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 –

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13 Ava: Husky (1)

cup

of caramel–toffee mocha with an obscene amount

like it. Go take a break with that dog out there. Have you checked her for a collar?”

sweet beverage and sighing in bliss. “No collar,” I confirm with a shrug. “Huskies are notorious for

scratches are gone.”

in a slow, meandering sort of way. People ebb and flow in a familiar pattern, and I’m surrounded by the scent of books and

slow, Carlos regales me

and drama he reads on his social media news feeds. He’s been begging me to open up my own profile, but I

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

soul.

250

Husky (0)

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 and tossing them into the trash. I’m exhausted from the double shift, but it’s the kind of tired that burrows deep into your bones and says you’ve

a little bit of a masochist for thinking

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

furry friend is still out

window and, sure enough, the husky is sitting there, staring at me, with her nose pushed against the glass, her pants 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

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Ava Husky

a well–groomed tree popping out of it in the middle

into the sink and think of the boxes everywhere in my apartment. I’ve made little headway in trying to clean and organize everything,

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

would she

treats all day? She probably

She’s been scarfing down bits of muffin and croissant whenever I had a chance to toss them her way. What can I