with meat.
‘What’s that?’ Ava asked.
‘Chicken, sorry no steak for you today Bailey,’ he petted her head as he stood and took a seat opposite Ava, ‘and no lobster either. Ma James says shellfish isn’t good for dogs.’
Ava blinked as she sat staring at him.
‘Damn it, Kelley, stop it,’ she frowned.
‘Stop what?’ he replied absently as he placed a soda in front of her, alongside a small oval, red plastic basket lined with paper and containing a sub roll stuffed with a delicious smelling meat and dressing.
‘Stop making me like you,’ she frowned.
‘Can’t,’ he grinned, ‘it’s all part of my devious plan.’
She watched as he picked up his own sub and took a huge bite, his eyes rolling in pleasure.
‘Sorry if I’m being rude,’ he apologized after he’d chewed and swallowed, ‘I’m literally starving.’
‘I have no idea what to do with you Kelley,’ she murmured.
‘I have a few ideas,’ he grinned, ‘but for now, it doesn’t have to be any more complicated than two people sharing a meal and talking.’
‘About what?’
‘Anything you like,’ he took another bite, ‘anything you like.’
And they did. They talked for hours, about everything, about nothing and all the little things in-between. The weird thing was, it wasn’t hard. Just like the night they’d fallen asleep side by side in a pokey little tent with the rain drumming down on the canvas and the thunder crashing high above them. Being in his company was effortless.
By the time the long afternoon passed toward evening they were walking along the docks, side by side, eating ice creams just as he’d promised.
‘You were right you know,’ Ava finally said.
‘About?’
‘The lobster rolls were amazing. Now I’m going to have to learn how to cook them,’ she mused. ‘Do they really boil lobsters alive?’
‘I try not to think about that part,’ Kelley winced. ‘I’d rather it just ended up on my plate; I don’t need to know how it got there.’
Ava laughed as she looked out across the marina. The last of the boats were coming in and the docks were still laden with huge crates of fish and lobsters.
‘What’s that big building over there?’ she pointed to a large warehouse sitting slightly back from the dock.
‘That’s where they pack and process the catch,’ Kelley licked his ice cream. ‘Just around the corner is the fish market.’
‘Fish market,’ Ava stopped suddenly. ‘Uh, we should probably go back.’
‘Why?’ Kelley asked curiously.
‘Because Bailey…’ whatever she was about to say was drowned by a joyful bark, and as Ava blinked, all she saw was a blur of black and gold fur disappearing toward the warehouse. She raised her left hand to find a bright blue leash dangling from her wrist, gnawed off at the end. ‘Shit,’ Ava swore, ‘hold this.’ She thrust her own ice cream at Kelley and sprinted after her dog.
She ran flat out, rounding the corner of the building.
‘BAILEY!’ her voice cracked like a whip causing her dog to skid to a halt.
Ava approached her slowly. Bailey was standing quivering, her body trembling at all the scents surrounding her. Her ears pricked up and her nostrils flared.
‘Stay,’ Ava commanded as she edged closer, the smell of fish so strong, she gagged a little.
Bailey’s eyes flicked to the right and Ava’s followed. Her stomach clenched as she realized why the smell was particularly strong here. There were barrels and barrels of fish guts. Her eyes flicked back to Bailey who wagged her tail.
‘DON’T…YOU…DARE…’ Ava whispered; her eyes wide in warning.
Bailey wagged her tail again and lunged at the nearest barrel. Ava dived for her, but it was too late. As she grabbed her collar, they both tumbled into a barrel, overturning it and sending it careening into the next one, showering them both with slimy fish parts.
Ava wrestled her dog, but it was no use, the floor was too slippery. She had no purchase to climb to her feet and haul her dog away. Bailey was having the time of her life rolling over and over, rubbing her fur into the smelly fish goo.
Ava finally managed to grab her and haul her against her body, holding her in place. She looked up as the sound of laughter rang in her ears. Kelley stood almost doubled over with laughter, an ice cream in each hand.
‘You think this is funny?’ she asked angrily.
‘I’m sorry,’ he drew in a deep breath and started laughing again, ‘it’s just…’ he continued to laugh.
Ava’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
‘Bailey,’ her voice was ominously low, Bailey thumped her tail against the ground