Lila locked up the cash register and checked her watch. It was almost closing time, and the bookstore was winding down from a busy day. The setting sun cast long shadows through the shop's front windows, bathing the shelves in a warm, golden glow. Marcus was in the back, sorting through the day’s receipts and preparing for the next morning’s inventory. Lila grabbed her coat, gave Marcus a wave, and stepped outside into the crisp evening air.
As she walked to her car, she couldn’t help but think about Dominic and their rocky first encounter. He was such a different man from Marcus, with his snapping and rudeness, but remembering Marcus’s words, Lila decided to cut Dominic some slack. Everyone had their bad days, and perhaps Dominic's had been particularly tough.
The drive home was short a
