Julian touched a palm to his cheek, clearly uncomfortable with the praise. “So, yeah. Dogs.” He cleared his throat. “Dogs aregreat.”
“Bet there’ll be more than one person asking you to find them one,” Cal said darkly. “Have you heard there’s a petty thief on theloose?”
Julian sighed. “I just heard at the bookstore. Honestly, it sounds like a whole bunch of nothing tome.”
“Exactly what we said,” Ashagreed.
Seeing my confused expression, Cal explained, “A few things have gone missing. Some groceries, a couple oftarps.”
“I heard rainboots and a sweater,” Julian said. “Not your family heirlooms. Someone’s fallen on hard times, or kids are daring each other to stealthings.”
“Probably. But I guess at this point, after Shane, it doesn’t take much to get the town in an uproar.” Cal leaned both elbows on the counter. “Never thought I’d be reminiscing about the days when we had a friendlier O’Leary.” He mock-shuddered. “Most of the time I want people to leave mealone.”
The bell over the door jangled again, and a pair of newcomers walkedin.
“Hey, guys,” Ash said, greeting the pair who walked in. “You looking forRae?”
The pair were kids—teenagers—both wearing jeans and thick flannel jackets. The shorter one wore her blonde hair pulled back in a tight ponytail and the taller one, a guy, looked like…damn. Like a mini-Julian, but with slightly curlier hair and a troubled look in his blueeyes.
“Theo,” Julian said. “Everythingokay?”
Ah. The youngest Rossbrother.
Theo nodded, but it was the girl who answered for both ofthem.
“We’re fine,” she said. “We just left Rae over at Hoff’s for their shift. It was really cool that Parker had an opening as a bar-back.” She pasted on a wide smile. “Which made me wonder if maybeyouhad any openings yet, Cal?” Her voice was wheedling, almost joking, but she rocked back and forth from her heels to her toes with a kind of tension that belied her teasingtone.
Cal and Ash exchanged a look and Cal frowned. “I wish I could, Sam, but I told you I already promised Moira’s cousin a job while he’s home on winter break. I just don’t have need fortwoextrapeople.”
“Nah. It’s fine!” Sam waved a hand like she didn’t care one way or the other. “Just, you know, thought I’d ask. I could use somecash.”
“Everything okay at home?” Julian asked, sounding concerned. “Because Icould—”
“No!” Sam looked offended. “Everything’s fine. The concert tickets for next summer’s festivals go on sale soon and my dad’s ‘not spending money on anything that’s not a college diploma or a decentdress.’”
She sounded so bitter it was hard not to laugh, but her father sounded exactly like mine so I felt a strange sort of kinship with thegirl.
“Ah, fuck, I’m old. Concert tickets,” Cal muttered. He shook his head and grinned. “Maybe Parker needs another person at thebar?”
Sam shook her head. “Nah. I’m not eighteen for another couple months, so that’s a no. But thanks anyway. I’ll keeplooking.”
“And I’ll keep you in mind, if anything comesup.”
“Cool.” Sam turned to walk out thedoor.
“Wait up,” Ash called. “Uh. We have a whole bunch of day-old pastries to get rid of. You guyshungry?”
Sam’s eyes lit up and Theo grinned, too. “Always,” hesaid.
Ash grabbed a box off the back counter and filled it with the freshly-baked tartlets while Cal shook his headindulgently.
Theo wandered over and Julian stood up, so I followed suit. Theo was a few inches taller than Julian, and he smirked at his older brother. “You gonna introduce us? Be rude notto.”
Julian rolled his eyes. “Theo, Sam, this is Daniel Michaelson. Daniel, this is my brother Theo and his friend SamHenderson.”
“Hey,” I said, stepping forward to shake hishand.
“Bet you already know all about me,” Theo said. “Bet Julian can’t stop talking about his favoritebrother.”
