Chapter Text
Ava’s time following their second meeting is filled with daydreaming about the blonde woman who managed to captivate her like no other had in a long time.
And she doesn’t even know her name. Or anything else about her really. Ava vows to herself to rectify that the next time they meet. Maybe even ask her out on a coffee date?
She hopes that day will come soon. And that she will have enough courage to be more straightforward and not make an ass of herself like she often manages to do. Why do I always have to be the fucking poster child for embarrassing yourself?
But it’s all good, she will be her charming, smart, and disarmingly funny self. The woman won’t be able to resist her.
The days blend into one another, the lingering heatwave making them one big viscous mass.
It seems the city has become almost empty, lest there are very few people that stumble their way into Ava's shop. They seem to be fleeing from the confining walls of the buildings of Paris that are trapping the hot air between them and making it hard to breathe.
If she could, Ava would gladly follow them. But alas, she has to stay and keep her bookstore open and in business. It’s not as easy these days as when her grandfather was still running it. Folks just don’t read as much as they used to, she thinks a bit resigned.
Ever since she started to spend time at the bookstore when she was a little girl, it became her favorite place, a safe haven from the outside world when it got too much. Wrapped in the comforting scent of the book pages.
She remembers sitting with a book on her lap, her grandfather in the opposite armchair by the window, a pot of tea or cups of coffee between them.
They talked for hours about anything and everything. Literature, politics, art, nature, the state of the world as a whole. The conversations and discussions were stimulating and always left her with something new to think about. She misses them deeply. Longs for someone to have those kinds of talks with again.
She’s never had this kind of connection with her parents. She’d never felt safe enough to express her thoughts and not be judged for them.
Her mind wanders once again to the blonde. She has a lingering feeling that her mystery woman would be an interesting person to have a conversation with. She is definitely intriguing, not easy to decipher. But Ava likes a challenge. She’s certainly not one to back down easily.
If only the woman would come back so she could have a try at cracking the code.
Ava’s not sure what it is about the blonde that makes her want to open up and spill all her secrets, especially her biggest one that only her best friend Kiki knows about. And she wants to know everything about the other woman too.
For Christ’s sake, we’ve met twice!
But whatever it is, she likes the feeling, and tries to not overanalyze for once. Just enjoy it, dumbass.
It’s a wholly uneventful Wednesday up until the moment the bell above the door rings and none other than the really hot blonde walks in. Ava doesn’t even try to hide the smile that brightens her face when she locks on her, checking her out not so subtly from head to toe for the first time until their eyes meet. Because she just can’t help herself. Then she turns a lovely shade of red. Charming, smart, funny, Ava repeats like a silent mantra.
Today the woman wears a silky floral blouse that compliments her eyes, Ava notes to herself, and beige trousers with the most meticulous creases she’s ever seen. Not to mention they accentuate her apparently miles-long legs.
Ava almost wolf-whistles out loud.
The other woman smiles at Ava, making a dimple appear on her cheek.
“Well, hello there.”
“Hi”, Ava greets back, still sporting faintly red cheeks. “You came back.”
“Sure, why wouldn’t I?”
‘Why would you?’ Ava wants to ask, but that would sound a little too revealing and like she needs the confirmation that this isn’t a one-sided thing between them. Which she does need, but right now is not the moment for that.
They start to speak at the same time.
“I’m-”
“How di-”
“You first”, Ava gestures.
“I’m Deborah”, the woman says and extends her right hand.
Wow, easy as that, huh?, Ava thinks to herself. The name fits kind of perfectly.
“I’m Ava”, she says and takes the offered hand. It feels warm and soft and electric.
“Oh, I know”, Deborah says, grinning a little playfully. “Nice to meet you.”
Ava’s face starts to get warmer again. Charming, smart, funny. She suddenly remembers she’s still cradling her hand and hurries to release it.
“How did you like the book I recommended?” Ava asks her earlier attempted question, pushing her hands awkwardly into her pockets, because she doesn’t know what else to do with them.
“You were right, it was a great read. I finished it in three days. I guess you really do know your literature”, Deborah says in a teasing tone, but it lacks any malice.
Ava's chest swells a little with pride. Literature is the one thing she actually knows something about. Okay, maybe there’s one other thing… Come on, dude, concentrate! Charming, smart, funny.
“Well thank you, milady”, Ava says, lifting an imaginary hat.
Deborah rolls her eyes at that, which makes Ava grin.
“So, how about new reading material? Provided of course you would like more”, Ava adds.
Deborah scoffs. “I mean, why do you think I came here?”
To see me as well, I hope.
“Okay, so why don't we switch it up today and go back a little to an older classic?”
Ava’s already on her way to the adjacent room that’s filled with antiques and old books, without really waiting for a reply. She looks for the right section and searches through the books that are in alphabetical order of authors, coming to a stop at ‘D’. Deborah’s followed her by now. Ava takes a book off the shelf and hands it to her. ‘House of Sand and Fog’ it says on the cover.
“It’s one of my favorite books that I became obsessed about. I would read it even when I was pumping gas at the gas station. Although it’s from, like, the late nineties, it’s still very relevant today. My grandfather gave this to me to read.”
Ava has to take a moment to breathe and regulate the oncoming emotions thinking about him.
Deborah seems to notice Ava’s internal battle, but doesn’t comment on it. She draws her eyes down to study the book.
“Yeah, I think I’ve heard of it before. I just never got around to reading it. I heard it’s supposed to be very good. Wasn’t there a movie as well?”
“Yes, there was, but I would really recommend you read the book first. I promise, you won’t be able to put it down.”
“You were right before, so I feel like I should trust your judgement here.”
Ava gets the feeling though that trusting something or someone doesn’t come easy to Deborah. Just a hunch she gets from the way she says it.
They return to the front room and Ava moves behind the counter. This time Deborah doesn’t hand her the card but slides it over on the shiny wooden surface. She doesn’t make eye contact either. Ava can’t help but feel disappointed. She secretly had hoped for another ‘accidental’ brushing of fingers.
As always, she carefully wraps a little protective paper around the book. Like it’s important to keep it safe and unscathed.
“Thank you”, Deborah says in a much more somber tone than before, taking the book and card. She turns around.
“You’re welcome”, Ava says quickly.
Before she can leave and Ava's window of opportunity closes, she blurts out “would you like to grab a coffee together sometime?”
Deborah stops dead in her tracks and turns around slowly. Her eyes widen a little as she looks at Ava incredulous. Like she can’t quite believe Ava would like to spend more time with her. Or even have the audacity to ask her a question like that. She tries to hide it quickly behind indifference, but Ava’s already seen the look pass over her face.
“I mean, why not, I guess”, Deborah says a little hesitantly. “Of course only if my schedule allows”, she hurries to point out, trying to get her equilibrium back.
“This Friday at 3pm?” Ava says quickly, before the other woman can change her mind.
The blonde nods briefly, then turns on her heel abruptly.
Ava almost yells after her, “Friday it is. Three O’Clock in front of the store!” She hopes Deborah’s heard her before the door of the shop closes and leaves Ava alone in the stifling heat once again. Ya! Got ya, lady!