Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 107204 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107204 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
“Good luck!” the guy hollered from his rolled-down window as he drove past me. “And sorry for your loss, dude!”
As if my day couldn’t get any worse. I crumpled the paper, shoved it into my back pocket, then stared down at the dog. I moved closer. The dog growled and lunged at me as if it were going to take my hand off.
“Whoa!” I spat out, seeing the aggression in the dog’s eyes. “Tatiana!” I yelled. Seconds later, she came out onto the sidewalk.
“Yes, Alex?”
“Tell Sammy to take over the kitchen for the night. I have some things to handle.”
“Of course.” She smiled at me and then toward Feliz. “He’s cute, isn’t he?”
“Like a hairy rat,” I muttered.
I couldn’t help but wonder if Teresa meant I was her least favorite human alive as opposed to her favorite. That ugly, fluffy creature gave me more hate vibes than love. As I tried to approach the dog to figure out how to place it in my car, I circled it repeatedly as it growled at me. A beautiful dance we partook in. One I wished would end.
CHAPTER 19
Yara
Thirty minutes ago, I received an S.O.S. text message from Avery in our sister group chat.
Avery
Emergency meeting. Peter’s NOW!
Willow
I was about to put on a mud mask.
Avery
I don’t care. Hurry up. It’s important.
Yara
Important enough to have to put my bra back on?
Avery
Yes. That important.
Willow
Did you finally run into Nathan? I’d put on a bra to hear that story in person.
Yara
You never wear a bra.
Willow
Free the nip!
Avery
Ladies. Peter’s Café. NOW!
It took me about fifteen minutes to pull myself together and head to the café. It was no surprise I beat Willow. That girl was probably late for her own birth and would be fashionably late to her funeral.
Avery refused to tell me the news without Willow there, so we sat at our table near the front of the café taking in the commotion happening across the street at Alex’s restaurant.
“Someone’s having a weirder day than me,” Avery muttered. “It must be his karma for being rude to you.”
“Oh.” I shook my head. “I forgot to mention. We’re friends now. I think. Kind of. Maybe.”
Avery cocked an eyebrow. “I’m sorry, what?”
“It’s a long story and happened about a week ago.”
“A week ago?!” She gasped, eyes wide. “How haven’t you told me this?”
“We don’t tell each other everything, Avery. It slipped my mind.”
She huffed. “Bull crap. Nothing slips your mind. You told me about that British guy saying your poop smelled like roses fifty times over.”
“That was different.”
“How?”
I didn’t exactly know how. My sister was right. I did tell her and Willow everything, but I hadn’t mentioned the night I’d spent at Alex’s apartment. I felt that if I spoke about it, it would somehow tarnish the special connection we’d had. I wanted to keep that safe in my heart. Our little secret for a little bit of time.
“Yara—”
“One second,” I said, holding up a hand.
My heart raced as I watched Alex interact with the dog in front of him. He wasn’t having the easiest time, and the poor dog looked highly stressed.
My chest felt tight as I stared at the commotion.
“I’m going to do it,” I said, placing my paper napkin on the table.
Avery gave me a stern look and pointed a finger my way. “Yara, don’t you dare. It’s none of your business.”
“It’s literally my business,” I urged as I looked out the huge window of the café. Alex was having a very aggressive conversation with a small Pomeranian pup. I wasn’t sure who was more stressed out, the man or the dog. Either way, divine intervention was needed, and it just so happened I was feeling quite divine that evening. I feared the little dog would have a panic attack if I didn’t step in. Same with Alex.
“It will only be a minute,” I told Avery. She gave me her “yeah right” look of disbelief. “Five minutes, tops.”
She leaned toward me, placed a hand against mine, and sighed. “Yara, not every dog is your responsibility. You’re off the clock.”
“A professional dog whisperer is never off the clock. With great power comes something, something, or whatever Spider-Man said.” I patted my sister’s hand and grinned. “Be right back.” I pushed myself away from the table and started toward the front door.
“Five minutes!” Avery shouted.
“Yes! Five minutes! Ten minutes tops.”
I could almost feel her eye roll as I hurried outside and crossed the street. As I got closer, Alex, dressed in all black, was trying to approach the dog from the side, which only led to the poor pup getting more aggressive.
“That’s a bad idea,” I warned him.
The deepened wrinkles on his forehead and the pronounced grimace against his lips were enough to make me almost retreat. Maybe we weren’t friends.
“I don’t recall asking for your input,” he snapped, but then he turned toward me. As he did, his intensity softened. His stern brown eyes eased from the aggression, and he stood. “Yara. Sorry. I…didn’t know it was you.”