It's Complicated

Chapter Two

Four days later Dean gets a phone call as promised. At first he doesn't hear his phone over the shrill sound of the table saw he's using, but once the noise dies down, he's quick to find his phone and put it to his ear.

"Hello."

"Dean? This is Castiel."

Dean holds up a piece of wood, checking for imperfections in the grain. "Who?" he asks.

"Castiel, from the bookstore? I have your brother's book."

"Oh, right. Can I swing by in a few hours? I can't really get away right now."

"Yes, anytime before six will be fine."

"Great, thanks man. I'll see you then."

When Dean gets off of work, he contemplates going home first and having a quick shower. He's sweaty, covered in saw dust, and he can't seem to scrub the smell of lacquer off his skin with the shitty low grade soap they keep in the shop bathroom. But it's almost six, and so Dean heads straight for the bookshop. Sam's birthday is tomorrow; Dean needs that book.

Castiel is behind the register when Dean arrives. He's dressed in a white button down and a waist coat that lies unbuttoned. His sleeves are rolled to his forearms, and Dean catches sight of a few braided bracelets on one wrist, and a black swirling tattoo on the other. It's as if the man has gotten even more attractive since the last time Dean saw him, if that's even possible, and now Dean really wishes he would have had time for that shower.

Castiel quirks a smile at Dean when he approaches the register. "Hello, Dean." 

Dean's stomach does a little flip flop. "Hey, Cas. Can I call you 'Cas'? Is that cool? Or not, y'know, whatever." Dean snaps his mouth shut and stares at the other man. He never gets this way around women; no, with them he's all smooth talking and easy charm, but put an attractive man in front of him and he's a nervous wreck.

"Cas is fine," Castiel intones. He's looking at Dean with something like amusement in his eyes, and Dean can't tell if that's good or bad.

"So uh- the book," Dean finally says after he and Castiel have stared at each other for a good couple of minutes.

Castiel nods. "Yes, the book." He bends (and Dean's eyes definitely don't linger on the guy's ass) and straightens with a box in his hands, sliding it onto the counter and sifting through the titles. When he pulls out Sam's book and shows Dean the FIRST EDITION mark on the inside, Dean smiles wide.

"You're a life saver, Cas."

"As I mentioned before, it was no trouble, really."

Dean shakes his head, cradling the book in his hands. "You don't understand. I spent days looking for this thing. Days.I checked online and everything. Really, you're a lifesaver."

The smile Castiel offers him is small, pleasant, like the guy doesn't smile often, but when he does, he means it. "Well, I'm glad I could help. I hope your brother enjoys it."

"He will. Sam's really into this shit. He's been talking about this book for weeks now."

Castiel's eyes are fixed on the computer screen as he rings the book up. "Do you like to read as well?" he asks.

Dean shrugs, handing over a wad of bills. "Here and there. I have a hard time finding stuff I really like though. Mostly just stick to the same few books."

"What books are those?"

Dean tries to recall to memory the last book he read. It's been at least a month; work has been busier than usual. "Uh- Slaughterhouse-Five? I think?"