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The little bell above the door rings every time Yelena walks into the bookshop. She always wears thick boots that scuff against the lip of the door entrance, and you’ve started to recognize the sound.
Sometimes she comes in alone, and sometimes she comes in with the same man you’ve seen a handful of times before, the two of them quietly talking as they browse. Whether she’s with him or not, your attention always finds her.
It’s impossible not to, Yelena is electric.
She’s the kind of person who seems like she carries her own weather system around with her. Her blonde hair is cut short, just enough to show off the collection of earrings lining her ears. The blue liner she always wears somehow makes her eyes look even brighter, and she always has this look on her face like she’s three steps ahead of everyone else in the room.
She keeps mostly to herself, though.
She’ll wander through the aisles, picking up books, reading the backs, occasionally making a quiet comment to herself when something catches her interest. You’ve never been sure how to approach her without sounding like you’re trying too hard.
The complicated truth is, you like her. You like her in the most embarrassing, obvious way, and every time she comes to the register with a new book, you do the same small thing. You reach into the little glass dish sitting beside the cash register and drop a mint into her bag.
It’s nothing, a tiny gesture, but Yelena caught on. The first time she did, she looked down at the mint and then back at you with a small smile.
“You give candy with book purchase?” she asked.
You shrugged, suddenly aware of how warm your face felt. “Only to people who look like they need one.”
She raised an eyebrow. “And I look like I need mint?”
“You look like you’d appreciate one.” You had replied, hoping she was insulated.
Instead, it made her laugh. You’ve been chasing that sound ever since.
-
The next time she comes in, she’s holding a book about geology. You recognize it immediately because you saw her pick it up earlier, standing in the science section with the same intense focus she seems to give everything. When she sets it on the counter, you scan it.
“Geology?” you ask, trying desperately to sound casual.
Yelena looks up. “Is surprising?”
“No,” you say quickly. “No, I just- I don’t know. I guess I didn’t expect it.”
She tilts her head. “What did you expect?”
“I don’t know,” you admit. “Maybe something about explosions or spies.”
The second the words leave your mouth, you regret them, but instead of looking confused, Yelena laughs. “You think I am spy?”
“I mean- no. Not at all. I just-“
Her smile grows. “You are very bad at pretending.”
“Yeah I’m kind of…” You laugh nervously, rubbing the back of your neck. “I’m better with books than people.”
“I notice.”
You look up to see a playful sparkle in her eyes. For a moment, you think maybe you’re not completely imagining the way she looks at you. Someone steps up behind her, his voice cool and low. “Ready?”
You recognize him, the man who sometimes comes in with her. Your stomach drops. Of course she has a boyfriend. Your confidence, which had barely been standing on its own two feet, immediately crumbles.
Yelena doesn’t seem to notice. She takes the bag from you and peeks inside before she smiles.
“Ah. My favorite part.” She pulls out the mint.
You laugh softly. “I was wondering if you actually liked those or if you were just being polite.”
“Please,” she says, offended. “I look forward to these.”
Your smile grows before you can stop it. She looks back into the bag and nearly bats her eyes. You feel your stomach flip again.
“Can I have second one?”
“Another one?”
She nods. “For my friend Bob.”
You look past her at the man waiting behind her. “Oh. Sure.”
You grab another mint and hand it over.
“Thanks,” she says before she gives you that little smile again, the one that makes you forget every other customer in the store. She lifts her hand in a small wave as she walks away. You wave back, turning to continue your work, trying not to think about how stupid you feel for flirting with someone who already has someone.
“Hey.” You look up, finding Bob is still standing there. He leans slightly closer, lowering his voice. “Between me and you? She’s never going to ask you out.”
Your face falls. “Oh.”
He shakes his head. “Not because she doesn’t want to, she just doesn’t realize you like her.”
“I-“ Your face immediately heats up.
“So,” he continues, picking up the mint between his fingers, “you’re going to have to do it.”
Before you can even respond, he walks out, leaving you completely speechless.
-
The next time Yelena comes in, she doesn’t buy a book, but rather a bookmark. You stare at it while ringing her up.
“You know,” you say, your voice slightly shaky, “you don’t have to buy something every time you come in.”
She looks amused. “Oh?”
“Yeah. You can just… come in.”
Her eyebrows lift slightly.
“You are saying I should visit bookstore without purchasing?”
“I’m saying you’re welcome here.”
A small smile pulls at her lips, and you swallow. You’re going to do it, you can do this. You’ve survived job interviews, awkward customers, and that one time someone tried to return a book they’d spilled tea all over.
You can ask Yelena to coffee.
“Actually,” you say. She glances at you. “Would you maybe want to get coffee sometime?” Your voice cracks slightly, and you hate yourself immediately. “I mean, if you’re interested. If not, that’s completely fine. I just thought maybe-“
You stop when she sighs. A huge, dramatic sigh. Your heart sinks a little in your chest.
“Sorry, I-”
“God, yes.”
You blink, feeling your face drain of color. “What?”
“God, yes.” She laughs, shaking her head. A grin starts to form on her face. “I was running out of things to buy just so I’d have excuse to talk to you.”
“You bought a bookmark because of me?”
She looks down at it. “It is very nice bookmark.”
You laugh, and she smiles.
“I thought you were with Bob,” you admit. Yelena’s expression changes into immediate understanding.
“Oh,” She laughs. “No. Bob is friend. I don’t exactly…swing his way.”
You cover your face briefly. “I feel so stupid.”
“You are not stupid.” She leans closer, lowering her voice. “You are adorable. But very bad at knowing when someone likes you.”
“That’s funny coming from you.”
“Maybe a little,” she picks up her bag, holding the bookmark inside. “So. Coffee?”
“Yeah, coffee,” You nod quickly. “Here’s my number. Text me…whenever.”
You scribble your digits on a piece of scrap paper, handing it to her. Yelena looks it over before smiling and tucking it into her back pocket.
“I will text you,” She heads toward the door, then pauses. She points toward the little dish on the counter. “Don’t forget.”
You smile. “You want your mint?”
“Of course.”
You hand it over, and your fingers graze her palm. Yelena smiles, and you beam back as she leaves, realizing you’re not giving her a reason to come back anymore.
She’s already going to.