An older couple wandered in to browse, and despite Natalie’s sales pitch—This story is like a conversation with a trusted friend. That one kept me up all night. Even though science fiction isn’t always my thing, I loved this time travel novel—they left with a single paperback. Three teenagers came in, but only wanted to take selfies with books to post on social media. Even Peach, who generally didn’t interact with customers while he was working, couldn’t suppress a comment as they jostled their way through the aisles.

“Is there a point to that?” he asked Natalie.

She shrugged. “To make them look smart online, maybe.”

“Is there a point to that?” This time Peach asked one of the jostling kids.

The boy shoved his phone into his back pocket. “Not really, man.”

Natalie cringed, hoping Peach wasn’t going to start something.

“Tell you what,” Peach said. “I was a giant loser in high school until I read this book.” He showed them a copy of a Dave Eggers book. “It raised my IQ like forty points after I read it.”

“Really?”

“Nope. But it’s an awesome book and you should read it.”

“Yeah?” The kid struck a pose with the book and his friend took a picture. “I’ll get it on my phone, then.”

To Natalie’s surprise, he already had the app, and he purchased the digital book from her.

“Thanks,” she said. “Let us know how you like it.”

After they left, she turned to Peach. “I keep wondering if there should be some kind of etiquette around taking pictures in bookstores.”

“How about you put up a sign saying this is a phone-free zone?”

“I don’t think so. Seems bossy to me.”

“You’re the boss.” He turned the bill of his baseball cap backward and marked something on the wall he’d dug into.

“I was a toxic boss in my last job,” she said. “My coworkers hated me.”

He chuckled. “You? Naw.”

“You laugh. I overheard them talking about how awful I was. Really, they couldn’t stand me.” She liked the fact that he found it hard to believe that she could be toxic.

“You were working with the wrong people, then,” he said.

“I might have been in the wrong job. Didn’t love the work, but it was stable and predictable.” She looked around the shop, illuminated by the late-afternoon sunshine. “Unlike this.”

“Regrets?” he asked.

“Ask me after I meet with the county auditor’s office.” She needed to work out a plan to pay the back taxes.