It had been a week since Ever’s last day at Pagoto’s. The first few days, he found himself still waking up early in the morning, getting dressed and ready to go out. He would walk the familiar route purposefully, almost as if he believed that he would get his job scooping ice cream back if he showed enough conviction.

  He didn’t go so far as to actually walk into the ice cream though. From the other side of the road, he would peer in and be able to make out Logan standing in there by himself. Once, he thought that Logan looked out the window and saw him. It seemed like he made eye contact, then broke it, looking back to his phone. After this, he sat in the park for a while before going back home.

  Naturally, Mimi was thrilled that Ever was spending so much more time at home. If anything, her routine had gotten more enjoyable: she would still eat at the same time in the mornings, then her person would take her for walks, play with her in the park then carry her back home. Most days anyway.

  Another new routine that Ever found quite comforting was the presence of Nyx in Mimi’s house. She would only be there once the sun went down, spending time together with the man and his dog. By the time Ever woke up in the morning, she was gone. Once he had asked if she wanted to stay over. She smiled gently and shook her head, swirls of star dust falling free from her navy hair.

  —--

  “Hi boyfriend.” Even through the phone, Ever could hear Zoe’s smile.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  “Boyfriend?” He questioned.

  “Are you not?” She replied, feigning hurt. “Oh wait, I forgot you’ve already got a bitch.”

  “You can’t say that!” Ever gasped, remembering when he let slip the ‘b-word’ in front of Taylor.

  “Sure I can,” she said. “I’m a vet, I work with bitches all day long.”

  “Oh, you mean Mimi,” he replied. “I mean I do love her…”

  There was a pregnant silence over the phone as an unasked question opened a curious eye for a moment before going back to sleep.

  “Hey sorry I've been too busy to call,” Zoe said. She muffled a cough into her elbow. “December is the second most brutal month of the year. People are trying to fit in check ups for their pets before the holiday season.”

  “That’s OK,” Ever said. “I… lost my job at Pagoto’s.” Saying it out loud promoted the statement from denial to acceptance; the relief flooded through him.

  “Oh what? Why?”

  Ever explained to her what Logan had told him: seasonality, bad business. He glanced at the pot plant, which now sat in its new home, on the ledge in the kitchen, overlooking a small yard. All leaves, no flower.

  “Yeah fair enough,” Zoe said. “I guess that’s casual work for you.”

  “Mmm.”

  “Hey, I’ve got an idea. Did you want to come and chill at the clinic this week instead?”