Page 38 of Pucking Them
“As much as I trust any journalist. Can I choose some of your best Bay Rebels photographs, which you have taken for the website, to go with the article? You’ll be credited. They really are amazing.”
Surprised, I give a sharp nod.
“You could train professionally as a photographer,” Robyn muses.
“I’m D’Angelo’s PA.”
“You could do that too.”
A spark of happiness flashes through me.
It’s unusual.
Unexpected.
Is this how Shay feels most of the time?
I try to catch hold of the feeling.
I grab the thin, brightly colored book, which I left earlier at the back of the nook, when I was preparing for my date with Robyn.
“The Wonderful Wizard of Ozby L. Frank Baum.” I handle the book carefully.
I bought it with my portion of this week’s salary, which I hadn’t already set aside to send back to my parents, from Alice’s Book Café bookstore.
The book is a vintage 1950’s hardback with illustrations. Cassian excitedly called me in when he found it for me.
I am discovering that there is an advantage to knowing someone with a bookstore.
Is that friendship?
I pass the book to Robyn. “This is for you.”
She glances at me, surprised. “Are you sure? This looks valuable.”
I set my mouth, stubbornly. “I can give you presents too.”
It’s on my spreadsheet.
I know that it’s an important part of dating, right?
I may not have the same money as D’Angelo, or even as my brother now that I am a PA and not a hockey star, but I can still treat my lover as well as they do.
“Thank you.” Robyn strokes over the front of the book reverentially. “This is perfect. I read it when I was a kid. Actually, when I was too young. I gave myself nightmares. It’s much darker than the movie with the giant spider, the woodsman cutting off his own limbs, and the cracked clown.”
“What about the wolves?” I hum in agreement. “I like it darker.”
“Wow, shocker. Don’t tell me that you also like the flying monkeys?”
“They’re the best part. Wouldn’t you like to have a flying monkey?”
Surely everybody would?
Robyn gives me a look that I can’t work out, before she flips open the book and happily studies the illustrations. “Dorothy also has silver shoes and not ruby.”
“Movies are never as good as the book.”
“Apart fromThe Godfather.”
