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“A good…shelter to work at?”
Eileen snorts a laugh as she flips through the pile of papers on the desk. “That too. There’s someone for you in the back.”
I glance around the lobby.
Everything looks normal. Outdated magazines on the coffee table. Five folding chairs set up against the far wall for anyone waiting. Photo wall of pets who got happy endings.
Nothing out of the ordinary.
“Oh-kay.” I wait, but Eileen says nothing else.
So I head down the hallway to the kennels, twisting my hair back into a bun as I walk. I’m running a little later than usual, still operating on a sleep deficit from this past weekend.
Holden is standing in the center of the room with a small group of guys clustered around him. I don’t recognize any of them and they all look younger.
“Um, hi,” I say, glancing around the room to try to figure out what’s going on. I texted with him last night and he made no mention of coming to the shelter today.
Holden smiles. “Hey.” He looks at the group of guys. “Head out back and wait for me. I’ll be right there.”
With a few grins and a couple of smirks, they all head out the side door that leads to the back lot—mostly an enclosed yard we exercise the dogs in, plus a small parking lot meant for volunteers and employees.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“You told me to show up more, not less, remember?”
I nod. “I remember.”
“And that the shelter needs money.”
I glance toward the door that leads to the front lobby to make sure there’s no sign of Eileen.
I don’t want her overhearing us. She’s made multiple comments this summer about how she wishes that she could payme more or hire extra help so I wasn’t working six days a week. I don’t want to pile on to that guilt.
“Yeah…”
“Well, I have some sway over the basketball team. And Coach Benson was always trying to set up community events when I played. I went to talk to him yesterday, figuring he’d be all over it, and I was right. They’re planning a car wash here in a couple of weeks. I wanted to introduce the guys to Eileen and take a look around the place for set-up. We can plan to come back to Pembrooke for it, if you want. Or…not.”
He stares at me, and I realize I haven’t reacted at all.
I’m…stunned.
I feel silly.
All summer, I tied myself up into knots. Planning what I’d do at Richmond when I saw Holden on campus. Dreading seeing a photo of him with another girl.
My tendency is always to prepare for the worst, and I’m not totally sure why. My life has never weathered any calamity significant enough to justify that pessimistic mindset.
I think it’s just my personality. I like to be prepared.
So, it’s an adjustment to realize how far I blew everything out of proportion. That not only will I not have to avoid Holden on campus or stomach seeing him with someone else, he’s showing me that he listened to what I saidandhe’s actually doing something about it.
A crease of confusion—maybe concern—appears between Holden’s eyes as I continue staring at him, motionless and silent.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I finally manage.
“I wanted to.”
“Cassia, did you have a chance to—” Eileen stops talking when she spots me and Holden. “Oh. I’m sorry. I saw the group out front and I didn’t realize you were still back here, Holden.”
