by Piper Rayne
“I’ll wait with you,” Lake says, giving my fingers a comforting squeeze.
“As you wish,” the vet says. “I’ll keep you posted.”
I’m usually such a patient man, but not today. Sitting in my own silence is torturous. I can’t stop thinking about what will happen in the off chance that Scooter doesn’t pull through.
“How have things at the shelter been?” I ask Lake, hoping that some mild conversation will help each excruciating second pass that much faster.
“Hectic,” she admits, voice heavy and full of stress. “I don’t have enough room for all of the dogs we got in, and I’m having a tough time finding homes for them. Gaga’s been really stressed out, too. She’s not used to being around so many dogs. I’m worried this is going to be a huge setback for her.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Is there anything I can do to help?”
Lake shakes her head. “I don’t think so.”
She seems checked out. Exhausted. I decide not to push the issue further. Her being here is enough.
The hours drag their feet. The waiting room begins to dim as the sun sets beyond the horizon. It’s too hard to focus on anything, nothing but worry plaguing my mind. People come and go, bringing their own pets in for checkups and leaving with relieved smiles on their faces. Lake and I remain together, hand in hand, offering silent comfort to one another.
When the vet finally emerges from the back rooms, he does so with a reassuring smile. “Scooter’s going to pull through,” he says.
“Thank goodness,” Lake replies. “What did he swallow?”
The vet produces a plastic bag, three separate casino chips inside. “Do these look familiar?”
I frown, confused. “Yes, but I have no idea how he got a hold of them.”
“Well, that doesn’t matter now. The point is Scooter’s going to be fine. We’re cleaning him up now. He’ll be a little groggy for a while, but he should be right as rain tomorrow.”
“Thank you,” I say.
Lake squeezes my fingers, clearly as relieved as I am.
15
LAKE
We text back and forth. Asher likes to send pictures of Scooter throughout the day. He’s taken the habit of taking the dog everywhere, even when he has to go to work and scan the casino floor. I look forward to my daily picture of Scooter, who is now the proud owner of a doggie t-shirt that has The Grandiose’s logo printed on the back. My favorite pictures are the ones of Asher and Scooter together. They’re both adorable and handsome, though in entirely different ways.
Asher and I haven’t been able to meet up this past week. Again. Work has been keeping me bogged down at the shelter, a never-ending list of things to do preventing me from visiting. Asher is similarly busy with the casino. I appreciate it when he takes the time to text me. I look forward to his little messages, all of them sweet and perfectly innocent.
Thinking of you, he’ll say with an attached picture of Scooter in a little doggie bow tie.
No matter how hard the days are, Asher always manages to make me smile.
Today in particular is a very special day. Elvis, arguably one of my oldest dogs, is finally being adopted. An elderly couple came in a few days ago looking to bring home a puppy, but they fell in love with Elvis on sight. It didn’t take much convincing on my part. I was totally prepared to give them my puppies-are-a-lot-of-work spiel, but it wasn’t necessary.
The elderly couple and Elvis have the same vibe, the same energy. They’re both retired, which means they’ll be home around the clock to keep Elvis company. They like to go for short walks around their neighborhood, which is perfect for Elvis since he tuckers out really easily. They’re a perfect match, a perfect home.
They come to pick Elvis up around noon, and I provide them with all the necessary paperwork and starter supplies that they’ll need. Elvis’s tail doesn’t stop wagging as he comes over to greet me one last time, licking at my fingers and hopping on his front paws in pure delight.
“Be a good boy,” I remind him. “They’re going to take really good care of you.”
“Thank you, Lake,” the gentleman says. “We’re excited to take him home.”
“Come on, Elvis,” the lady coos. “I hope you like the bed we bought for you.”
We say our final goodbyes. If I’m a little teary, it’s only because I’m so happy that Elvis is finally going to his forever home. I return to the back room to check on the other dogs. The playroom is full of puppies running about, play fighting and napping and getting used to their surroundings.
Gaga is off in her corner, having a miserable time.
I join her, sitting down next to her soft bed. She rests her head in my lap as I scratch behind her ear. It’s understandable that she’s upset. Her space has suddenly been invaded by newcomers, and her oldest friend at the shelter is no longer here. Her loneliness is contagious. I’ve contemplated on numerous occasions asking Asher if it would be all right for Gaga and Scooter to have a playdate, but then I remember how overwhelmingly loud and bright The Grandiose is. That isn’t an ideal place for Gaga to be. It’d only stress her out.
As if on cue, my phone buzzes. Asher’s sent me another picture. A wide smile pulls at the corners of my lips. Sitting on what looks to be a bar counter, Scooter sits beside a row of empty champagne glasses looking more than a little proud of himself. In response, I cuddle up close to Gaga and take a selfie, sending the image off with the caption: Elvis adopted today! Just us girls now.
Almost immediately after, Asher calls me directly. I answer without hesitation.
“Hey, you,” I mumble.
“Hey. That’s great news about Elvis.”
“Yeah, it is. I think he’s going to be really happy.”
“You don’t sound as jazzed as I thought you would be.”
