"That makes me glad... I think," she said, her tongue slightly twisted. "And how much longer do you have to finish — you know, so we can go shopping like before?"

"Well, we close around seven or eight," I clarified, pointing at the clock. "I don’t think we’ll be able to today."

She slapped the table. "Where’s that boss of yours?"

"Nolan is still at school — he gets out in twenty minutes."

"Call him and tell him to come," she ordered, crossing her arms. "Days are too short to wait twenty minutes."

"I can’t interrupt him." I picked up the coffee pot. "If you want, you can order a coffee and some cookies."

"Oh, RyneRyne, you’re such an uptight girl." She gestured around the café. "There’s only an old man by the window, a couple eating some fries, and a lady in the center counting pennies." She grumbled. "They’re irrelevant with me sitting right here."

"Mayo, this is my job."

"Drop that attitude, girl." She pulled her wallet from her bag. "You’re incredibly tense — maybe a visit to Lefiw, my Italian masseuse, could fix that oversensitivity." She grabbed my shoulder. "Trust me, his hands are extraordinary."

"I’m not going to let someone touch me, Mayo," I pulled free. "I’m faithful to Nolan and to my work."

But at that moment the bell rang, announcing Nolan’s arrival — eighteen minutes earlier than usual. Something about that timing froze my blood.

"Look who’s here," she smiled. "Little boss."

Nolan saw her, greeting her with a puzzled smile. "Hey, great to see you, Mayo. How many months was it this time?" 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"Three or more," she said, giving him a hug. "How is the cutest and most wonderful little boss in the entire mega universe?"

"I was only your boss for a day or two," Nolan said, trying to pull away. "What do you need, Mayo?"

"For you to give Ryne the day off." She pointed at me behind the counter. "I’m telling you she’s very tense and needs a break. Don’t you think?"

Tell her no, Nolan! I don’t want to leave your side! I screamed in my mind.

Nolan scratched the back of his neck. "Ryne has been working hard — I think one day won’t make much difference."

"Is that a yes?"

"Yes, she can take the day."

She threw herself at Nolan’s arms again. "That’s why you’re the best little boss. Always so generous." She looked at me. "Did you hear that, Ryne? Let’s go — my car is outside."

I stepped out from behind the counter, untying my apron. "I’m sorry, Nolan. Will you be alright alone?"

"Of course, love." He hugged me, stroking my hair. "You enjoy your day." When he let go, he pulled out his wallet and took out a hundred-dollar bill.

Seeing it, I got scared. "It’s not necessary, Nolan — that’s a lot of money for me."

"Don’t be modest — I want you to enjoy your day properly." He stepped closer. "Besides, you know how Mayo is with spending. You don’t have to keep up with her, but as long as you can buy yourself something nice, I’ll be happy."

I smiled, kissing him on the lips. "That alone makes me happy, you know."

Mayo took my hand and pulled me. "Alright, enough sweetness. We don’t have all day."

I let go of him. "Goodbye, Nolan. Don’t forget you still owe me dinner."

"I never would!"

And with those words the door closed, leaving the café behind.

The car was parked half a block from the café.

I could see it from a distance, and the first thing I noticed was exactly what Mayo wanted you to notice.

"Beautiful, don’t you think?" She smiled. "I sent it to be cleaned, then painted, then cleaned again — ha. That’s why it’s so gorgeous, the way it should be."

I looked at it — she wasn’t lying. Its navy blue paint gleamed spectacularly, rims without a mark and the body without a scratch. Its tinted windows completed the look of perfect elegance.

"We’re going to the mall to buy beautiful clothes," she laughed. "Having only one stocking is a little, you know, sad." She got in one smooth motion. "Get in — we don’t have all day. But if you want to make use of the evening, I’m not complaining."

I opened the door, and when I did, a pizza delivery cap fell out, along with a toy die from a daycare. "Mayo?"

"Those are unimportant things," she said, starting the engine. "Just get in."

"I don’t want to be rude, but hadn’t you sent it to be—"

"Cleaned," she finished. "Yes, but only the outside. The inside would have taken two more hours and I didn’t have enough time."

"And all these things are...?"

"From past jobs," she smiled. "The cap," said Mayo, accelerating onto the avenue, "is from my pizza delivery job. I lasted eleven days."

"And the record before that?"

"Nine," she replied, as if it were an achievement. "So technically I improved."

"And the box?"

"From when I was a delivery girl," she let out a laugh. "Who would’ve thought you couldn’t open the packages before delivering them? It’s ridiculous, isn’t it? How am I supposed to know if it’s what they ordered without checking first?"

"But why is a box still here?"

"Because I didn’t deliver it," she grumbled. "They fired me, so I never got around to dropping it off."

"And what is it?"

"A dildo. Do you want it?" My face tensed as I shook my head. "It’s a dumb joke," she pushed me. "But you definitely wanted it — I saw it on your face, ha."

"No," I said, flushed. "I’ve never used one."

"Ah, more of a fingers girl, you dirty thing," she laughed again. "It’s a joke, Ryne — don’t get worked up."

"Fine," I said. "Can I ask what it actually is?"

"A tacky makeup set," she sighed. "I think I did them a favor not delivering it. Can you imagine going out with that on your face? I’d rather paint myself like a clown."

"And the receipts?"

"From the trip."

"From how many countries?"

"Who counts — you just enjoy them." She nudged me. "Hey," said Mayo, changing lanes with one hand on the wheel. "Nolan seems like a good boyfriend. Right?"

"He is," I confirmed.

"I didn’t remember him being so affectionate." She changed lanes. "If I’d had arms like those back in my day, even I would have cried over him." She nudged me again. "With that body I can’t imagine what he’s like in bed."

I met Mayo in my second month in Vancouver — she’d be around for a week and disappear for a month or two. So we didn’t spend much time together, which is why I never understood why she treated me with such familiarity.

"And is he still a virgin?" she asked.

"No — I don’t know."

"Well, if he’s your boyfriend I’d imagine so," she laughed again. "He was when I met him — not a single girl would get near him at university. Who would’ve thought he’d become so handsome as an adult."

"I don’t know, Mayo," I whispered. "In these two years I’ve known him, he has grown a lot. But what I like is that he’s kind."

"You really are sweet," we arrived at the mall. "I admire that innocence."

Mayo parked and opened the door. "Well, we’re here, dear. Anything you see and like, I’ll get it for you. Men included."

"Mayo, no."

"Well, I didn’t know you were into that."

"Mayo!"

"Relax, Ryne." She took my hand. "Let’s enjoy the place — you need more freedom."