REVERIE (f/f / love triangle / romance/erotica)

Chapter 4:

Sunday passed, me, sitting on the couch with Oscar the entire time, reading a nonfiction book where you chose what happened next. It was nostalgic for me, the old book smell, the dated paper pages, and I had been needing an easy day.

Monday was now upon myself, and after going to sleep early the night before, I felt refreshed and ready for the week. Something that didn't happen every Monday. It was satisfying enough that the crisp air felt nice instead of suffocating.

Dre was my weekend bookshop keeper, and when I arrived I was satisfied seeing everything organized, clean and in its place. He was a reliable worker, although perhaps had a touch of over indulgence in perfection with his hand smacking when even a bookmark moved. But I'd never take him for granted, that was for sure.

I had just finished setting out some new arrivals on the table near the front, when I spotted the book mystery woman always picked up. I recognized it from the lack of cover and bright red binding. I didn't know why I hadn't taken a look at it before. It wasn't because it didn't intrigue me, quite the opposite, but I felt I was violating her privacy by doing so. My hand wavered above it. No one was in the shop, but it felt immoral to touch it, something that needed to be kept a secret. My hand held there for a moment too long, and I drew it back, grimacing at the book. Mystery woman, mystery book.

The bell clanging snapped my attention towards the door, and my jaw slackened as none other than mystery woman herself walked in. She looked even sexier, a button up oversized shirt overtop some black tights. The shirt was short enough to expose her slender thighs and the tights thin enough to show her shape. I was locked in on her.

She looked at me shyly, and I realized I was staring. I didn't even want to know how obsessed I looked, a wave of shame submerging me.

I looked away. Why did she make me so flustered? I asked myself over and over.

Mystery woman walked closer to me, then surprised me.

"Hey," She said, her voice shy but sweet like sugar. "I was here a couple of days ago, if you remember me. Although I'm sure you get plenty of visitors here." She gave me that same innocent smile she'd given me on Thursday. Of course I remembered her, I couldn't stop thinking about her.

"Welcome back, I absolutely remember you. I have a pretty good memory with faces," I said. At least I was talking with more suave compared to the time prior.

"Oh good, you know, I never got your name?"

I could feel a blush tinting my ears. I couldn't believe she was asking me my name, I felt foolish for not doing it sooner, so late in fact she had to ask me instead. I wished I could reel back time a few minutes to come off more confident and prepared for her presence.

"Just call me Lex," I said with fronted ease. She smiled.

"I'm Hazel."

We both stood there in awkward silence, my hands in my pockets, until I pulled my head out of my ass and grew the confidence to talk more. It was now or never. "What are you doing tonight?" The question poured out of me, unable to keep the dam at bay.

She paused, then, "I'm not sure yet, I have to be back at the office shortly, but after work I should be free." I felt like she knew I was asking her out, otherwise she wouldn't have told me she was free.

"You should come to dinner with me tonight?" I suggested. I did my best not to sound meek, and to seem more charming and concluded it a success because her face brightened and she indulged.