I clear my throat. “I am jazzed. I’m just a little tired. Overworked.”
“Please take care of yourself.”
I smile, amused by how caring Asher is. “I could say the same to you. I guess you can always have Scooter fix you up a nice, stiff drink.”
“I think I’ll pass. He has a bad habit of getting his paws in my ice,” he jokes. After a brief pause, he asks, “Are you free tonight? It sounds like we could both use a break.”
The sound of leaving the shelter for an evening to see Asher is incredibly appealing, but I know I have a massive backlog of errands to take care of.
“I really want to say yes,” I mutter.
“Then say yes.”
I laugh softly. “But I have so much work to do.”
Asher chuckles. “I understand. Another time, then.”
A pang of guilt tightens my chest. “I really do want to see you.”
“I know. I want to see you, too.”
“I… I miss you.”
I can hear the smile in his voice. “I miss you, too.”
I rest my head against the wall behind me and sigh. “You don’t suppose you can ask some of your friends if they need to adopt dogs for me, could you?”
Asher clicks his tongue. “King spends half of the year touring, so he probably wouldn’t be able to take care of a dog. Ace is… Well, I’m fairly certain he has a pet panther or something wild like that, so probably not the best home for a puppy. And Jack… Jack hates animals.”
I gasp dramatically. “Aw, man… And here I thought I could get along with your friends.”
“I promise they’re all very nice guys.”
“Oh, I’m sure. In an eccentric sort of way.”
“Yeah, OK. I’ll give you that much. They’re all very eccentric.”
“And you’re perfectly normal,” I tease.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asks with a laugh.
“You live in a palace of gold. Is that not eccentric?”
“To be fair, it’s all fake gold.”
“Looks real enough to me—” I don’t get to finish my sentence. I spot one of the puppies on the verge of throwing up. Sometimes their
tummies take time to adjust to new food, so it’s nothing to be immensely concerned about. But I can’t ignore the problem, either. “Hey, Asher? I’m so sorry, I have to go. Something’s come up.”
“No problem. I should probably get back soon, too. I’ve been hiding from Todd for the better part of the morning.”
I laugh. “That poor boy. I hope you pay him well for all your antics.”
“Trust me. His salary reflects his work and effort.”
“Is it OK if I call you later?”
“Of course. Talk to you soon.”
“Bye,” I say softly.
I really like you, my heart whispers.
16
ASHER
Every few months or so, Jack and I play tennis together on one of the private courts he has at his hotel and casino. Our schedules are so hectic that these friendly matches are our only opportunities to catch up. We talk about all kinds of things. Mostly business, sometimes to talk about our friends.
Scooter sits at the sidelines, our official ball boy for the day. He’s a little too distracted with the tennis balls that he has in his mouth to actually do his job, but at least this way, I can keep an eye on him.
Jack wins another game. Unfortunately, he’s a bit of a sore winner.
“Do you need some ice for that burn?” he asks, spinning his racket with a flourish.
I snort. “What is this? High school?”
“What?”
“That was a weak ass taunt, and we both know it.”
Jack chuckles. “Hey, man. Maybe win a match before criticizing my trash talk.”
“Yeah, yeah. Whatever.”
“What’s gotten into you, man? You’re usually good at this. Usually.”
“Just a lot on my mind.”
Jack serves. The tennis ball shoots straight across the court, bouncing right past me in a flash. Jack shakes his head with a sympathetic smile. “Man, I’m starting to feel bad about kicking your ass. Let’s take a break, hm?”
I have no complaints. There’s only so much of Jack’s gloating that I can take.
We walk over to the bench at the side of the court, underneath which Scooter is sitting. Jack tosses me a chilled bottle of mineral water before cracking open one of his own.
“Did you hear Ace is in France again?” Jack asks me. “Rumor is he’s seeing some French model and a Swiss actress at the same time.”
“Unsurprising. This is Ace we’re talking about. He’s with a new woman every week.”
“Speaking of women,” Jack says. “Where’s that cute piece you brought around a little while ago? Lake, right?”
“Don’t call her that. ‘A cute piece.’ Makes you sound creepy.”
Jack smirks, raising his hands in mock surrender. “Ooh, touchy. I take it back.”
“Thank you.”
“Things serious between you two?”
“I’m not sure.”
He arches a brow at me. “How can you not be sure?”
“Haven’t seen her in ages. We’ve both been too busy.”
“You care about her?” he asks, tossing a ball up and down. Scooter watches the movement in anticipation, prepared for a game of fetch.
“Well, yeah,” I answer.
“Then make time.”
“You make it sound easy.”
“Because it is.” He taps me in the arm with the tip of his racket. “Since when do you give up on something you want so easily?”
“I don’t.”
“You sure? You care about the woman, but you can’t find the time for her?”
“It’s not my time that I’m concerned about. It’s hers. But I’m not going to be that asshole who asks her to drop everything just to be with me. That’s the definition of a dick.”
“Then it’s your job to make her life easier. Be there for her. Help her out and take the load off. Find a way to win her over.” Asher looks me dead in the eye. “You’re clearly smitten. There’s nothing you wouldn’t do for her, right?”
