𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥

19

SUNDAY

I don't think I'd ever seen Madeline, or any girl for that matter, so excited to meet an author. She was actually buzzing, balancing from toe to toe in the line and fidgeting with the rings on her fingers while she bit down on her lip to suppress a grin.

"Holy shit, shortcake, you're an actual nerd." I tease. "I was partially joking when I said it before."

"Shut up. It's exciting!" She defends, her jumpy movements stilling.

"I'm not judging." I say, holding up my hands in surrender.

The closer we get in the line, the more anxious than excited she looks. "You okay?"

"Hm?" She looks up from her hands, "Oh, yeah."

"Yeah?"

"I'm just nervous, I'm not always good at speaking to people." She shrugs.

"I'm not too good myself." I smile reassuringly, "Just nudge me if you need me to say anything. You'll do fine, you're very likeable."

"I'm very likeable?"

"You know what I mean." She laughs then and I'm glad to distract her as we're now at the front of the cue. The worker ushers us forward and I almost jump out my skin when Madeline's hand clasps around my finger. I glance at her and I don't think she even knows she did it. I keep my hand still, just letting my thumb barely skim her fingers.

"Hi, lovelies. It's nice to meet you." Daisy, I'm assuming, says.

"You too, I love your writing." Madeline replies.

"Thank you, dear. I'm glad you like them." She smiles, "Who would you like me to write it out to?"

"Just Maddie, please." She responds. Daisy signs the book and adds a message I can't read before handing it to her.

"And who have you brought with you?" Daisy asks.

"My uh, Quinn.. friend." She stumbles. It takes everything in me not to laugh right there.

Daisy chuckles in reply and touches Madeline's hand gently. "Well it's been lovely to meet you both, Maddie and Maddie's Quinn friend. You two have a good day."

Once we leave, she's jumping in circles. "I'm never washing my hands again."

I chuckle, admiring her with my hands in my hoodie pockets. "So, your Quinn friend, huh?"

She glares and swivels around holding a hand up to silence me.

I laugh and take her hand putting it back to her side. "Coffee?"

"So how many countries have you actually been to?"

"Fourteen, some twice." I say. "Have you been anywhere?"

"I went to Spain when I was younger but I don't remember much of it." Quinn replies, "Do you ever wish you could stay in one place though?"

Always. "Yeah. It's hard, constantly moving and never having a chance to settle down."

He keeps asking questions, as if I'm the most interesting person in the room, and I continue to answer every one. I find myself telling him things I hadn't told to anyone. And he listens to every word.

By the time we walk back out to the car, it's almost five. I climb in and fasten by belt and Quinn does the same.

Pressing the button to start the car, he readies his hand on the gearstick but it doesn't start. "Hang on, this happens sometimes."

Trying again, it still doesn't start. And again.

"Well, shit."

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Sorry for the late update, I'm currently writing a physical book and I probably won't be as active at the moment.

thank you for almost 9k reads!!!