#elidavid

“I need to check this back in,” David said as he slid the hard back across the counter. Eli was typing away at his computer giving David a good look at his profile while he waited.

“Was it good?” Eli pushed his chair back and spun to face David. His smile was sweet in the way a home cooked meal was. David might be a little smitten.

“Yeah, it was.” David shouldered his messenger bag, shifting from side to side.

“Hey wait,” Eli spun his chair around just as David started to step away. He grabbed a book off the shelf behind his work station and swiped the barcode over the scanner. “I pulled the second one on Saturday. A group of high schools come in a few hours before you do, and I was afraid they might swipe the last copy.” He handed over the second part of the Farlander series, his brown fingers looked amazing wrapped around the deep green cover.

“Thanks, you’re always taking care of me.” David wanted to hit himself, or just walk away. Because wow.

Eli just laughed. “I’m only doing my job.” He gave a lazy salute with two fingers, his smile turning more into a grin. “Besides, I didn’t want to make you wait until next Monday. I know they wouldn’t have it back in time for biography Friday. Besides that would just mess up the schedule and—oh my God, I just mentioned your schedule.” Eli’s face looked absolutely sheepish. His cheeks flushed as he sputtered up at David.

“It’s fine.” David waved him off, bushing a little himself. “I mean it’s not like I’m hard to figure out. Fiction on Mondays, educational texts on Fridays.” He shrugged, holding the book to his stomach with both hands. “And I mean there’s only like three of you that work the desk. I’m pretty sure everyone knows I’m a book worm.”

“Yeah, but at least they’re not being creepy about it.” Eli laughed but it was still a little strained.

David smiled reassuringly and waved the book at him. “I promise, you’re not being a creep. It’s nice to know the hot librarians are keeping tabs on the readers, but I have to get going. I’ll see you on Friday.” David was turned and gone before Eli could stop him. “Wow, so smooth, Alleyne.” David was never going to be able to show his face again. Except he had a book due by next Wednesday, and Eli was right if he didn’t go in on Friday his schedule was ruined.

*

Friday rolled around and David drug his feet getting to the library. His apartment was spotless and his Psych paper was done a week early when he finally made it in an hour before closing.

“I didn’t think you were coming by today,” Eli greeted.

“Busy,” David said and tried to play it cool. He shrugged as he handed his book to Eli, a biography over Edison. “I’ve been working on a paper.” Eli to the book and checked it in as David ventured off to find a new read.

He spent forever picking a book, not really focusing on the titles as he wandered down the aisles. He ended up in the biographies again, not because they were the furthest away from the front desk, and picked one at random.

Eli made a face at the title as he pulled up David’s account, it wasn’t really a frown, but it wasn’t not a frown either. “Baseball, I didn’t know you were a fan.”

David almost asked what he meant but then he realized he’d picked up a biography on Babe Ruth. “Oh, just trying something a little different.”

“Hm.” Eli scanned the bar code and stamped the due date on the slip stuck to the back cover. “Here you go,” he said as he handed the book across the counter.

“Thanks,” David said as he took the book and tucked it into his bag, “I’ll see you Monday?”

“Yeah.” Eli sounded like he was thinking of something else, the word soft and breathy. “Y’know, you say you’re pretty easy to read,” Eli began, stopping David in his tracks as he turned to go. It had all been going okay, and now David felt it was about to get awkward again. “But I’ve been trying to figure you out for three months. Sometimes, Monday for instance, I could all but swear you’re flirting with me. But I’ve seen you check out some of the girls before. And I just, are you interested?” Eli look frustrated, but it was ruined by the pout on his lips.

“I’m bi,” David blurted, then groaned. “I mean, yes.”

“Oh, that makes sense.” Eli nodded.

“So.”

“Want to get coffee on Monday?”

“Yeah, that’d be nice.”