Tangled

13 Ava: Husky (II)

Carlos‘ words bring me out of my little mini–funk, and I nod. “I need to make as much money as I can before the summer semester. I’m going to need money for tuition, books, miscellaneous fees, and then hopefully a car. Between rent and life necessities, I really need the overtime. I’m lucky Mrs. Elkins is even letting me

work this much.”

He nods, wiping down the counter as I replenish napkins in the dispenser. “She’s got a way about her.

Takes care of us all. Sometimes I wonder if she’s even making money off this place. We sell a lot of coffee, but not so many books.”

He’s not wrong; I’ve thought the same. My shoulders lift in a vague shrug, and I start cleaning off the end tables of newspapers, magazines, and books.

“I have no idea, but I can’t imagine she would run a business just to lose money.” I pause, thinking of the sweet old lady and how she treats every customer who enters her shop like family. “Would she?”

“Wouldn’t put it past her.” Carlos puts together a sinful

14:40 –

176

13 Ava: Husky (1)

cup

of caramel–toffee mocha with an obscene amount

and slides it toward me with a wink. “Here, just how you like it. Go

in bliss. “No collar,” I confirm with a shrug. “Huskies

scratches are gone.”

surrounded by the scent of books and coffee. I don’t think I’ve

Carlos regales

reads on his social media news feeds. He’s been begging me to open up my

of peace on earth. Which, yes, is a cringe level of melodramatic,

soul.

250

Husky (0)

door. It takes little time to wipe down the last of the tables, gathering stray cups and napkins and tossing them into the trash. I’m exhausted from the double shift, but it’s the kind

of a

door to ‘Closed‘ as he counts out the register, his fingers flying faster than I would have ever thought possible when going

is still out there?”

leaving a foggy haze against it. Once again I’m struck by those eyes so eerily similar to my own, and I feel a bizarre tug in my chest. I want to take her home, but that doesn’t seem intelligent. I live in a tiny apartment above a store. I’m not even sure where she’s gone all day to do her

14:40 –

3/6

Husky

yard near us, just a tiny square with a well–groomed tree popping out of it in the middle of

little headway in trying to clean and organize everything, mainly because

as he finishes up with the money. “She’s

my eyes. “Why would she be

sneaking her treats all day? She probably thinks

muffin and croissant whenever I had a