“I know what you’re thinking.”
She smirks. “Doubtful.”
“You’re thinking, buddy, you have no idea what that entails. Surprisingly, I do. Are you forgetting that I have a younger, very annoying sister? It’s not easy to find a present for Theodora Phillipa St. James.”
She looks at me with a frown. “That’s Teddy’s name?”
“Yeah, my parents thought they were having another boy. In any case, I don’t think. I’m one-hundred-percent sure I’m the best person for this job.”
She gives me a skeptical glance and shakes her head.
“You need to trust me on this one. I already have a couple of ideas. Plus, I can tell that your kid has a list or gave you a few hints.”
She scoffs. “Hints? No. She is demanding an elephant or a puppy.”
That’s so easy. I can’t believe she’s making this sound like a quest. “There’s a toy store close by with cute stuffed animals.”
She laughs. “I wish it were that simple. I would’ve ordered them online. She wants a real elephant or a real dog. Not a stuffy. Those are for babies.”
“Of course, they’re for babies. She’s what? Like thirty-five, right?”
“You joke, but that’s her emotional age.”
Okay, so this might be harder than I thought. “Do you have any other ideas?”
“I’m tempted to buy her a Squishmallow and a couple of books. She loves to read.”
“What’s a Squishmallow?”
“Imagine if a stress ball was large, cuddly, and felt like a fluffy cloud.”
It takes me a few seconds to ponder upon that description. The only thing that comes to mind is Burke and his anxiety. He’s constantly fidgeting with something. Teddy buys him stress balls and toys, but he always loses them. He could use one of those.
“Sounds strange. I should buy one for Burke.”
“Then come with me, and let’s find one for your brother too. I’m thinking something small but embarrassing enough that people will make fun of him when they see him with it as they walk by his office.”
I grin. “I like how you think.”
Instead of driving, we walk to the store. Autumn doesn’t have a jacket with her, so I give her a pullover sweatshirt from Café Fusion. Is it weird that I feel like we’re in high school, and I love that she chose to wear my sweatshirt? Fifteen years ago, this would’ve been acceptable. Now we’re two adults with too much baggage to even think about flirting.
It’s amusing how a few hours with someone can rewire one’s mind. I still find her gorgeous, but we’re so broken and unable to offer the other happiness. I glance at her one more time and realize that I’m only speaking for myself. She has a smile on her face, a crinkle in her eyes, and a positive attitude that many would enjoy.
There’s a force pulling me to her—untamed, strong, and confusing. I choose to ignore it because I already feel too lost by myself to drag someone with me. I’d break her the way I did Callie, though I could use a friend like Autumn. But how?
“Maybe I could give this sweatshirt to Matilda and call it a day,” she says. “I had no idea you sold them.”
“I don’t. They’re for my employees.”
“You should consider selling merchandise.”
“We already do.”
“Let me rephrase. You should sell more than just mugs, cups, and water bottles. Think about selling some clothing too. I could make a few designs for you.”
This is the opening I needed. It’s also my opportunity to help her. “I think you’re onto something. We should exchange information so we can discuss it.”
“I mean, it’s just an idea.”
“An excellent one,” I agree, and before she can change her mind, I circle back to Matilda’s present. “Why not a dog?”
“What are we talking about?”
“Matilda’s present. Why don’t you buy her a dog? We can go to the shelter.”
“Like a real dog?” she asks hesitantly.
“Yes. We could do some research to see what’d be the best dog for her.” I try to sound animated. Not sure if what I’m saying is right. I’m about to drag an animal into their lives, but it can be a great excuse to be around them.
“She’s allergic. Plus, we don’t have time to deal with a dog. I’m barely home.”
“Are you sure? Because a dog seems like a sensible choice. We can always try to see if she can adopt an elephant at a zoo. She wouldn’t own it, but we can provide for his care.”
She comes to a complete stop and gawks at me for a couple of seconds. “That’s nonsense. I doubt I’ll ever introduce you to my child.”
Instead of arguing with that statement, I continue with the puppy campaign while we resume our walk. “Do you know that every child should grow up with a puppy? It helps them to learn responsibility, among other things. I grew up with two. Lady and Jimbo. What if you buy the dog and your mom keeps him? We can check a shelter and see if they have one that’s good for you.
“I keep telling Aiden to get a hypoallergenic dog, so my child can play with it. He claims he doesn’t have time for it. I’m pretty sure it’s because they’re messy, and Miranda can only deal with so much mess. If you ask me, it’d be an excellent addition for them and my kid. If I had the time and the space, I’d do it. We live in a two-bedroom apartment with a tiny living area. I don’t think it’d be fair for a puppy to live with us. Also, there aren’t any hypoallergenic dogs in shelters. Those puppies are expensive.”
It sounds like she’s convincing herself as to why she shouldn’t have a dog. Maybe Matilda isn’t the only one who wants to have a pup in her life. Aiden has a house. However, if he and his wife are busy all the time, it wouldn’t be fair to the puppy.
I don’t know how hard it is to have a dog. Mom took care of Lady and Jimbo. I could learn with them.
“Think about it as a life skill for Matilda.”
“Where is your dog, Zachary?”
She got me there, but I can get out of this just as easily. “You know what, I should get myself a dog.”
“You might have to take time off from work. The horror.” She gasps, then laughs, probably at me.
“It’ll be some sort of therapeutic dog. It’ll help me battle my workaholic-ism. Though, I might need to buy a house before I commit to a pup.”
“Where do you live?
“The café, obviously.”
“I didn’t know sarcasm was your second language.”
“Only on the weekends”—I pause, smirking at her—“Currently, I live with Burke. It’s temporary. I live out of a suitcase and the stuff I buy when I run out of clothes and don’t have time to do laundry.”
“When did you become a nomad?”
I press my lips together for a couple of seconds. Why am I telling her all this shit? My policy is to keep living, help others, and never speak about what’s happening in my life.
“My house became haunted to the point that I couldn’t live there anymore. One day, I packed some clothes and checked into a hotel. I haven’t been back. I guess that’s another reason I travel around the country so much. Also, it’s why I visit Eros in Costa Rica so often.”