At least, that’s what Rinn hoped would work.

AJ finished lining up the chairs. He dusted off his hands by wiping them together, then against his jeans. Rinn stepped forward—and of course—that was when Birdman stepped right in front of her.

Again.

Rinn wasn’t even surprised at this point.

“Hello.” Birdman gave a very formal nod.

“You’re still here?” Rinn hadn’t meant it to come out quite so sharp. But dear God, would this man ever leave the store? For someone who had been so hell-bent on getting his books sold right away, he hadn’t left the place in hours.

“I am!” He was very excited about this point. Like he’d really won by making a day out of it all.

Rinn gritted her teeth. “How can I help you?”

Birdman sighed. “I’m so glad you asked. You see, I wanted to buy one of those poems that the other young lady is selling.”

“They’re for the bookstore,” said Rinn. “Her name is Daniella Korres. She’s a great poet.”

“I believe that,” said Birdman, a little more stiffly. “I just don’t have any cash.”

“Oh, you can use a card,” said Rinn, finding her friendliest voice again.

“But,” said Birdman. “I was hoping I could use my store credit.”

It took everything in Rinn not to scream. “You can’t use store credit for that, sir. This is a benefit for the bookstore. We need actual money for it.”

“So when you give me credit it’s not actual money?” He really did sound perplexed.

Rinn wasn’t sure if she wanted to scream or punch this man in the throat. She’d never been a particularly violent person, but she was really feeling it now. “Sir. That store credit is for store items only.”

Birdman held up the Air Jordan, inked in Sharpie with a poem and a doodle. “But I’d really like to purchase this. And it’s in the store.”

Rinn, finally, accepted that there was no winning with this man. No logic he wouldn’t undo. No reasoning other than his own that he would follow. He was never going to listen to her. She was never going to win him over. “Sir, just take what you want to the register and explain it to them there.”

“But they said to talk to a manager.”

Rinn took a deep breath. “Tell them Jo says it’s okay.”

“Great!” Birdman beamed. “Thank you so much, Jo!”

Rinn shook her head. “Anytime, sir.”

Then she looked up, around the seating area, and of course, AJ was gone.

But Rinn Olivera was not going to give up now.