The shrill, insistent bleating of her alarm clock ripped Katy from the depths of sleep. Seven A.M. The glowing red numbers on her digital clock seemed to mock her. She slammed her hand down on the snooze button, groaning as the silence returned, thick with the remnants of golden eyes and mysterious tattoos.
Today was Friday. And she had to be at the Public Library by nine.
. Her mind, despite her best efforts, immediately flickered to Jamie. His piercing gaze, the low rumble of his voice, the way he'd said his name. And those books. Shape-shifters. Wolves, to be exact. A strange, unsettling mix of intrigue and unease coiled in her stomach.
As she stumbled towards the kitchen, the memory of last night's conversation with her dad floated back. Her dismissive "just the usual" now felt like a gross understatement. If only she could explain to him the electric jolt that had run through her when Jamie's fingers brushed hers, the way his presence had filled the library, leaving everything else dull in comparison. But how could she? It sounded crazy, even to her.
She pulled out a mug for her coffee, her thoughts still tangling with the mystery of Jamie. The clock on the microwave blinked, a steady reminder of time. She had two hours until she had to step back into the world, and potentially, back into Jamie's orbit.
Katy chugged down the last of her coffee, the bitter warmth doing little to settle the nervous flutter in her stomach. She headed up to her room to get dressed and do her makeup. She never wore a ton of makeup; her dad always said she was a natural beauty, and Katy knew she was blessed with it. Today, she just applied a light touch of mascara and a swipe of lip balm. For clothes, she settled for a comfortable pair of black leggings and a beautiful off-the-shoulder lace top. It was her go-to for a balance of comfort and looking presentable.
She grabbed her purse and headed downstairs, giving her dad a quick "Bye!" as he read the morning paper. "Have a good day, sweet pea!" he called after her.
Stepping out into the mild morning air, Katy took a deep breath, trying to clear her head. The walk to the library was usually a peaceful one, a transition into the quiet order of her day. Today, however, that order was immediately disrupted.
As she approached the Library, her heart sank. There was a huge stack of returns sitting outside the door, some even blown a few feet away by the mild wind they'd had overnight. Books lay scattered on the pavement, covers slightly damp from the morning dew.
"It's going to be a long day," she mumbled to herself, a weary sigh escaping her lips. Her plans for a quiet morning before the usual rush were clearly out the window. She hurried to the door, fumbling with her keys so she could get inside, put her purse down, and then face the daunting task of collecting all the wayward books.
Just as she was setting her bag down, the distinct ding of the front door opening echoed through the quiet library. Her head snapped up. Who on earth was here so early?
"Sorry, we're not open yet!" she yelled from the back room, her voice a little sharper than intended. "Come back in fifteen minutes!"
A beat of silence, then a low, resonant voice that sent an immediate shiver down her spine replied, "Ummm, sorry, it's Jamie. Do you remember me from last night?"
Katy froze, a huge gulp lodging in her throat. Jamie. Here. Now. Her mind reeled. She snapped out of it, a frantic energy seizing her. "Umm, yeah, one minute!" she called back, her voice betraying her sudden nervousness.
She took a couple of deep, steadying breaths, trying to compose herself. Her heart was doing a frantic little dance against her ribs. Just breathe, Katy. He's just a patron. A very, very attractive, mysterious patron. Finally, with a forced calm, she walked out from the back room.
She found him standing near the main counter, looking even more striking in the morning light. His golden eyes met hers, and a small, knowing smile played on his lips. Those dark tattoos were visible on his arms, a stark contrast to his unreadable expression.
Katy gave him a quick, somewhat strained smile. "Hi, Jamie. "I'm surprised to see you here right now." She gestured vaguely around the still-empty library. "Did you... did you need something?"
Yeah, I forgot to check out a book last night," Jamie responded, his voice smooth, betraying none of the internal scramble he'd felt. "I was in the area, so I thought I'd quickly swing by before I forget again."
"Oh, okay." Katy's smile widened slightly, a genuine warmth breaking through her earlier nerves. "Well, I usually don't allow people in the library before opening, but I guess I can make an exception this time," she said with a playful smirk. "Do you know what book?"
Jamie nodded, a flicker of relief in his eyes. "Yeah, it's just over here. I'll quickly grab it." He didn't really need a book, he thought to himself, just a reason to be here. He'd grab whatever he saw first, hoping this wouldn't be awkward.
Jamie quickly snagged a book from the shelf, his hand landing on the first spine he saw. He pulled it free, glanced at the cover, and inwardly groaned. Childbirth. Of all the books in the Library, he'd picked that one. "Oh, come on," he muttered to himself, forcing down a surge of annoyance. This was not going to make his carefully planned approach any less awkward.
He walked to the counter where Katy was already sorting the returned books. He handed her the unfortunate selection.
"Oh," Katy said, her eyes widening slightly as she took the book. She looked from the cover to him, a mischievous glint in her warm brown eyes. "Childbirth, huh? "What an interesting selection you've made, sir." She smiled, a soft, amused chuckle escaping her lips, but deep down, she was wondering what on earth was up with this guy. First shape-shifters, now this?
She scanned the book, the machine beeping. "Due in two weeks, just like the others," she reminded him, sliding it back across the counter.
"Thanks," Jamie mumbled, taking the book. He turned to walk out the door, then stopped. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, steeling himself. Do it. Ask her.
He turned back around. "Hey, Katy," he said, his voice a little rougher than he intended.
"Yes?" she responded, her head tilted, curiosity etched on her face.
"How would you like to come to a small party tonight at mine and my brother's house?" he asked, trying to sound casual, laid-back. "It's nothing extreme, just hanging out and chilling with a couple of beers."
Katy was silent, her mind racing. A party? At his house? She'd never been to a party in her life, never even had a sip of booze. The idea felt foreign, terrifying. Would she even trust going to a stranger's house, and worse, a house with a bunch of other strangers she didn't know? The mystery surrounding Jamie, while intriguing, also screamed 'danger.'
"I'll think about it," she said, her voice hesitant, already anticipating her answer.
Jamie's smile didn't falter, a confident, almost predatory flash in his golden eyes. "I'd love it if you could come," he said, and with a swift, fluid motion, he pulled a small card from his wallet and tossed it on the counter towards her. "Starts at 9 PM." Then, without another word, he turned and walked out the door, the bell above it chiming his departure, leaving Katy staring at the address card, her heart hammering.