and that hadn’t changed.

What also remained the same was the peculiar feeling she got when she was engrossed in a story; she was eager to reach the end, but when she did, she felt a sense of loss, as if she were leaving behind characters she had grown to love. She often thought she should slow down, savor the story, but her curiosity always won out.

For the party, she chose one of her summer dresses and wore her swimsuit underneath, just as she had planned. It had been years since she’d attended a beach party. She didn’t expect anything extraordinary to happen, but she was excited nonetheless.

She hummed along to old songs as she got dressed, not caring if it made her sound like an old woman. She had to admit, the songs of her youth were far superior to today’s hits.

She didn’t bother with makeup. She simply curled her lashes to brighten her eyes, applied some gloss for a bit of shine and moisture, and pinched her cheeks for a natural blush. No one would notice in the evening light.

She grabbed a small bag with her phone and house keys and headed to the beach, where others were slowly gathering. The sun had set a while ago, but the darkness hadn’t fully set in. The sky was streaked with shades of violet, adding an exotic touch.

Not that her hometown bore any resemblance to an exotic locale. The summers weren’t even that hot, but she didn’t mind. She was never one for extreme heat anyway.

A sweet, fruity drink found its way into her hand as they all began to swap stories about the years that had passed. Cathy had become an accountant, Jerome had played professional football until a knee injury sidelined him, and Clark had taken over his father’s business.

Sophia had married her childhood sweetheart, Oliver, and they now had three kids. Rebecca had started her own pet shop, and Ethan had become a schoolteacher. The list went on and on. Even Jared, her knight in shining armor from the other night, was there.

Each person had a tale to tell, some more boastful than others, but she found she could tolerate it for one night. It was surprisingly pleasant to reconnect after all this time. She hadn’t given them much thought over the years, but now that they were all together, she found she enjoyed their company.

It wasn’t as if they were going to become lifelong friends, but she was having a good time. She even agreed to grab drinks with a few of the girls before she had to return to work.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t make plans to see anyone in the city—most of the time she was too exhausted to leave her couch, and most of her old classmates lived too far away. But she hoped to keep in touch with a few of them.

Suddenly, she realized that her new life was lacking in the friend department. At first, it hadn’t mattered—she had other goals. Later, it still didn’t matter—she was too eccentric to approach and too worn out to prove she wasn’t a social pariah.

But now, being among people with shared experiences was invigorating. It wouldn’t last, but it was already proving beneficial.

Eventually, smaller groups formed, and some even began mingling with other beachgoers who weren’t part of their reunion. The beach was public, after all, and they weren’t the only ones there.

Lillian didn’t engage much with the locals, nor did she flirt with tourists like some of her single classmates. Not that there was anything wrong with that—vacation was the perfect time for a little fun. But she wasn’t in the mood for that kind of fun.

She was content to chat and sip her sweet cocktail. Maybe it was the guy from the other night—he had given her quite a scare. It wasn’t something that would leave lasting damage, but it was a shock.

So no, she wasn’t in the mood for flirting tonight.

However, her attention was soon drawn to a familiar man who was already smirking at her with an arrogant expression. What she couldn’t wrap her head around was how on earth Noah Ryder had ended up here.