“Sure.” I smile, hoping there’s some chocolate in the house, or at the very least, some sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon I can stir into some warm, frothed milk.
“And Pincess?”
“I’ll get her something to drink, too,” I promise. “Now, why don’t you introduce me to your Barbies while I make some fairy pancakes?”
Orly holds up a Tiana doll. “I’m going to meet all the pincesses at Disneyland,” she says.
“You’re a lucky girl,” I answer. “I’ve never been.”
lorelei
“Nope.You aren’t working today. Go home.” Carlos pushes me out the door. “Nick and Stavros texted to tell me to tell you that you’re supposed to take some ‘you time’ today.” He pauses and wrinkles up his face as he considers the message he’s just passed along. “Whatever that means. Do you know what that means? Can you explain the difference between ‘me time’ and ‘you time?’”
“‘Me time’ is about me, and ‘you time’ is about you,” I say.Obviously.
“But if I use my ‘me time’ to think about you, then is my ‘me time’ really ‘you time?’” Carlos strokes his chin as he steps away from the diner.
“Cut it out, Carlos,” I say. “I’m onto you.”
“What?” He feigns innocence.
“You’re trying to lead me away.”
“Okay, but it’s only because your uncles told me to. Come back later, and I’ll make you a Cuban sandwich for lunch.”
“Thanks, Carlos. We really gotta talk to the uncles about getting them on the menu.” His sandwiches are epic. If matzoh ball soup and gyros can be on the menu, why can’t a perfect Cubano?
“What are you talking about?” He looks scandalized. “They are on the secret VIP menu. That’s the whole point. I gotta like you to make one for you.”
With this, Carlos winks and disappears back into the diner.
I check my watch. It’s now 8:15 a.m. Celestial Pets is not due to open for another forty-five minutes, but it’s clear that someone’s in there. The bells on the door jingle as I let myself in.
“Hey, oops! Sorry! We’re not actually open yet!” a male voice calls out.
A man with hot-pink hair, wearing a tie-dyed hoodie and some sick trainers is kneeling in the corner, packing some dog treats, costumes, and other items into a box.
“Hey Xander!” I say. This has got to be Georgia’s brother. I’ve heard so much and checked out his grooming videos on TikTok. He seems almost as cool as his sister. Huge personality. I really can’t wait to meet him.
“Kenna! What’s—” He freezes midsentence, eyes wide. He barks and leaps to his feet, making a crazy, dramatic face that’s straight out of a Fellini film. “You’re not Kenna. Freeze. Stay where you are.” He leaps to his feet and swings a leash slowly over his head like a lasso. I am stunned speechless.What the hell is up with Georgia’s family?
The leash is making whirring noises that any sound engineer would swoon over. But not me. Is he shitting me? Is Groomer Van Man actually going to come after me?
Just as abruptly as he jumped up, he stops swirling the leash, drops it to the floor, and bends over, laughing.
“Oh, shit. Your face. I am so sorry. Give me a minute.” He pats his eyes with his hoodie. “I don’t know where that came from. That was some seriously misguided superhero improv bs. I just can’t believe I’m standing here with the Ember Enchantress!” he squeals, and then he seems to remember he wasn’t supposed to say that out loud, bites his lips, and looks around guiltily.
“Sorry! That just popped out because nobody else is in here with us. I swear your secret is safe with me. Promise. OMG. I can’t believe it’s really you! Squeeeeeee!”
“So, Georgia told you.” I breathe a sigh of relief.
Xander nods and picks up the leash to put it away. “Yeah, G suspected I might figure it out when you didn’t know how to work Kenna’s camera to take photos of the dogs. But damn, you are pretty convincing. You might have fooled me. Except, Kenna’s a lefty.”
“Who notices these things?” I sigh and flop into the comfy chair.
“Other lefties?” Xander mentions. “Kenna likes to borrow my left-handed shears to trim her bangs.”
“Kenna trims her bangs withdog shears?” The look of horror on my face must show because Xander suddenly looks defensive.
