Reluctant Hero
Chapter Wordcount: 1815
The little bookstore was tucked into a small strip center down the street, framed by antique shops and small boutiques.
He came to a stop outside the door, leaning over and bracing his hands on his knees as he caught his breath. Finally standing and gathering himself before opening the door.
There was a soft tinkling above him alerting someone coming in and his eyes shot from the bells over to the glass top counter in the middle of the room where Andy sat, surrounded by musty wooden shelves filled with books.
“Hey,” he said quietly, eyes glancing around hoping they were alone and catching sight of the black and white sketch of a dying rose she had been drawing when he walked in.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, slight panicked edge to her voice as she shifted on the stool she was sitting on, reaching her feet out to the floor.
“I…I was worried. You didn’t come in today for lunch, just wanted to see if you were okay.”
She glanced around the store, for what he wasn’t sure since there didn’t seem to be anyone else there.
“I’m fine.”
“Andy…”
“What do you want Priestly?” she asked, voice breaking.
“I…I don’t know,” he shrugged, at a loss for words, “I don’t want you avoiding me.”
His chest tightened at the way her eyes watered, and she grabbed a stack of books and slipped out from behind the counter, heading further into the darkness of the store, slipping in between the shelves.
He followed behind her silently and at a distance, waiting until she set the books down on an empty shelf and finally turned to face him again.
“How can you even stand to look at me?” she whispered, tears finally breaking free from their confines.
“Andy…I don’t care okay? I don’t give a rat’s ass about your past.”
She shook her head in denial, tears slipping no matter how hard she was trying to hold them back.
Priestly sighed and reached out, pulling her into his chest before she had the chance to run again.
“I don’t care,” he murmured into her hair, closing his eyes as he felt her fingers curl into his shirt at his sides. “You walked away from that, that’s all I need to know.”
He let her regain her breath, face still nestled against him before he pulled back, cupping her cheeks and wiping away what was left of her tears.
“Look…this…” he sighed, grasping for words in the middle of a store that was full of them. “I like you Andy…I really do. But that girl I told you about…it was bad, and it was messy and she tore me apart.”
Andy sighed, chest heaving against him.
“I just…you deserve somebody that can give you everything…and I can’t…not right now.”
He stared at her, willing her to understand as he ran his thumb over her cheek again.
“But I’m getting there,” he whispered, pulling her in and kissing her on the forehead, wrapping his arms around her.
There was a moment of hesitation that sent his heart into a stutter before her arms wrapped around him in turn and he sighed in relief, burying his face against her hair.
***
She walked in after dark, right before close. Jen and Piper were cleaning tables and stopped as soon as she stepped in the door and froze.
Priestly looked up from the bar, wiping his hands on his rag and held her eyes.
Next thing she knew she was being engulfed in Piper’s hug.
She grinned lopsidedly and hugged back, meeting Priestly’s eyes who looked a bit guilty, small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“Alright,” she smiled, letting go of Piper, “What’d he tell you?”
Jen laughed, heading over to hug her as well.
Andy’s eyes stayed locked on Priestly’s.
***
“Someone in the apartments must have heard the gunshot, ‘cause next thing I knew there were guys there putting me on a stretcher and sticking needles in me.”
Priestly quietly placed his hand on her knee underneath the table. She carefully hid her reaction but slid her own over on top of his, her breath hitching when he threaded their fingers together.
“God…I can’t even imagine…” Piper whispered. “I mean, at least I know my little girl is safe, even if I don’t have her, but to go through that…”
Andy forced a smile on her face when Trucker ran a hand over her back, placing a glass of water on the table in front of her.
“Thanks,” she said softly.
“No problem sweetie.”
She took a sip of the cool liquid, wiping her eyes. “I think I’m gonna head home guys.”
“Sure thing,” Trucker rumbled, getting up to let her slip out of the booth.
“I’ll walk you to your car,” Priestly said quietly, following her outside.
When he came back inside Piper and Jen were shoulder to shoulder staring him down.
He shot a look for help over at Trucker, who was balancing the books for the day, but he just chuckled and continued scribbling in his ledger.
“Out with it,” Piper grinned.
“What?” he squawked.
“You. Her. Out with it,” Jen grinned, obviously siding with Piper.
“Nothing!” he said, edging his way behind the counter as if it could protect him from the assault.
“I call bullshit,” Piper smiled, slipping onto a barstool.
“Do you like her?” Jen asked, sitting down at her computer.
“Like it’s any of your business.”
“Like you’re going to have any luck with that line,” Trucker chuckled from the corner. “Come on Priestly.”
“Maybe…yes.”
“I knew it!” Piper grinned, giving Jen a high five and resulting in another laugh from Trucker.
“Come on guys, give it a rest.”
“Relax Priestly, we know better than anyone what went down with Tish.”
At the mention of her name Priestly sent Jen a glare, as he continued to wipe down the griddle.
