Page 1 of Check You Out

1

Charlotte

“Damn,” my best friend, Nicole Bennett, announces as she gazes around the meeting room of the Summerville Public Library. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen this many people at a town meeting.” Her red hair is pulled up into a messy bun, and she’s wearing a gray shirt with a black cat holding a cup of coffee that reads: “You smell like drama and a headache. Please get away from me.”

I shrug and peer around. “Me neither. But I guess this is what happens when you have an emergency meeting for the first time in like forty years.” The only seats left are the ones in the front row, flanking us. There’s a long table on one side of the room, where a few town council members mingle with other town officials, including the mayor.

Nicole chuckles and shakes her head. She glances at her phone and frowns. “This better be fucking worth it. I’m missing tips. If this is because the port-a-potty vendor backed out before Pride, I’m going to do something.”

“And that something is?”

“I will complain loudly, leave, and go to bed,” she replies.

I roll my eyes and shrug. Ladies and gentlemen, Nicole, the town grump and the best barista/bartender in the county. She once shoved a potato in an ex-boyfriend’s muffler after he cheated on her. It broke a window. She’s mastered resting-bitch-face to the point where small children shy away from her. I nudge against her and swivel around in my seat to see if anyone else I know has arrived.

Someone is sitting next to me, and I didn’t even realize it. That someone is a tall, devastatingly handsome man. I let out a short, stifled yelp and nearly fall off my chair. Really smooth.

Aidan Talbot.

He is one of my customers who comes in every few weeks and buys a couple of books. He’s tall, at least a head taller than my five-foot four frame. Dark, wavy brown hair falls over his forehead and lands around his ears. His deep brown eyes are enhanced by a pair of wire-rimmed glasses. His square jaw is emphasized by a mustache and a dusting of a five-o'clock shadow. He’s wearing a gray sweater-blazer with a red, blue, and white checkered shirt, collar popping out at the neck. And he’s carrying a library copy of Legendborn by Tracy Deonn.

A gorgeous man with great taste in books? Yes please.

I’ve wanted to ask Aidan out, or at least I have no idea what he thinks of me. He’s so quiet and reserved. I once asked his roommate and he only shrugged.

“Oh hi, Aidan,” I squeak out after coming back down to earth.

Aidan’s eyes grow wide with concern and his mouth parts. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I-I-I just sat down. Um… hi, sorry again.” His velvety voice trails off before he looks down at the ’90s Lisa Frank rainbow cat-barf carpet. A sheepish smile creeps up on his face and a dimple pops.

Holy fucking shit, he’s got dimples.

He has yet to smile at me.

My next words come out like sandpaper. “Oh, uh, no worries.”

Actually, I have many worries.

“Hello Charlotte,” says a voice just beyond Aidan. Xander Bennett, Nicole’s older brother and Aidan’s roommate of one month. He’s tall with brown hair and wears glasses. “Hey Little Nicky,” he says to Nicole. “Do you know what this stupid meeting is about?”

Aidan’s smile turns into a wince.

“Hey Lurch,” Nicole calls over my shoulder. She pulls a paper bag out of her satchel. “I brought brownies.” She hands them to Aidan and me. “I used a different combination of chocolate. Let me know what you think. Except you, Xander. I don’t give brownies to assholes.”

His face melts into a smolder. “Don’t I deserve a crumb of kindness in my life?”

Nicole studies him for a few seconds. “Alright, fine. Only if you name your firstborn child after me.”

“I can’t. Gromit is my firstborn,” Xander says as he reaches over us and grabs a brownie, stuffing his face with it. “Oh my god. These are fucking amazing!”

“Your dog is not a child,” Nicole corrects.

In between chews, Xander replies, “At least he doesn’t poop in a box like your possessed goblin masquerading as a cat.”

She gives him a death glare and flips him off.

Rolling my eyes, I take a bite of the brownie. It’s rich and fudgy and oh so delightful. “So, how are you, Aidan? It’s been a while.” I immediately regret saying that. What if he thinks that I’m stalking him?

He nods. “I’ve been busy with school and moving.” He takes a bite of his brownie. I watch his jaw move and flex as he chews. “How are you?”