Page 21 of Violet

“Well, you’re you now, and you don’t look so good.” She clucks. “But you don’t feel warm. I should get the thermometer, just to be sure.”

“Oh, Letty.” I sit up and throw my arms around her in a tight hug. “Have I told you how much I love you?”

“Now you’re really worrying me.” She plops down on the couch next to me. “I love you too, pet. Now, come. Spill. Tell me what’s the matter.”

“Everything’s the matter!” I whisper-wail. Yeah, fine, I’m acting like a child... but after the year I’ve had, I think I’ve earned it.

Plus, when have I ever acted my age? My mother was barely around when I was growing up, and just when I was starting to feel like a normal college kid, I had to go on the run. I never got to finish my degree. And now I’ll never get to do whatever it is young people my age do. I’ll never go dancing at Club Vee. I’ll never get the little bird tattoo I’ve been eying in the window of Lady Blue Tattoo on my way to and from work. I’ll never get to hook up with my hot coworker. And I’ll definitely never be able to be with my mates.

Nope. I get to spend my days pretending to be eighty. Running a library. Supervising staff. Taking care of a library cat-dog.

“Oh, no! Stacks!” I cry, grabbing my purse and searching madly for my phone.

“What happened in the stacks? You’re scaring me, Violet!”

“Not the stacks. Stacks! Our new library cat. I picked him up from Calluna this morning, but I completely forgot to tell Nole!”

“I thought you were going to name that cat Dewey?”

I shake my head. “I tried Dewey, and Book Cart, and Fiction, but he ignored me.”

“He’s a cat, dear. They tend to do that.”

“Not Stacks. And I don’t think Nole even knows he’s there.”

“Then give the boy a call. Ask him to dinner. Tell him you’re really a hot, young thing and you’d like to jump his bones.”

“Oh my Chameleon, Violet, what have you been watching?”

“Not watching. Reading, dear. You left an old romance novel in the kitchen.” Violet winks. “Now, call that boy and flirt with him.”

“You know I’m not going to flirt with him.” I roll my eyes as I scroll through my contacts until I find the number for the library’s front desk. Then, just to mess with her, I add, “Plus, I still haven’t told you about my mates.”

“Your what? Violet, put down that phone! Don’t you dare make that call until you explain!”

Except, I do dare. I hold up a finger to my lips to shush the now outraged Violet and listen to the phone ring. She shoots me a glare, but doesn’t dare say anything that might give us away. Instead, she scowls at me and reaches for my purse. I watch her warily until she pulls out the copy of Love Blooms my sister donated to the library and opens it.

“Silver Springs Public Library, Nole speaking. How can I help you?” the bear shifter answers the phone, sounding all cute and professional.

My heart skips a beat, but I push the feeling aside. Then I quickly shift into my eighty-year-old friend so that Nole will recognize my voice and explain about Stacks.

“You don’t have to worry about anything, Violet. I’ll give Stacks his dinner and take him for a walk before I lock up.”

“A walk?” I ask in surprise while Violet leafs through the paperback and pretends not to listen in on our conversation. “You never took Handkerchief for walks.”

“Handkerchief never meowed at the front doors to be let out. And he definitely never peed on a fire hydrant.”

“Stacks did that?”

“He did. I really wish you’d been there.” Nole snorts. “But don’t worry, I took a picture. I meant to text it to you.”

“You did?” I grin, only to realize I sound way too upbeat for someone who’s supposedly sick. I throw in a few coughs so Nole won’t think I’m playing hooky and then freeze. Crap. Wasn’t I supposed to have a headache, not a cold?

“Are you feeling okay?” Nole asks.

“Probably just coming down with something, dear,” I lie. Five points.

“Do you want me to come over? I can close the library right now and come over!” Nole cries, sounding panicked.