Johnny's job at the campus library isn't as glamorous as it sounds. In fact, when the wheels of the returns cart get stuck in the gap between the floor and the elevator, he's ready to just quit right there. But a stranger's kindness leads to chance encounter that improves Johnny's whole semester.

Love in the Library

It only made him laugh harder. “Picking on


you.” To prove his point, he snaked an arm through the opening


between the books and the shelf above them and poked at my midriff


before I managed to swat his hand away. “You haven’t called


“I’ve been busy.” I should have mentioned


that the schedule I had so carelessly balled up before was now


smoothed out and folded carefully, over and over again, until


Adam’s number was the only thing visible, but that might sound


desperate. I kept the paper tucked in my wallet and frequently


pulled it out to look at the scrawl of those seven digits. Even


though I hadn’t dialed yet, I knew the number by heart.


Nearby I heard the elevators open and I stood


up, sure my boss was coming to check on me. Turning to put away the


book I held, I kept my voice to a low murmur and told Adam, “I get


in from work so late, you know. I didn’t want to wake you—”


“I’d love to wake up to you,” Adam said.


Chapter 3