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Allison Reynolds reached up to tug the heart-shaped frames of her oversized sunglasses down to her nose, blinking skeptically at the wooden sign hanging overhead. It was oval, old, and swayed in the gentle spring breeze, but was still enough that the sunset orange letters were legible: Foxhole Rare Books.
Her skepticism grew when she pushed open the door, an ancient bell tinkling overhead to accompany the rhythmic click of her hells as she descended the few steps into the building. The store was narrow but three stories – a converted rowhouse that was likely someone's home a hundred years ago. Maybe it still was on one of the upper levels. But from here all she could see were rows upon rows of high shelves, stacked with colorful books of all shapes and sizes. The décor was outdated but quaint, somewhere between a dark-academia and a grandma’s cottage in the woods. She could appreciate the vibe. It was different from the chain stores and upscale ‘boutique’ bookstores she usually dealt with. Which is also why she paused a few feet from the tall, wooden, counter, spinning in place to take it all in. This was definitely not the type of store that she usually marketed to but she was already here and had an hour to kill before meeting someone for lunch so she might as well give it a shot.
The store seemed empty, save for the employee behind the counter. The tall, dark-haired man perched on a stool looked somewhere between jock and academic – muscular shoulders straining the fabric of his light sweater a little. Exactly the type of person she might be able to charm into carrying her magazine. And by type she means men. It was rare not to get what she wanted if she flashed a little cleavage and offered a performative hair flip. Men were often simple creatures, and she wasn’t above flirting to get what she wanted.
Unfortunately, the moment she pushed her glasses back to perch on her head, brown eyes locking with green across the counter, she knew nothing about this transaction would be simple.
“Can I help you?” the green-eyed man said stiffly.
His pushed himself to a stand but that seemed to be the extent of the customer service skills he possessed. The man pointedly placed a pressed-flower bookmark between the pages of the novel he was reading and turned his attention to Allison with open annoyance at having been interrupted. No matter. She could work with this.
“Hello,” she said brightly, tucking the leather-bound portfolio under her arm and extending her free hand. “I’m Allison Reynolds of Reynolds Publishing. I was hoping to talk to someone about your establishment carrying some of our periodicals.”
The man lifted an eyebrow and crossed his arms, standing up a little straighter. She couldn’t tell if he was trying to be intimidating or she’d peeked his interest.
“We do not carry that sort of thing here,” said the man, briefly gesturing outwards to the store. “We only carry used or rare books and reference texts. Did you even bother to look around first? Is this some sort of marketing scam? Because....”
The man’s interrogation halted abruptly when someone appeared and placed a hand on his shoulder, having silently slipped through the open frame behind him – likely from an office.
“You can take off Kev,” said the petite woman, smiling gently between the two of them. “I can handle this.”
“I still have ten minutes,” he complained, pointing to the clock on the wall.
“It’s fine!” the woman said brightly. “I’ll clock you out. Besides, you have student teaching today right? More time to prep.”
The man, Kev , nodded and collected his book. He muttered something under his breath before disappearing in the back and returning with a messenger bag across his chest. He looked as though he might say something else but instead walked around the counter, behind Allison and out the door. They both watched him go, the bell tinkling and door closing before Allison turned to the newcomer who seemed much more pleasant.
“Hi, I’m...” she held out her hand and the woman took it, finishing her sentence.
“Allison, right?” she said. “Sorry...I overheard you from the back. Thought you might need a bit of rescuing.”
Allison squeezed the hand in hers and felt the corners of her lips quirk up at the strong grip. The woman was small, but her exposed arms were toned, and the frilly capped sleeves of her top revealed equally toned shoulders.
Letting go a moment later, Allison allowed herself to give the woman a once over – she was at least a head shorter than Allison (though granted she was in three inch heels) and had short, cropped, white-blonde hair that was dyed a rainbow of pastels at the ends. She had a simple, silver cross hanging at her throat, nestled in the soft fabric of her lilac top. She didn’t seem to be wearing makeup but Allison still felt her heart skip a beat when the womans kind eyes crinkled at the edges with amusement, pink lips quirking up. She was beautiful.
“I have to say, I’m not usually the type who needs rescuing but...” Allison stepped closer to the counter, placing her portfolio on the surface. “....I’ll take it.”
