Chapter 38: Losing Faith

The cowbell sounded as the front door to Selby's Downtown Books opened, letting in the chill March breeze. Selby didn't have to look up to know who had entered. It was lunchtime. It could only be one person.

"I hope BLTs are okay. Do you have drinks in that broken down fridge of yours in the back?"

"Diet?" He started for the back, leaving the stack of books he was putting away on the floor.

"Do you have any grape left? I feel like being different."

"Coming right up. Never could understand how you could drink that diet shit, anyway." Of course, his thoughts went a different direction. Was that what he was to her? Something different?

He grabbed two grape sodas from the fridge, and when he returned to the front, Tracey took his chair and left him the stool. He paused at first, confused at the change in seating arrangements, but said nothing. She sat folded in on herself. Whatever had happened that morning still affected her. It seemed they both had things on their minds.

Selby reached