Page 84

Story: Holly Jolly July

JAMES

It’s been a long time, is all.

ANNIE

I’m glad you’re doing it again. I’m not

sure why you stopped, but you can’t

keep talent like this from the world.

Everyone in your café is going to love these. Are you going to bring some to

that big fancy party the Small Business

Association is having?

JAMES

How do you know about that?

ANNIE

I’m not divulging my whisper network.

JAMES

Fine, keep your secrets. But no.

I’m not going.

ANNIE

Why not? I thought you had to.

JAMES

I don’t have to do anything.

ANNIE

I overheard them saying there

would be other possible tenants

there. Shouldn’t you be there, too?

JAMES

I can’t go back there.

ANNIE

But you could lose—

James slams a cookie on table, breaking it.

JAMES