“Uh . . . nothing. I just, yeah.” And I apparently lose the ability to speak in front of this woman. Awesome.

She laughs again, but it sounds warm, not mean, and I relax infinitesimally. “Did you just move here?”

“Yeah, a couple days ago.”

“Well, welcome to town, then.” She comes around the corner. “Your pull list is all set. I can’t sell you any of the new releases until tomorrow, but a couple of them just came out last week. Did you need those?”

“No, I’m good.”

“Normally, I would require a deposit for a pull list this big, but you have an honest face, so I’m gonna let it slide.”

“Oh, uh, thanks,” I say, and try to ignore the way that makes my stomach hurt. Also, I should have expected this; we always take deposits for pull lists at our comic shops too. I look around a little bit, taking it all in. “I like your shop.”

“Thanks.” Vera smiles. “I made it myself.”

“I know; that’s awesome.” Because she really did. I read through all her old blog posts last night in a last-ditch effort to be prepared, including the ones about her making her own shelves by hand and personally sliding every book in place.

“Just skatin’ by, eh?”

“Something like that,” I say, realizing what I just said. I have definitely screwed this up, and there’s no coming back. She probably thinks I’m a total weirdo. I’m probably making her uncomfortable. I’m probably—

“Well, my door’s always open, Ridley. Come anytime the light’s on.”

“Seriously?” I sputter, because I’ve spent this whole time making an ass of myself, and still, she seems somehow completely unfazed.

“Are you going to school here? I have a daughter about your age. I’m sure she’d be willing to show you around and introduce you to people.”

Peak. She’s talking about Peak.

dontthrowupdontthrowup

“No, I don’t think so.”

Vera’s eyebrows draw together, but then she makes a little humming sound. “Well, maybe you two will cross paths some other way, then. In the meantime, why don’t you come back soon. I’m inking a new book, and I’ll let you take a look.”

My eyes get huge at the idea of seeing a Vera original in process. Holy shit. This is amazing. This is impossible. Be cool. Be cool. I take a deep breath. “Yeah, that’d be great. I’ll stop back.”

“You do that,” she says with the warmest smile I’ve ever seen.

“I have to go now.” I start walking backward toward the door. “But thanks. It was nice meeting you.”

“Nice meeting you too,” she says as I hit the door and make the bells ring again.