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“She’s old. She had a fall and she’s a stubborn lady who doesn’t want to be a burden. She isn’t at all, but that’s my gran. The greatest lady you could meet. So yeah, a job, any job that lets me spend time with her and help her out will help me.”
“I understand.” I look up at him. “I think you might be a good man, Magnus.”
“I don’t know about that.”
“I do. You’re a good person. I can tell.” I nod sagely. Damn, this man is tall. I go to say more when the bell on my front door rings and a teen with baggy jeans and a ball cap with a flat bill comes in.
He pulls off the wet oversize hoodie he has on and does an exaggerated air punch like he’s some kind of MMA fighter, his little signature move. The kid loves mixed martial arts.
“Yo, Mama S, how you doin’?”
The kid has attitude, but he’s sweet. “Hi Mikey.”
He stops and slides a long, suspicious look at Magnus. “You want me to take care of this?”
“He’s interviewing for the job,” I say.
He’s about a foot shorter than Magnus, but Mikey puffs up and lays on the machismo. “Yo, dude, you mess wit’ her, you mess with my peeps, you hear me?”
I groan but Magnus nods, his face unsmiling, although I can see the glimmer of humor in his eyes. Mikey’s about fifteen and I’ve known him since he was little. He’s smart though, and I’m getting him into books, helping him find what he likes.
I pop two cookies in a bag and twist it shut and then slide it across the counter.
Mikey glances about, head bobbing, and like he’s doing some kind of drug deal, then snakes the bag off the counter and into the pack on his back. He gives Magnus another suspicious look and sidles up to me.
“Zoey, I’m liking that book you gave me.”
“I have another one, if you’re interested.” I say this like it’s no big deal. “When you’re done with the current one.”
His face lights up, and then he shrugs with exaggerated nonchalance. “Yeah, maybe. See ya around.”
He slouches out of the store and I start heading back behind the counter to put the rest of the cookies on display when Magnus speaks.
“That isn’t good business.”
“What isn’t?”
“Giving shit away.” He pauses, “to punks.”
“Mikey’s a good kid.”
Magnus looks like he wants to say something, but instead he shrugs. “Not my place. It’s just you said things were hard. If I do get the job, I’d like to know the rules.”
“He’s reading and a cookie here and there doesn’t break the bank.”
“Why do I suspect you give them away more than you let on?”
“I bake them. Anyway, my store,” I say, “my rules.”
“So it is.” He sighs. “Did I ruin my chances?”
My heart lurches. “No, not at all.”
“Great. When can I start?”
I blink rapidly, trying to get my brain into gear. “Tomorrow? How is tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow,” he says, smiling at me, wooing me with that hint of a dimple. “Is perfect. I’ll see you then.”
