Darling Clementine

Three

“Are you kidding me?!” I almost shrieked, flipping page after page of In Cold Blood. “You have got to be joking!”

232

221

 I flipped another page.

221

221

212

A fucking miscopy, and half a chapter is missing!?

I slammed the book close and chucked it across the room where it hit a painting of a tree in autumn. The book hit the floor with a thud, kicking up dust, and the painting fell crooked.

It was getting good.

Real good.

Good enough to encourage me to get out of the comfort of my pajamas, pick up the book and walk right out the front door. And since Vivian was doing overtime at the shop, it was fairly easy to leave the house.

The walk to downtown was shorter than I first anticipated. The sun was about to go down and the streets were somewhat empty. It was getting kind of chilly and halfway to the bookstore, I was shivering. My arm ached and my teeth were chattering by the time I waltzed into the warm lit book store.

Ansel was still behind the counter when I came stomping in. He was kicked back in a chair intently reading The Maze Runner . He looked calm, his light eyes moving back and forth as he read the text. He only looked up from his book when I loudly stomped up to the counter and slammed the miscopy of In Cold Blood down in front of him.

“It’s a miscopy.” I said somberly before slapping the receipt to the wooden counter. “I want my money back.”

Ansel cracked a smile. He dog eared his page before shutting the book and standing to his feet. “That good huh?” He grabbed the receipt and began typing on a small computer monitor. Picking up the book in his hand, he skimmed quickly through the pages, immediately finding the repetition in the pages. “That’s a shame. It’s a good ending.” He pursed his pink lips and set the book behind the counter.

I found it strange that he was suddenly acting all nice towards me. I figured maybe he realized I was right and he was wrong. “What happens?” I questioned finding myself very anxious about the ending.

He smirked, a hint of white straight teeth peeking from behind his plump lips. “Nuh uh. You’ve come to the wrong guy if you want spoilers.” His attention moved back to the computer monitor. “Luckily for you, this says we have one more copy in the back. I can go get it if you like?”

I nodded, forcing back a smile.

“Great. I’ll be right back.” He turned and disappeared behind a red velvet curtain. I looked around the book store, the rustic feel of it reminds me a bit of home. There was a book store kind of like this back in Montana, except smaller and more brightly lit. And the cashier isn’t attractive, she was a seventy year old woman with diabetes and a receding hair line.

Ansel appeared from behind the curtain, a new copy of In Cold Blood in his hand. He handed it to me and I thanked him quietly.

“Not  a problem.” He said, still smirking. He ran a hand back through his dark hair and adjusted the crooked collar of his polo. Before I could turn and leave, his eyes found mine. “Look, I’m sorry about earlier.” His voice was low and gruff. “That George Billings guy has been harassing my mom for a while now, and his name isn’t exactly welcome in my house. I didn’t mean to take my annoyance out on you.”

Well that makes sense. I licked my lips and shrugged. “No harm, no foul. Thanks for the book.”

Ansel fell back in his chair, and cocked his head to the side, his expression looked familiar. “Are you new here? I haven’t seen you around.”