New adult fiction. Written for Spring Into Love contest on NARomance.
Written: May 2021

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Lindsey sighed as she ran her finger along the spine of yet another book. All of them were something she wanted to put on her shelf. Especially this one. She read a small part of it and it took her back to the year before, when she met someone she knew she'd never forget.

She'd been wishing every day since then that she could find him again. They clicked in a way she never had with anyone else before.

With a sigh, she pulled the book from the shelf once more and looked around at the store. It was probably supposed to look like something out of the Victorian era, but the owner had only succeeded in making it look like a cheap knockoff of the Library of Congress.

That's why it had taken her so long to visit - not a lack of interest in the books, but rather a disappointment over the appearance of the place.

She perused another shelf before realizing she'd accidentally sidled up to a stranger. Before she could silently step away, she noticed that the guy looked familiar. When he turned to her and flashed a smile, the realization hit her.

Him.

It was him.

Cody.

"You look familiar," he said.

That was all it took to bring back memories she thought she'd made herself forget: his smooth voice that felt like a lazy summer afternoon; blue eyes that looked as deep as the ocean; conversations that felt like coming home.

"You do, too," she said. Did he not remember her? Was it weird she remembered not only his name, but almost every conversation they had last year?

"We've met before, haven't we? I'm Cody."

She nodded. "I'm Lindsey, and yes, we have. Last year, actually."

He studied her for a moment and she saw the recognition that she just now realized had been there from the start. "So, um, you come here often?" he asked awkwardly.

"This is my first time here, actually."

"Oh, cool. It's mine, too. My friend told me about this place when he came through last week."

"You're not from here?" He shook his head. "Where are you from?"

"A place about two hours north of here. It's one of those tiny towns that have, like, 20 people. You?"

"I live up the road, actually."

"Nice!" He looked at the book she'd been staring at. "Do you like that one?"

"I haven't read it," she said, grabbing the book. "It looks good, though. I'm probably going to get it." She sat it on top of the book she was holding.

He tilted his head and grabbed the one on top of her hand, their skin brushing momentarily. She bit her lip to hide the sound of her sucking in a breath. The skin tingled at his touch. He flipped through the book. "I remember this book," he said. "I read this one a few months ago. It's good."

She listened to him tell her his favorite part of the book, realizing that nothing had changed - his voice, his eyes, the feeling his words gave her, though awkward at first, were all the same as she remembered.

"I didn't take you as a romantic type," she said, blushing slightly.

He shrugged and handed the book back. "I suppose I kind of am." He glanced at the window. "Hey, want to grab some coffee at the shop on the next block? After we're done looking, that is."

She smiled to herself. "Sure. Sounds good."