Page 175 of Safe With You

She didn’t thank me.

I didn’t mention it.

For the next half hour, we finished the rest of the setup that way, with her telling me what she needed and me doing it. Sometimes I asked why. Sometimes I told her an idea wasn’t going to work until she made me try it anyway and proved me wrong.

Once, I proved her wrong.

I made sure she knew it.

“You’re enjoying this way too much,” she said.

“I don’t get a lot of opportunities.”

“You’ve known me for five minutes.”

“Long enough.”

She rolled her eyes and handed me a roll of tape.

“Hold this.”

I took it.

I wasn’t sure she noticed the change, but I did, and I didn’t say a word about it.

By the time we finished, the bookstore looked ready for Saturday.

The tables sat near the front with the donation boxes arranged underneath them. Chairs lined the wall until they were needed, and the area near the stage was open enough for more kids than Luna was probably expecting.

She stood beside me, looking it over.

“I think that’s everything.”

“You think?”

She glanced at me. “Don’t ruin it.”

“I’m just making sure.”

“That’s everything.”

“Good.”

She exhaled, some of the tension leaving her shoulders.

“Thank—”

She caught herself.

I smiled.

Her eyes narrowed.

“Not a word.”

I lifted both hands.

She shook her head, laughing as she turned toward the front of the store.