Page 34 of Dark Endures

Why do I—Pyrotechnics. They shoot off small effects during the show. It’s none of Canyon’s business where I was. “You seem to be very confused. Almost as confusing as the tan you now have. Did you go on a beach vacation?”

He tips his head to the side. “Something like that.”

“You really should invest in sunscreen. Cancer doesn’t look good on anyone.”

Canyon chuckles as the timer goes off.

Hot Dog needs to go back into her cage so I can take Sweetie out. That’s the hard part of the job, putting away my little friends.

“You aren’t going to answer me, are you?” Canyon stays where he is watching.

“Nope.” Would I even answer Maddox? Probably not.

Hot Dog slides into her nice, clean cage.

I lift the lid off of the soaking bucket, and Sweetie’s head pops out. He’s a bright orange corn snake with a good disposition, but his shed hasn’t finished coming off, so he’s flying blind and a bit grumpy.

“Don’t you try to bite me, mister.”

“Do you always talk to my snakes like that?”

Maddox! I spin around to find him standing at the doorway in the back of the room. The one I thought was a supply closet of some sort. “Um. Mostly.”

What happened to my nice, peaceful night?

“Why are you here so late?”

Do all the men around here ask the same question? My eyes move to where Canyon was standing to find him gone.

Strange man and his disappearing act. “You said I could set my own schedule.”

“I did. But this is a bit late.”

“Am I not allowed to work this late?” The edge in my voice is probably hard to miss. One of the bad things or good things about me drinking is the lack of caring about what people think that comes along with it. Maybe I shouldn’t have had that fourth drink.

Maddox stares at me silently for a moment. “You’re allowed to work when you want.”

“Then I better get back to it.” I give him an eyebrow raise and wait for him to leave me in peace.

“You look tired.”

It’s one in the morning, of course, I look tired. It’s not like I work the night shift. Between dancing and walking the dogs, I’ve probably logged twenty miles today and been up since stupid o’clock. I’m tired, buzzed, and now a little grumpy. “And?” It’s not like you’re sleeping in that fancy suit.

Does no one sleep around here?

“Continue then.”

Like I wasn’t already planning on it.

Maddox turns and leaves the room. Maybe he’ll turn out to be grumpy and I won’t have a huge crush on him. Next time, I need to get an ugly boss inside and out.

“Life isn’t easy is it, Sweetie?”

The grumpy snake tries to get away as I remove his shed.

Tea With The Tea

Mindy

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