“There’s our pet whisperer.” Dwayne strolls out from the back room where we keep our animal food and other supplies over to where I’m daydreaming. His shaggy blonde hair hangs in his blue eyes. “Can you change the bedding in the rabbit pens and feed the fish?” He pushes his glasses up on the bridge of his nose.
“Of course.” Thoughts of home fade away as I easily flow into my work routine.
“We have a new type of fish there on the bottom. They eat the tropical pellets.”
“Got it.” My knowledge of animals grows with each day. That’s what I enjoy most about working with exotics. More potential to learn something cool.
Cleaning pens and feeding animals is about all I’m asked to do but I don’t mind. It allows me time to handle all the pets, and that makes me happy. Occasionally I have to help a costumer or work the cash register but usually the guys handle that since they know the prices and the market better. They’ve been working for Joe since he opened the shop over ten years ago.
I go to the back room and grab the basket we keep our assortment of fish food in. Who knew different fish actually preferred differed food? I begin adding pinches of smelly flakes to the tanks when suddenly I’m showered with sprinkles of cold water. I jerk my head around to find Leo standing beside me laughing. His dark mischievous eyes hide in the shadow of his long black hair and his tan hand glistens with water.
“Whoops! You looked a bit gloomy, so I thought I’d be your rain cloud.” He dips his fingers in the turtle pond and flicks them at me again.
My lips twist into a sly smile. “It’s not just calling for scattered showers. There’s a storm coming.” I cup my hand in one of the fish tanks and fling the water into Leo’s scruffy face. Dwayne walks out of the back room and laughs at Leo’s dripping hair.
All three of us break out into a fit of laughter. This right here is why this place is my favorite place to be. I’m not going to continue letting my emotions be stronger than myself. The dinging of the bells on the door makes us all look up. Joe saunters in assessing what is in front of him.
“Are you guys making a mess again?” He looks at the wet spots on the scuffed grey tiles.
“Would you believe some rain clouds busted in here?” Leo asks still grinning broadly.
“I’ll get a mop and clean it up.” I head to the back room unable to hide my own smile.
“Now see? Katie is a proper employee unlike you two boneheads. I don’t know what I’m going to do without her.” One corner of Joe’s mouth lifts but the smile doesn’t reach his eyes.
Without me? He must mean when I graduate. That’s not for two more years though so he shouldn’t be down about that. I shake the thought and mop up the water.
The see-through rabbit pens sit in the middle of the room with open tops so that customers can reach in and pet the critters’ soft fur. I put the mop away and grab one of the large bags of fresh sweet-smelling wood shavings. The strong pine scent fills my nostrils and masks the other scents of the store temporarily. I drift on the aroma into an easy routine of evening cleaning.
...
A few hours later I look up at the clock as my shift is winding to its end. “Joe, I’m headed out. Do you want me to come in right after class or wait for the closing shift tomorrow?”
“Leo won’t be in after four so you can fill his place until closing.” He runs the sales receipt from the register and taps out numbers on a calculator. Reading glasses perch at the end of his nose and his eyebrows scrunch in concentration.
“Okay, I’ll see you then.” I open the door and breathe in the chilly air.
“Thanks for your help,” Joe calls and waves without looking up.
He’s so kind. I always feel so light inside after work. I feel like I’m important and that I really make a difference, and I love playing with the animals.
Outside, the evening sun is beginning to dip behind the trees and casts an orange light that reflects off the street’s shop windows. I unlock my car and open the door. As I’m about to shut it, someone reaches out to stop me. I look up into the deepest green eyes only inches from mine. They remind me of an evergreen forest swept up in a wildfire as they glow in the sunset.
Matthew is bent over leaning in my door. “Hey, Katie Cat. How was work?”
I swivel in my seat so that I am facing him. “How did you know I worked here?”
“Oh, I talked to Marie. She’s not that bad once she warms up to you.”
“She really is sweet, but why would she tell you where I worked? Not that I mind since it’s you, but considering her initial opinion of you, it just seems strange of her to hand out that information.”
Matthew waves a dismissive hand. “We had a good talk. She understands we’re friends now. I’m much more interested in your opinion of me.”
“My opinion of you?” I avert my eyes but then feel embarrassed for not answering so I look back to meet his gaze and find myself staring into his silver eyes. “I think you have beautiful eyes.” The words tumble out of my mouth before I can catch them. I start to feel fluttery inside like the feathers from the birds in their cages in the pet shop.
“Can my beautiful eyes convince you to give me a ride back to campus?” He bats his long brown eyelashes in a playful manner.
“Sure.” No part of me wants him to leave yet. He slides into the passenger seat and I start the car. “Why were you here anyway?” I ask casually.
“I was out for a walk and decide I wanted to see you.” He flips through my CD case which was laying on the floor at his feet.
My heart speeds up. Really? I bite my lower lip. The thought of him being interested in me excites me more than it should.
He flashes a CD at me. “You still listen to Linkin Park?”
“Only that album. It was our soundtrack, remember?”
“How could I forget? We used to scream those lyrics like we were real badasses.” He erupts with laughter and my earlier apprehensions lift. We would bring his radio to the park and sing those songs at the top of our lungs. Jumping over tress and across rocks, we put on the best concert.
In no time at all I pull my car into the dimly lit parking lot. Matthew gets out and walks around to my side. Once out of the car, I catch myself staring again. I don’t know where these strong feelings are coming from, but I can’t deny I’m attracted to him.
“I’d invite you up to the room again, but I don’t want to jinx Marie warming up to you.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I glance at the screen to see a notification signaling a text from Scotty saying, “Hey, Katie, what’s up?”
“I agree.” Matthew tucks a finger under my chin to make me look back at him. His touch causes my entire body to tingle. “I definitely want to see more of you and that would be hard if she keeps kicking me out.”
The way he says he wants to see more of me makes my breath catch. He must have heard it because he leans in without hesitation and locks his lips onto mine.
I don’t resist. I can’t. Every part of my brain is screaming that I want this. We press up against my car and his kiss becomes more persistent and hungrier. I finally break it and gasp for breath. He winks at me, smiling broadly, and turns his back to walk away.