I take a moment to think about it. Jack’s right. If Lake were to call me up right now with some sort of emergency, I’d be there in a heartbeat. She did the same for me when Scooter got sick. I’d do the same for her, not out of obligation, but because I’d want to. The only thing that’s kept me from seeing her is my incessant need to keep my casino running and under tight control. But the more that I think about it, the more it doesn’t seem worth it.
There’s no point in pulling in a massive profit if I can’t celebrate my achievements with someone that I care about. I don’t see much point in any of it if I don’t have time to spare for Lake, or I’m unable to spoil her the way I want to because I’m being dragged off to yet another meeting or being forced to deal with yet another crisis.
“You’re right,” I realize aloud.
“I know.”
“When did you get so smart?”
“Very funny, asshole,” Jack says dryly.
“Do you mind if I take a rain check on this match? There’s something important that I have to do.”
“Might as well. It’s no fun playing you when you let me win this easily. What are you planning?”
“You’ll see,” I say as I reach for my phone. “Do you know if King’s still in town?”
“Yeah. He’s at the Four Seasons, I think.”
“The Four Seasons?”
Jack shrugs. “He didn’t want to stay at either of our hotels because he wanted to ‘be impartial.’”
“How considerate of him.”
“Why? What’s up?”
I wink. “Helping her out.”
Even though it’s well after noon, King sounds like he’s just woken up when he answers the phone. “The hell—”
“King, I need a favor.”
“Why are you screaming, dude?”
“I’m not. You’re just hungover.”
He groans into the receiver. “That checks out. What can I do you for?”
I smirk as I put in my request.
Lake is going to love this.
17
LAKE
We’re officially overcrowded, which certainly isn’t ideal. The smaller, more friendly dogs I can sometimes fit into the same crate, but the larger and more aggressive ones take up the majority of the space, of which we’re rapidly running out.
To make matters even worse, I just received word that animal control wants to bring me an additional twenty dogs that they rescued from a hoarding situation not too far from here. The poor creatures are malnourished and in desperate need of attention. And as much as I want to help, I’m really worried that I won’t be able to take them without violating state animal shelter codes.
Maeve gets off the phone and shakes her head. “I’ve called the shelter up the block from us, and a few of our out of state friends.”
I clench my jaw, bitterness coating my tongue. “No luck?”
“No, I’m sorry. The shelters out of state do have room, but there’s no way that animal control has the budget to fly the dogs out there. If we don’t find temporary homes for them, animal control will have no choice but to put them down.”
Goosebumps crawl up my arms and the back of my neck. I try not to think about it. In my opinion, it’s an extreme option. There’s always another way. But I don’t have the time or resources to get these dogs into foster homes. At least, not right away. I just don’t know what to do.
“Can you tell animal control to give me until the end of the day?” I ask. “I’ll… I’ll make it work. I’ll, um…”
The thought of bringing a few dogs home with me has crossed my mind before, but my apartment complex doesn’t allow pets. I suppose I could always try sneaking them in without my landlord finding out, but that’s a risk I’m not sure if I can take. If I get caught, I could wind up being evicted for breaking my tenant agreement. Besides, my apartment is incredibly small and I wouldn’t be home enough to take care of the dogs there in addition to the dogs at the shelter.
“I’ll put ou
t a message on social media,” I say aloud. “See if anyone in the area can help with an emergency foster situation. We just have to make room for twenty dogs, right? Maybe we can buddy them up. Then we’d only have to find ten homes.”
Maeve grimaces. “Not a lot of people out there are willing to take two dogs on such short notice, Lake.”
“We have to try.”
“Is everything all right here?”
I turn to find Asher at the front door of the shelter. His appearance takes me by surprise. “Hi,” I greet, breathless. “What are you doing here?”
“I tried calling you earlier, but you didn’t answer.”
“I’m sorry. Things are really crazy right now.”
“I know. That’s why I’m here to help.”
I tilt my head, curious. “What do you mean?”
“Well, you told me that things are getting overcrowded here,” he explains. “And you asked me if any of my friends wanted to adopt.”
My heart leaps up into my throat. “Your friends want to adopt dogs?”
“Not my immediate friends,” he says quickly. “But I have a number of business contacts here in Las Vegas. I had Todd reach out. I think I have a few people interested in Los Angeles and Seattle.”
My shoulders slump. “Thank you, Asher, but I’m afraid I don’t have any way of getting the dogs out to them. It’d be a really long drive, and the shelter doesn’t have enough funding to pay for that kind of gas.”
“I know,” he says, flashing me a toothy grin. “If only you knew a pilot who’s allowed to borrow his rock star friend’s private plane.”
My mouth drops. “Are… Are you serious?”
“Do I strike you as the kind of man to make jokes?”
“Sometimes.”
“Only around you.”
Maeve hides a squeal behind her hand. “You guys are so cute.”
I ignore her comment, too elated to bother feeling embarrassed. “Are you for real, Asher?”
“I have the plane waiting and fueled up. I just don’t have the expertise on how to properly prepare dogs for air travel. You wouldn’t happen to know someone who could help with that, do you?”
