I’m worried about the bookstore in my neighborhood because it’s very expensive to have a store around here. I’m worried because it might have to close and that would be a Tradegy Tragedy. I have an idea for you. I think you can save the Lost and Found Bookshop if you would do a book signing, because everybody loves your books and they would all come. Plus, I would like to meet you in person. The lady who owns the shop is named Natalie Harper. She is really nice!!! I know you’re busy but please come. The librarian at my school said your Publisher would make sure you get this letter.

Sincerely, Dorothy Gallagher

On the back of the page, she had drawn a detailed picture of the shop with the display window and the cat napping on a shelf. The picture was labeled with the shop’s slogan—An Eye for Good Books. There was an overly flattering portrait of Natalie, with flowing hair, curly eyelashes, and an hourglass figure, her red lips turned down in sadness. There was another page with a carefully rendered drawing of herself and Trevor, his bold eyebrows accentuated with slashes of black.

“Dorothy’s one of my favorite customers. She’s adorable,” said Natalie. “And a legit fan of your books.”

“I can see why she likes this place,” he said, scanning the shelves and bookcases. Then his gaze returned to Natalie. “And you.”

Natalie’s heart sped up. Was he flirting with her? How was that even possible? How could this guy—this American literary god—be flirting with her?

She decided to ignore the vibe. Surely it was her imagination. Women probably threw themselves at him all the time. She did not want to be reduced to a cliché, the lonely woman starstruck by an actual star. “Well then,” she said. “Would you like to take a look around?”

She showed him the children’s section, with its plentiful supply of his titles, which he gamely signed. Then he checked out the W.O.W. shelf by the coffee area.

“My mother curated this—some of her favorite words of wisdom,” Natalie explained.

He opened a George R. R. Martin book. “‘Mine is the blood of the dragon,’” he read, and looked over at Natalie. “Should I be scared?”

“Depends on how you feel about bloodthirsty women.”

Sylvia padded over and checked him out with a disdainful sniff, then rubbed his leg and walked away with her tail in the air.

“I’ve had many first dates that went like that,” Trevor observed.

“First dates are hard,” Natalie agreed, feeling the flirting vibe again. Or maybe not. After what had happened with Rick, she didn’t trust herself to read a situation anymore. “Too bad we can’t just skip over them.”

“Who says we can’t?”

“The space-time continuum, for one thing.”

“Oh, a smarty-pants, are you?” He smiled, exuding warmth.