The woman laughed, her head tipping back a little and goddamn if that wasn’t adorable. Allison internally reprimanded herself for getting off track. After all, she was here to do business, not pick-up pretty girls that could probably bench-press her. Or, at least that part could wait until after she’d delivered her pitch.
“I’m Renee,” said the woman, still smiling as she climbed onto the stool, propping her elbows on the counter. “I’m the manager here. The owner is never around though so I pretty much run the day-to-day operations.”
“Renee...” Allison said, testing the name, finding she liked the way it sounded on her tongue. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“It’s very nice to meet you too,” said Renee. “Now....what have you got for me?”
Allison delivered her pitch, letting Renee flip through her information packet and the two magazine samples she brought with her – one related to fashion and the other a travel and lifestyle magazine. After university Allison dabbled in fashion herself for a while but ultimately decided she liked the business side better. Since her degree was in marketing, she decided to start a publishing house and had spent the last two years getting it off the ground. She now had a few solid periodicals which she not only published but contributed to as a writer and photographer. She was proud of what she’d created, especially having done it on her own. Which is why she preferred to make these trips herself instead of sending one of her handful of employees to get new clients.
“Well....” Renee said, still flipping through the last few pages. “This is certainly interesting. I’m impressed at the range....you even did a piece on the Femme Fatale collection....I hear it’s at the Columbia Institute right now.”
Allison’s smile broadened to something more genuine and less practiced. “It is! I saw it in Paris last year and it’s really something.”
“I’m sure it is,” Renee said happily, closing the magazine. She stayed with a hand resting over the cover, short, polished nails tapping on the paper. “You know...Kevin was telling the truth...in a very Kevin way...but we don’t usually carry this sort of thing here. It’s not really the type of thing our clientele are looking for.”
“Yes, of course....” Allison said, waving a hand and reaching across to slide the magazine back into the folder while she weathered the mild disappointment. Her fingers brushed Renee’s, who then pressed harder to stop Allison from being able to tug the magazine across the surface.
“....But I wouldn’t mind doing a trial run?” Renee said thoughtfully, their fingers hovering centimeters away. “Maybe two copies of each for six months? See how it goes?”
“I....” Allison opened and closed her mouth, praying that the foundation she was wearing hid the blush she could feel creeping onto her cheeks. “Really? I mean...you really don’t have to...”
“I want to,” said Renee, with obvious sincerity. “Besides...I’m always a fan of trying new things.”
Before Allison could respond the door opened and a customer came in. She silently thanked the hipster looking man for his good timing, stopping her from doing something stupid like professing her undying love to this hot woman she’d only known for eleven minutes.
She collected her things and moved aside when the man came to ask a question. Renee held up a finger, indicating she would be back, and then followed the man into the stacks. Allison took a moment to breathe, collect herself and figure out what to do next. After Renee finished the sale, the man leaving with a large reference book and muttered thank you, she sidled back up to the counter.
“So....there are a couple forms to fill out for the subscription. If you’re free sometime maybe we could do them over lunch? I would love to show you the Femme Fatale exhibit.”
Okay, so maybe she hadn’t entirely collected herself but if she was ever going to get an opening to ask Renee out, this was probably her chance.
Renee smiled and pulled her phone from her back pocket, opening it up to a contact page before handing it to Allison. “I’d really like that.”
After they exchanged numbers, Allison rearranged her portfolio to stall for time, not quite ready to leave.
“I’m glad I stopped by....” she said, brushing her hair behind her shoulder. “When a friend told me about this place I didn’t really think it would pan out but, guess it was worth the look after all.”
Renee cocked her head to the side, a cute little divot pinching her brows. “Friend?”
“Oh! Yea...” Allison offered. “My friend Neil knows someone who works here, I guess? He told me to check you guys out.”
“Neil....you mean....Andrew’s Neil?”
It was Allison’s turn at confusion as she mirrored Renee’s expression. “Wait....you know Neil’s cryptid boyfriend who he refuses to introduce to us? Does he work here too?”
