“Heywo.”

  Ever swapped the phone from one ear to the other. “Sorry?”

  “Hello,” Zoe giggled. “I was just trying to be cute. Anyway, what’s up?”

  “I saw your message. Did you want me to go with you to the doctor?”

  “Nah, I’ll be OK. Just a check up before we fly out to meet Reuben tomorrow." A short pause. "Don't forget, I’m coming over tonight with my luggage. See you soon!”

  "See you tonight," he replied through a smile that she put on his face.

  ^Ever!^ Muffled, excited barks.

  Ever looked up from the phone.

  Mimi dropped a gnarled branch double her length at his feet. ^Look at what I found!^

  “That’s nice.”

  ^Do you like it?^

  “Mm-hmm.”

  His phone started ringing. Head back down, his hand blocked the glare from the screen: Logan Pagoto.

  “Sorry Mimi, I need to take…” he looked up, only to see that his dog had already bolted away, probably to find him more sticks.

  The phone kept ringing. He didn’t need to take the call, truth be told. That was purely a force of habit, even if it had been a month and a half since he had worked at Pagoto’s. Still… he accepted the call; the timer on the screen started.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  “Hello Logan.”

  “Ever?”

  “Yeah, it’s me.”

  “Hey.” His old boss cleared his throat. “How’s it going?”

  “Good.” You sound different. “Happy new year.”

  “Yeah, and to you.” He paused. “How’s Zoe been?”

  “She’s been…” Ever hesitated. Was it always this uncomfortable when you hadn’t spoken to someone in a long time? He didn’t want to say that Zoe was fine because after the week she had, she wasn’t, but he also didn’t feel like he should tell his ex-boss everything as well.

  “She’s been alright.”

  “Cool.”

  There was a charged silence as both men considered their next words.

  “How is Pagoto’s–”

  “Hey have you heard from–”

  A clash and a withdrawal as each circled the other.

  “The ice cream shop’s dead.”

  Ever frowned. “Dead?”

  “Oh, like dead quiet. Maybe seven or eight customers a day.”

  “Oh OK.” Probably good that you fired me then.

  “I haven’t been able to get a hold of Taylor,” Logan said, voice hesitant. “Have you spoken to her recently?”

  “Hold on.” Ever quickly brought up Taylor’s messages which they had exchanged at the end of last year. “She said that she was going to get in touch with you. She sounded angry because you hadn’t told her that you fired me.”

  “Ah right.”

  “She hasn’t spoken to you since then?”

  “Nope.”

  “Have you called her?”

  “I’ve tried.”

  There was another pause. This time, Ever could practically hear the question Logan wanted to ask even without him verbalising it.

  “I can try giving her a call if you would like.”

  “If you don’t mind, that would be great. You…” Ever looked at his phone. The conversation had gone on for only three minutes. “Just tell me how you go either way. Thanks.”

  “Alright, see you Logan.”

  “Bye, Ever.”