“She’s right,” Trucker added, coming up to sit at the counter with them. “If I would have known ahead of time that that’s how everything was going to play out I never would have hired her in the first place.”
Priestly grinned, absentmindedly fiddling with the rag as he leaned back against the now clean counter.
“Thanks guys. I just…I don’t know yet. I mean, we both got our issues you know…so,” he sighed, “We’ll see.”
“You know what…” Piper grinned, turning to look at Trucker.
“Why am I scared?” he smiled.
“Think you can get Zo to come in here and get her opinion?”
“There’s an idea,” Jen grinned.
“Really?” Priestly asked, pushing off from the back counter to stand closer to the others.
“She does have a way with reading people…” Trucker mumbled, rubbing his jaw.
“Please?” Priestly all but begged, the look on his face downright pathetic. “I mean…it’s weird, how she knows things.”
“Would help ease your fears a little,” Jen added.
Trucker grinned, “I’ll talk to her tonight.”
“Yes!” Priestly grinned, striking his fist in the air as the girls squashed him in a goodhearted hug.
***
“So what’s her name?” Zo asked softly, hands curled around a mug of tea.
“Andy,” Priestly said, swallowing, “Andrea.”
“Andrea,” she said softly, staring into her tea.
Piper, Jen and Priestly all looked over at Trucker who just shrugged his shoulders.
“She should be in for lunch,” Priestly said, fidgeting.
“You worry too much Priestly. Everything will be fine,” she smiled, cupping his cheek affectionately.
“Heh, yea, right…” he mumbled, turning around in rush to make a sandwich just to be doing something other than sitting there worrying.
Jen sat up straight and cleared her throat when none other than Andy came walking in the door.
Priestly spun around loosing grip of his spatula and making a fool of himself as he fumbled to catch it before it fell.
“Nice…” she said slowly, glancing around at everybody, “What’s going on guys?”
“Nothing,” Priestly grinned, leaning against the counter.
“Not much,” Piper said at the same time.
“O…kay,” she said, still eyeing them like something was up, as she slid onto the barstool next to Zo. “Nice shirt,” she grinned at Priestly.
‘Humpty Dumpty was pushed.’
“Heh…your usual?” Priestly asked in a rush, still smiling.
“Yea…” she said.
“Great,” he grinned, spinning back around to make her sandwich.
“Smooth,” Piper hissed, slipping past him.
“Andy! Have you met Zo?” Jen quickly asked, diverting Andy’s suspicious eyes from Priestly.
Her eyes slid to Jen before over to Zo.
“No I haven’t,” she smiled, “I’ve heard a lot about you though,” she said, shaking her hand.
“As I have of you.”
“Well that can’t be good,” she laughed.
“Oh no, all wonderful things.”
Andy smiled again, “You own the crystal shop right?”
“I do.”
“I’ve been wanting to stop by, everything you have is so beautiful but you’re closed by the time I get out of work.”
“Well I’ll tell you what,” Zo smiled, leaning towards her and taking her hand, “Tomorrow’s Friday, and I’ll stay open late just so you can stop by.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“It’s not a problem dear.”
“Thank you,” she smiled, finally looking back at Priestly who was just staring, mouth open, sandwich in hand.
“Thanks…” she said slowly, reaching out to take the sub, before smiling awkwardly at Jen and Piper and even Trucker who were all just sort of staring at her. “I’ll come by after close, alright Priestly?” she asked, sliding off her stool and easing her way back towards the door.
“Okay, yea, sounds great babe,” he rattled off, eyes going wide when he realized what exactly he had said.
“Okay,” she grinned, before slipping outside and shaking her head as she walked back down the street.
As soon as she was past the windows Priestly slammed his forehead on the counter.
“Oh my god I just called her babe,” he mumbled.
“Freudian slip,” Piper chirped, grinning at him as he lifted his head enough to send her a glare.
“It’s alright Priestly,” Zo soothed, “She doesn’t mind,” she said, patting his head.
“So…” Trucker said, coming up beside the rest of them. “What’s the verdict?”
“She’s very sweet,” Zo started.
“And?” Priestly asked, voice cracking.
“And you have nothing to worry about,” she smiled. “But now I must get back to work, I’ll see you at home Trucker,” she smiled, sliding of her chair and floating out the door.
“I…she….”
“She said you’re fine,” Jen grinned.
“I know,” Priestly said in a daze.
“Aww, look at him, he’s lovestruck,” Piper grinned, hip cocked and leaning against the table.
“Who’s lovestruck?” Noah asked, walking in the door behind her. “Hey,” he said softly, kissing Piper before heading for his table.
“Priestly. He likes Andy.”
“Not bad,” Noah smiled.
“Oh god,” Priestly groaned, “kill me now.”
Trucker laughed, slapping him on the back as he walked past.
***
Chapter Notes:
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