Every Version of Him

Chapter Two

Lily adjusted the sign on the door from OPEN to CLOSED as the last customer exited and the bell above the door rang for the last time. "Ugh, my feet are done." "They'll be back tomorrow." Mark said, looking up from tallying the register. "They said they wouldn't." "They're being dramatic." "I guess they learned from me." Mark chuckled and continued his work. "You heading straight home?" "That was the plan." Mark noted the weather outside. "You going to get us some coffee for the bus then?" "I plan to." "You just want me to stop complaining for the bus ride." "I value my peace." “Don’t get washed away.” “At least you won’t be bored checking if I died from too much “alphabetizing.” “All good, I'll just dye it for you.”

Lily was out the door. She headed to the one café located around the corner from the book store. Much to her enjoyment, the café was one of those places without a lot of unnecessary frills, with mismatched chairs and hand edited menus, but they also had real flowers done up on every table. It's the little things right? The warm air and delightful smells of coffee and fresh bread greeted her, but the place was packed. The odds of finding someone leaving before she found a seat were slim to none. At least the guy sitting by himself at the only unoccupied table had a friend.

Across the room was a man with a book by his untouched coffee. Something about him was familiar. She took another step. He looked up and noticed her. His expression was blank for a brief moment while he tried to place her. After a moment, he smiled. "The recommendation was a good one." She smiled back. "You actually read it." "I finished it yesterday." "So quickly?" "I had more free time than I thought." She glanced at the chair across from him. "Do you mind?" "Not at all." She took the chair across from him. "I hope I'm not interrupting." "You aren't." A server approached. "What can I get you?" "A cappuccino, please." "And... do you still have the lemon loaf?" "We do." "I'll have a slice." The server smiled and continued on her way. Lily turned back to him. "I never asked your name." "No." "You somehow learned mine." He looked at her bookstore apron, which was folded neatly in her tote bag. "It wasn't exactly difficult." She laughed. "Fair." "I'm Sebastian." "Lily." "I know." "I figured you did." For a brief moment, they smiled at each other. It leaned more to being really easy than not. She leaned a little closer with her arms on the table. "I honestly didn't expect to see you again." "Neither did I." "But I'm glad I did." The words surprised them both because of how easily they came. Sebastian's smile expanded. "So am I." The server came back with Lily's order.

As soon as she walked away, Lily picked up her cup. “I’ve been wondering.” “About?” “The book.” He nodded once. “You said you were looking for something that made you feel hopeful.” “I was.” “Did it?” He didn’t answer right away. He looked at his coffee for a moment. “It made me remember that quiet endings aren’t the same as lonely endings.” Lily thought about that. “I like that.” “I wasn’t sure you would.” “Why?” “Most people like things that are certain.” “And you don’t?” “I think things that are certain are overrated.” She laughed softly. “That’s a dangerous opinion.” “It probably is.” She broke a piece off her lemon loaf. “So… what do you actually do?” “I work with my family’s investment company.” “Do you like it?” “Some days.” “That doesn’t sound convincing.” “That wasn’t the aim.” She smiled. “I appreciate the honesty.” He met her eyes. “I’ve found honesty is easier to remember.” She blinked. “That’s an interesting way to put it.” “It saves me from repeating way too many different versions of the same story.” Lily nodded slowly. “I suppose that’s true.” What about you he asked. “I organize shelves, recommend books, stop children from hiding in the fantasy section...” “They hide?” “You’d be surprised.” “I imagine I would.”

"Last week, I saw a little boy reading under a display table." "What did you see him reading?" "'Treasure Island'." "That's a treasure worth hiding." "That's what he said." Sebastian's laughter was quiet. It was the type of laughter that was soft, like he was trying to hold it back, but couldn't. Lily couldn't help but laugh with him. "'You laugh differently than I expected' was the comment I was going to make." Sebastian was amused. "How did you expect the laugh to sound?" Lily's cheeks went from red to pale back to red. "I don't know." "That's a comforting response." "It wasn't a nice response." "It doesn't sound like it was a nice response." Lily was more relaxed now. "I think I just imagined you..." She stopped. "Yeah. You just imagined me. Then what?" It was easy to see that Sebastian was curious to know what she was thinking. She was still looking for the right word. "...More serious." "You think I'm a joke?" "No." She smiled. "I think this is better." He looked at the ground for a second. He smiled. "I appreciate that." Outside rain. Inside they were not leaving. There was something calming and nice about the rain as they sat inside. Sebastian looked at the book that was sticking out from Lily's bag. "What are you reading?" "I'm reading this." She set it down on the table. "This is the third time I am starting to read this book." "How come you keep starting and stopping?" "I get bored." "Sounds like you haven't found the right time to read it then." "It sounds like you believe in the books finding the right readers." "I think readers find themselves." "That's the most annoying thing I've heard all day."

"I've been told worse."

"I believe it."

A comfortable silence settled between them.

Not empty.

Just... shared.

Lily took another sip of coffee.

"You know..."

"Hm?"

"I realized something after you left the bookstore."

"What was that?"

"I never asked what made you walk in that day."

He looked toward the rain-speckled window.

"The weather convinced me."

"And the book?"

"I'd been meaning to replace my old copy."

"What happened to it?"

"It had been read too many times."

She smiled.

"I don't think books can be read too many times."

"No."

His eyes returned to hers.

"I don't think so either."

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

The silence wasn't uncomfortable.

It simply existed between them.

Eventually Lily glanced at the clock on the wall.

"Oh..."

"You have somewhere to be."

"My neighbor asked me to help carry her groceries."

"Then I won't keep you."

She stood, slipping her bag over her shoulder.

"I had a nice time."

"So did I."

She hesitated.

It felt oddly disappointing to leave.

"I suppose..."

She smiled.

"...I'll see you if I see you."

"I'd like that."

There was no promise.

No exchange of numbers.

No plans.

Just two people who had unexpectedly shared another ordinary afternoon.

Lily waved lightly before heading for the door.

As she stepped back onto the sidewalk, she caught herself smiling.

Not because she'd met a handsome stranger.

He wasn't a stranger anymore.

And somehow...

...that felt even better.