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

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

I confirm with a shrug. “Huskies are notorious for running away. I’m sure she’ll wander

scratches are gone.”

a familiar pattern, and I’m surrounded by the scent of books and coffee. I don’t

slow, Carlos regales

on his social media news feeds. He’s been

want anyone to find me here, in this last bastion of peace on earth. Which, yes, is a cringe level of melodramatic, but it’s how I feel down to my very

soul.

250

Husky

after the sun set, it’s finally time to close, and the husky is still there, asleep on the sidewalk in front of our door. It takes little time to wipe down the last of the tables, gathering stray cups and napkins

a little bit of a masochist for thinking that

the sign on the door to ‘Closed‘ as he counts out the register, his fingers flying faster than I would have

friend is still

those eyes so eerily similar to my own, and I feel a bizarre tug in my chest. I want to take

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3/6

Ava Husky

just a tiny square with a well–groomed tree popping out of

little headway in trying to clean and organize everything, mainly because I’m taking every shift Mrs.

he finishes up with the money. “She’s waiting for

would

her treats all day? She probably thinks

It’s true, She’s been scarfing down bits of muffin and croissant whenever I had a chance to toss them