Unscented (Emilia and Wesley) novel Chapter 32

32 Chapter 32

“You guys are complete messes.” I muttered to them, earning me a grunt and a “Hey!” I walked forward and took a piece off of the pretzel, grinning at James who gaped at me. “My food!” “Mine now.” I laughed as I popped it into my mouth and began walking down the side walks, the sound of the boys not far behind me. I walked past Central Park and then a couple of blocks, coming to a dead stop right in the middle of the sidewalk. The guys tumbled over themselves at my abrupt halt, my eyes trained on the book store before me. The Black Cat.

I could smell the books from here, my eyes in a daze. I adored books more than life itself, okay maybe except for food too, and I guess Wesley and the back were up there. Books were pretty high up there though. I entered the door to find books lining the walls, the smell of worn paper and pine assaulting my nose. My eyes widened when I saw the wolf behind the counter, a man around my height with dark red hair and green eyes. His head snapped up when James and Andrew

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entered, James eyes trained on the wolf. “Mine!” Well

then.

***

His name turned out to Philip, and he hadn’t even known he was gay. I kept my eyes wide and confused as James pretty much attacked Philips mouth right in front of me, his teeth dangerously close to marking him right in the store.

“James!” Wesley boomed, his eyes flashing to me. I grinned sheepishly, hiding slightly behind Wesley. “No offense, but if you guys want to keep on making out there’s probably a back room somewhere around here.” James smiled at me while Philip blazed red, and tugged James through a doorway.

I rolled my eyes and started making my way along the corridors, books stacked high and in every direction. My mouth gaped open when I found a first edition of Wuthering Heights, the spine cracked and the pages worn. My fingers brushed over the cover, my breath hitched as I tried not to cry in the sheer glory of the find.

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“Do you want it?” I looked up to Andrew watching me with an amused look, and Wesleys eyes just full of love. I blushed under Wesleys gaze, looking back to my fingers brushing across the cover still. “Yeah, but it’s still so expensive.”

The book itself was well over a hundred dollars, hell it was actually over two hundred dollars! Wesley just shrugged and tugged the book gently from my grip, his fingers grazing mine and sending my heart stuttering. He grinned and walked to the front of the store where Philip and James had finally walked out, and placed he

book on the counter.

“He has it so bad.” I looked to Andrew, whose gaze was set on the back of Wesleys figure. “What do you

mean?” He gave me a sly smirk, rolling his eyes. “Wesley, he’s completely in love with you.” I shook my head, scrunching my nose slightly. “I doubt that. I’m too damaged for him, you know that.” He shook his head back at me, watching Wesley handing over his card for my book. “He doesn’t spend money on just anyone you know, he’s insanely frugal with just about everything but you. The question is, do you love him?” I huffed, slowly beginning the walk back to the front. “I

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do, probably too much.”

We ended up eating local food that night for dinner, while James mate Philip actually quit his job right then and there and came to stay at the hotel with us. I

didn’t look at them weird, although Wesley explained that he was Andrews cousin and was coming back with us unexpectedly. Which was complete bullshit, but I’m human so whatever.

The morning of the play I left the group and found my way to some type of salon, and had my hair cut and styled. I gave the hair dresser the last of my money, she had worked some serious magic on my unruly hair and had loosely curled it and pinned it back, letting a few whispeys hang to frame my face. My makeup had been done light and neutral, but still enough to make my cheekbones stand out and green eyes pop. I stared at myself in the mirror as she took the towel off of my shoulders. For once in my life, I felt special. I felt beautiful, like I finally belonged in this shitty world filled with cruel people.