Baited by Love novel · Chapter 24 of 24

Chapter 24: No Spec

At seven o'clock the next morning, I climbed the library steps with nothing in my hands.

It was the hardest walk of my life.

My bag stayed in my room, and the thermometer stayed in the bag.

I kept my fists in my jacket pockets so they would not look for anything.

Lars was sitting on the top step, in the gray sweater, with a paper cup beside him.

"You brought nothing," he said.

"I brought my body, and it's very upset."

"That's allowed."

I sat down next to him, and he handed me a laminated card.

BETSY BRIGHTWELL: SERVICE SPECIFICATIONS. REVISION ONE.

I read it from the top.

Water: any.

Sandwich: any shape.

Coffee: oat milk, no lid.

Everything else: ask her.

"It's the least helpful card I've ever seen," I said, and my voice did a strange thing.

"The librarian said so, too."

"You made me a card."

"I made you a card because you can't stop making them," said Lars. "I thought you should get to be on one."

I turned it over.

On the back, in his square handwriting, it said: Revised whenever she likes.

I put the card on my knee.

He picked up the paper cup.

"Water," he said. "I filled it at the fountain in the lobby."

"What temperature is it?"

"I don't know."

"You didn't check?"

"I didn't check."

He held it out.

I took it, and I looked into the cup, and it was a cup of water.

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