Safe and Sound

two - travis

It was just past midday, and I was already itching to get out of the office. I only worked here with the FBI one day a week, handling whatever needed my attention. This was really just my cover up job, so that if anyone asked me what I do for work, I could tell them I work for the FBI - and not be lying. But honestly, I'd been debating quitting for a while. It was a useless little job, and I certainly made enough money in my other line of work.

Today had been paperwork, all day - nothing glamorous, just files, reports, and emails. It was doing my head in, the endless notes and documentation. By the time I clocked out, I needed to clear my head.

I packed up my stuff, adjusted my black collared shirt, and took the lift down 34 floors to the carpark. I started to drive aimlessly, not going my usual route home and passing through quieter parts of town instead. The world out here wasn't moving at 100 miles per hour, and I liked that.

I ended up parking my car, and wandering down a quiet side street I'd never noticed before. There wasn't much on this block except for a few small shops tucked away, the kinds of places people stumbled across by accident. I kept walking, until a noticed a little bookstore tucked away between two different cafes. The neat but obviously hand-painted sign read 'Swift Reads'.

I chuckled at the name. It wasn't my usual kind of place. Honestly, I couldn't remember the last time I read a book that wasn't part of a case file. But, nevertheless, I decided to walk inside.

The smell of old books hit me in a waft , mixed with a subtle hint of vanilla, probably from the candle burning on the counter. The place was small but cozy. Shelves lined the walls, filled with books that all looked old and used.

A woman was standing behind the counter, her brow furrowed slightly as she flipped through a book. She had this quiet concentration about her, like she was lost in her own world. Her long blonde hair draped over her shoulders, and she wore a simple sweater and jeans, nothing fancy. But even with how casual she looked, she had a kind of natural beauty that made her stand out.

I must have lingered in the doorway longer than I thought, because suddenly she looked up and caught my eye. There was this tiny awkward pause, like she wasn't expecting anyone to be there, but then she smiled—a soft, sweet smile that lit up her face.

"Hi," she said, her voice gentle. "Can I help you find something?"

I cleared my throat, realizing I must look completely out of place here. "Uh, yeah. Maybe. I'm, uh... looking for a book."

Smooth, Kelce. Real smooth.

Her lips twitched, like she was fighting back a grin. "Well, you've come to the right place for that."

I chuckled, running a hand through my short ruffles of hair. "Yeah, I guess I have."

Another beat of silence passed. I wasn't used to feeling out of my element like this, but there was something about her that made me feel awkward in a way I hadn't since high school.

"You, um... have anything you recommend?" I asked, trying to keep the conversation going.

Her eyes lit up, like she was genuinely excited by the question. "Oh, absolutely. What kind of stuff do you like to read?"

That was the thing. I didn't really read. Not much, anyway. "I'm not really sure," I admitted, scratching the back of my neck. "I guess I haven't read anything that wasn't... work-related... in a long time."

"Hmm," she murmured, coming around the counter. "So you need something that'll get you into reading... nothing too heavy." She said quietly to herself.

She moved along the shelves, her fingers brushing the spines of the books as she thought. I watched her quietly, noticing how much care she seemed to put into even the smallest task. It was like she had all the time in the world to help a stranger pick out a book.