Chapter 13

The drive to the animal shelter was shorter than I expected, which was really disappointing because I was enjoying a truce with Logan. Something had shifted, as I previously thought, and it was more evident now. We’d gone ten minutes in each other’s company and there had been nothing close to a taunt.

I had to say, I was liking it.

“You realize this is the first time we’ve been in each other’s company for this long without so much as an insult?” Logan asked me, reading my mind.

“Yeah, and it feels so… weird,” I replied cheekily, staring at the veins popping out of his arm on the steering with a side eye. I averted my gaze almost immediately, reminding myself that we’d just come out of enemy chambers and we were certainly not anywhere close to being friends yet. We just… were. “Doesn’t it?”

He chuckled, looking out the window for a few seconds as he rounded a bend. “We both know you’ve always found me endearing, Hale. That’s why you always went out of your way to make me notice you.”

My brows went up in disbelief. “I’ve never met anyone with as big as an ego as you. Were you born this way or is it something you recently came into?”

“Be careful not to trip over my amazingness. It’s everywhere.”

I rolled my eyes at his comeback as he pulled aside at a corner close to the shelter. Logan cut off the engine and got out of the truck just the same time as I did.

My first thought as I looked at the shelter was that it was small. Very small. Small enough that I wasn’t completely sure Logan and I would fit inside. Logan came to stand next to me, peering at the shelter like I was doing. I understood now why Principal Donna felt like it would be a good project idea. What I didn’t get was why she thought Logan and I were the right fit for the job.

“Looks… tired.” Logan frowned quizzically. “How the hell are we supposed to save this place?”

“Beats me,” I replied, moving my legs. The small square building was more like a shed with blocks, a dark red triangle roof covering the top. Bright yellow paint that decorated the walls were old and chipped, some areas already falling off. Brown stains were plastered on some area on the walls and I didn’t even want to think of what it might have been.

When we got closer, a pungent smell drifted from inside the shelter. It was strong, almost knocking me off balance. I had to blink for a while so I could think straight.

“Ugh. What on earth is that smell?” Logan moaned, covering his nose with an arm as I knocked firmly on the wooden door.

“Take down your arm and be nice,” I scolded, resisting the urge to perform the same action as him. He acquiesced, clearing his throat.

A few beats passed before the doorknob turned. An elderly female head popped out, her big round eyes searching for the intruders. I immediately liked her.

“Hello there,” I said with as much of a smile as I could manage without barfing, wondering how long she’d had to stay here that she’d gotten so used to the smell. “My name is Lexi Hale and this is Logan Hernandez. We’re from Cambridge High. We were sent here by Principal Donna to work on getting the shelter as much funding as possible as our senior year school project.”

The door opened completely and the rest of her body stepped out. She was a small, round woman with grey, almost white hair. Her cheeks were chubby and fat and her round eyes grew even bigger than it had been. “Oh, hi,” she said, her voice tiny yet firm. “I’ve been expecting you. Come in, come in. We’re all very excited to have you here.”

We? I mouthed to Logan and he shrugged in response as we both followed behind her. Just like I’d imagined, the shelter was small. In the middle of the square room was a long table that I guessed was for interacting with the animals, and along the sides of the room were different cages occupied by several animals.

I began to feel a bit skeptical about this entire thing. Logan was right. What on earth did Principal Donna expect us to do here? This place was dying. How were we expected to save this place?

“My name is Mrs. Rose by the way but you can just call me Patty. Everyone does. Over here is the office where I stay…” Mrs. Rose—Patty—went off as logan and I looked around. The more I looked, the more I was convinced this was a waste of time.

“This place used to be run by my husband and me,” Patty said, turning to stare at us. “But when he died five years ago from a brain tumor, I was left to run it alone. I know you’re probably wondering why I’m trying so hard to hold on to something I should’ve let go off a long time ago but you see, I don’t have any children. This is all I have. I couldn’t turn my back on the animals. They’ve done nothing wrong.”

Before I knew what was happening, Logan had unlocked a cage and was holding a furry brown cat to his body and—did he just coo? I scoffed, shocked. No, I must’ve heard wrong.

Oh, my God, he did it again!

Logan was making kissy faces and cooing at a freaking cat!

The cat purred softly as Logan rubbed the fur on its head, pressing further into his body.

Patty laughed, joy evident on her face. “Wonderful! Just wonderful! Mr. Pattinson likes you too. He never purrs at just anyone.”

“He doesn’t?” In all honesty, Logan looked proud. I was still coming to terms with the fact that he was a cat lover. “I’ve been told I have that effect on people.”

“Evidently, animals too,” Patty laughed.

I noticed she was a very happy woman and it made me smile. “Don’t humor him, Patty. He’s already full of himself. Wouldn’t want him to explode.”

“You’re just jealous Mr. Pattinson doesn’t like you?”

Was he serious? “How on earth did you become a cat lover?”

He shrugged. “Cats are super intelligent and tactical. Reminds me of myself.”

I rolled my eyes the same moment Patty laughed again. I had a feeling I would enjoy working with her. She was a nice woman, albeit a little lonely. I feltsorry about her husband but kept my condolences to myself. I’d lost a family member and expressing condolences did nothing except bring back memories that would be better not summoned.

“Looks good, Patty. You’ve done amazing job holding this place together,” I told her sincerely.

The corners of her eyes wrinkled with a smile. “I appreciate that but we both know I could do better. The shelter needs funding to stay afloat or I’ll have to close up by the end of the year.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Logan announced with fervent certainty, the cat still glued to his body.

Patty smiled at him and then looked at me. “So, what do you think, Lexi? Is there any hope for us?”