Playing Knotty Read Online Free PDF Page A

and took in the entire scene. Late-afternoon sun slanted in through the front windows, a few rays slipping between the buildings across the street to highlight elongated strips on the hardwood floor. Two young women were poking through the romance novels, searching the monthlies for new releases. A tall man in a baseball cap thumbed through the “Gender Studies” section, while down the aisle in “Sci Fi and Fantasy,” a woman was reading the back of Game of Thrones . Another man and his daughter sat cross-legged in the back corner, combing through the picture books in the purple-carpeted children’s section. Emma knew she was smiling as she meandered past “Social Sciences” into “General Fiction.” Prologue was her baby, her life’s work, and sometimes when she walked around unnoticed, she couldn’t help preening.
    â€œCan’t stay away even when you’re off, huh?”
    Emma turned at the sound of Bethany’s voice. She hadn’t noticed her shelving books down at the end of “General Fiction,” a silver cart stacked neatly with paperbacks resting by her leg. Bethany held three copies of the latest Stephen King novel in one hand while adjusting the other titles to make room.
    â€œI got bored upstairs. I think I might go get a coffee.”
    â€œWith your laptop?” Bethany eyed the bag over Emma’s shoulder.
    â€œAnd maybe do some writing.” Emma shifted the bag higher. Bethany didn’t need to know the real reason, that she couldn’t afford the Internet in her apartment anymore.
    â€œWhat do you write?” Bethany’s eyes lit up with interest, and Emma stammered for something to say.
    â€œJust . . . business reports. Monthly statements. That sort of thing.”
    â€œOh.” Bethany’s face fell, but then she was onto a new topic. “You should get a Keurig for the shop. Then we all won’t be blowing our money on Starbucks all the time.” She slid the new titles into place and turned to face Emma, resting one dark-skinned hand on the shelf, red fingernails drumming once in thought. “I’d chip in for it, and I’ll bet Luis would throw in a few bucks, too, even though he’s only here a few days a week.”
    â€œI’ll think about it.”
    Bethany shrugged, then turned back to her cart. She moved with the kind of grace that Emma had always envied; even with her wide frame, heavier than Emma’s, she floated between the bookshelves with ease, fluid as a dancer. She made shelving books look elegant.
    â€œHow has business been today?” Emma looked around at the store and the half-dozen browsers.
    â€œNot bad. Steady. People finally started picking up that second course pack for the Religious Studies class at Emmanuel.” Bethany blew a curl out of her eyes, where it promptly fell again. She wore her hair loose, a massive black poof of curls that she was always blowing out of her large brown eyes. “About time, too. I don’t know why they don’t buy all their books at the beginning of the semester, like normal people. We’re going to run out soon.”
    â€œProbably can’t afford it. Anyway, running out of those course packs is better than being stuck with them.” Emma took two books off the top of Bethany’s cart and shelved them. “What are your plans for the rest of the weekend?”
    â€œNot sure yet. Maybe a movie. How about you?” Bethany glanced over her shoulder at the counter to make sure no one was waiting to check out, then looked back to Emma. “Any hot dates?”
    Emma smiled and picked up a book off the cart to hide a wave of shyness. “No, no dates.”
    â€œYou should get on that.” Bethany gave her a meaningful look. Maybe it would be odd for someone else, this rapport between employee and employer, but Emma couldn’t imagine their friendship any other way. During the six months