Renee giggled a little at Allison’s description but shook her head. “No...Andrew is my best friend. But Neil actually knows Kevin. He comes here sometimes to meet him before they play Exy, so that’s how he met Andrew. He comes in sometimes when he’s not working to keep me entertained and our gym is only a few blocks away.”
The wheels turned in Allison’s head, spinning so rapidly she forcefully pressed a finger to her temple in an attempt to slow them.
“Wait...wait. So. Kevin....the guy who just left?” she waited for Renee to nod before continuing. “He’s the guy that has Neil hooked on that ridiculous sport?”
Neil had joined an intramural Exy league about six months ago and had been insufferable about it for weeks after he started. Once the newness wore off he finally seemed capable of talking about other stuff but it still occupied more of his time nowadays. Between that and the new ‘friend’ he refused to bring around Allison had to admit she was a little jealous that they didn’t spend as much time together. She often got caught up in her work so she made an effort to see her friends when she could but now that everyone seemed coupled up she found herself a little, well, lonely sometimes.
Wait.
“Yea...” said Renee. “Kevin is a PhD student at Palmetto. He plays in their league and mentioned it to Neil when he was in here picking up a Christmas present, I think? He came in several times after and sort of badgered Kevin until he let him play.”
“Yea...that sounds like Neil....” she said, absently.
“What is it?” asked Renee, noticing the change in her demeanor.
“So....Neil has come in here enough that he probably knows you guys wouldn’t have been interested in my magazines. But he sent me here anyways. Do you think he....?”
Renee’s eyes widened, pupils momentarily flaring until they obscured most of the brown. “Set us up?”
Allison slapped a palm on the counter. “That little shit....”
Renee laughed again and it was infectious, so much so that Allison forgot about the duplicitousness of her best friend almost immediately.
“I think maybe I was too,” Renee admits, scratching at her jaw in thought. “Neil doesn’t seem the type to have concocted a plan like that on his own. My gut says Andrew may have played a role in this as well.”
“Those little shits...” Allison amended, puffing up a little with pride when Renee laughed again. She leaned across the counter, caging one of Renee’s forearms between her own, their faces only a few inches apart. “So....what are we gonna do about it?”
Renee offered a grin and held her gaze without wavering.
For several minutes they discussed an elaborate revenge, which included pretending to hate each other some other over-dramatic shenanigans which clearly neither planned to enact but it turned out plotting vengeance could be a pretty fun way of flirting.
Just as they started to hatch a new plan someone cleared their throat.
They’d been so wrapped up in each other that neither of them heard the door, nor the bell, nor the quiet footfalls that brought visitors into the shop, a mere ten feet away.
“Great plan,” Neil said with a shit-eating grin, openly amused as his blue eyes jumped rapidly between the two of them.
“Very crafty,” Andrew added from his side, taking a tip of some coffee concoction which appeared to be at least half whipped cream. “I am sure your ruse will be very convincing.”
“Okay first of all, fuck you,” said Allison as she pointed at the blond, though her smile likely dulled the insult. Next she pointed to Neil. “....and fuck you too you little gremlin, did you really think we wouldn’t figure this out?”
Neil only shrugged. “It seems to have worked, so does it matter?”
“I hate you,” she said, still smiling. “So very much.”
“Yea yea....so, we still on for lunch?” he asked.
They’d planned to meet up the street in another fifteen minutes but now that he was here, with Andrew , her grin turned shark-like. Neil frowned, as though he anticipated what was coming.
“Yes...lunch, wonderful,” she said, overly cheery. “Renee, how would you feel about lunch?”
“I could close the shop for an hour....” Renee said happily.
“Lovely!” Allison said, clapping her hands together and turning back towards the men. “Your meddling just earned you a double date!”
Neil muttered ”I forgot, I actually have a thing...” at the same time Andrew said “Absolutely note.”
Allison only cackled. “Nope! This is your punishment. Deal with it.”
“I hate you,” Neil shot back.
But Allison ignored him, turning towards the human ray of sunshine who moved to stand at her side - basking in the glow and the warmth.
“So....where should we go?” Renee asked.
“Hmm...I have a few ideas,” answered Allison.
Renee reached down to take her hand, squeezing gently this time, their fingers twining together like puzzle pieces. But she didn’t take eyes off Allison. “I can’t wait to hear them.”