Stereo Hearts (and other short memories)

The Bookstore on the Corner

I browse through the romance section, sipping coffee black as night. There are quite a few good choices and I can't seem to decide which one I want. No matter how hard I try not to, I keep coming back to an old used hardcover with no title and no author. I'm drawn to it like a moth to a flame, it's way outside my budget as I can only afford clearance books. Occasionally someone passes by and mutters a "Hey,Cecil." When they recognize me. I just nod and drink my coffee. It's getting cold, which means I'm almost out of time to choose a book. I sigh and grab one of the new John Green books and head to the register.
~~~
I drop my empty coffee cup in the trash as I walk out of the store, new book in hand. One of the employees runs up behind me and taps me on the shoulder.
"Um, excuse me? Somebody noticed you looking at a book and wanted to buy it for you." He holds up a small bag until I take it from him.
"Do you know who it was?" I ask, curious about this secret admirer.
"He didn't want me to tell you his name, but he wrote something on the receipt for you." The employee winks at me then runs back into the store.
Not wanting to open the book on the street I go back inside and sit at one of the tables in the cafe. I reach into the bag and pull out an old, hardcover book. There's no title, no author. I smile and hug the book to my chest. I open the front cover and there's the receipt, stark white against the yellowing pages.
In tiny, neat script a note at the bottom reads, "I couldn't help but notice that you really wanted this book. I was kind of shocked when you didn't buy it, so I figured I would do it for you. I also think you're pretty cute, but I don't know if you swing that way. If you do, my number's at the bottom. If not, then I guess you get a free book! Woohoo!"
I smile at the kindness of this stranger and pull out my phone to call the number. As it rings I can hear somebody else's phone going off across the cafe. I look in that direction and see a man blushing as he pulls the phone out of his pocket and answers. "Hello?" His voice echoes through my own device and I smile and hang up. I stand and walk over to where he's sitting. He has chocolate brown hair and teeth like a military cemetery. He's perfect in every way.
"Hello, I'm Cecil. Do you care if I sit here?" I smile at him as he nods and I sit down across from him. He blushes as I set the book on the table.
"H-hi. Um, I'm Carlos." He stutters out in a low voice and I giggle.
"Well, I want to say thank you for the book. And that I do 'swing that way' as you put it." He blushes deeper and I laugh loudly.
"W-well, do you... Do you want to get coffee, sometime? Maybe? With me?" He's so shy, it's adorable.
I grin widely, "I would like that, Carlos. I really, really would."
~~~
We went on a date, or five. Or more. I had fallen in love almost instantly. One thing is for sure though. I will never forget the bookstore on the corner that gave me true love.

THE END