Liv interrupted her thoughts with a snort. “I’ll be right back.”
Mae watched Liv assist Brooks while he gestured and scowled at the screen in front of him. A minute later, Liv returned, crossing her arms as she leaned against the coffee counter at Mae’s side.
“He always uses self-checkout because he doesn’t want to talk to any of us. And every single time, he does something that requires him to talk to us evenmore.” She clucked her tongue. “I love that cranky bastard. Oh, and here comes Ashley. She works over at the wildlife refuge.”
A trim, dark-haired woman in a khaki U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform walked over to grab herself a cup of coffee. It was a problematic thing, sometimes, but Mae had always had a thing about a woman in a uniform.
“Mornin’, Liv.”
“Ashley, meet Mae Kellerman. They’re gonna open a bookstore in that empty property on Main Street.”
“The one by Freddy’s? No kidding.” Ashley smiled, showcasing perfectly white teeth, before holding out a light brown hand. Mae forced herself to not shiver as she shook it. “That sounds great. There are some folks in this town who could do with some more readin’.”
“That’s what I’m sayin’,” Liv agreed.
The introductions were quick and steady after that: Archer, who worked at the steelhead hatchery up the river; Kehlani, who worked at the spa and resort down 101; Malachi, a chef at one of the local seafood restaurants; and Jett, a local mechanic. With each one, Mae’s recollection from her own distant upbringing was affirmed anew.
The grocery store,especiallyif it served good coffee, was the heartbeat of a small town.
Liv introduced Mae the same way each time, without hesitation—They’re gonna open up a bookstore on Main Street—and each time, a small hit of dopamine buzzed down Mae’s veins. There were days she felt moreshethanthey, and vice versa. But she’d finally found peace when she’d accepted that pronouns were just words for her. She didn’t mind when people usedsheorher, especially when they were used by her closest loved ones. People she knew already saw her, understood her, as being more than just one thing. Someone a bit further down the spectrum, on a sliding scale.
Still. She loved when a stranger, someone she was just beginning to know, usedthey.
When they gave her that space to be something different.
“And here comes Taylor. Taylor Nguyen.” Liv’s voice shifted to something softer. Mae glanced over to see something in her eyes shift, too. Concern. A flash of worry. “I have to talk to her for a bit. But hey, you can meet Lanh, the sharpest Pokémon Go player in town.”
Liv crouched toward the floor as the woman and young boy made their way to the coffee station.
“Hey, Lanh. This is Mae. They’re new in town. Think you could show them some of your Pokémon while I chat with your auntie?”
Lanh didn’t look away from the tablet in front of him. But after a small beat, he replied with a monotone, “Okay.”
Liv stood and stepped aside to talk with Taylor, and Mae gamely took her place. Mae’s body was still sore from the hard labor of moving out of her apartment, and the crouch made her wince, but in a good way. A stretch that reminded you your body was still alive and needed to move.
“What’s your favorite Pokémon, Lanh?”
Lanh didn’t hesitate. “Arceus. Legendary Pokémon.” He was a cute kid, with dark hair shaved close to his head and serious black eyes. She estimated he was six or seven.
“I always liked Bulbasaur,” Mae said. “Any of the grass types, really.”
Lanh swiped at the screen.
“Fire types’re better.”
“Fair.” Mae shrugged. “I still like the grass types, though.”
Lanh gave a quiet grunt and captured a Golbat.
Mae squatted like that for five minutes more, watching Lanh battle, until Liv and Taylor returned.
“Thanks for keeping him company,” Taylor said with a kind smile. “I’m Taylor.” With effort, Mae stood and shook Taylor’s hand.
“Will you have some Pokémon books at your new store?” Taylor grinned down at Lanh. Mae made a mental note to make the Pokémon section as extensive as possible.
“Absolutely. Maybe Lanh can give me some pointers on the essentials.”
“We can’t wait. Thanks again, Liv.”
