by Taylor Rylan
But I couldn’t think about that right now. If I did, I’d get stuck going down memory lane, and that wasn’t something I was in the mood for while spending the next two days driving home to an otherwise empty apartment.
I made it to Trinidad, Colorado, just before midnight and knew I was at the halfway point. There was no way I wanted to drive thorough the Rockies at night. If you didn’t have to, you didn’t drive through them at night in December. Especially not when you’d been driving for the better part of the day.
I found a familiar hotel, and after checking in, I showered and crashed. All too soon, the alarm on my cell went off, and I groaned when I reached over and silenced it. Only five hours of sleep wasn’t nearly enough with the shit I’d been through over the past week, but I needed to get back to Jackson and pick up Oreo. I felt bad enough that she was being boarded at the vet’s again. And if I was late picking her up, I just knew I’d get the evil eye from the staff.
I couldn’t help it that I worked long hours. As it was, I often rushed to pick Oreo up from doggie daycare at the very last minute. I was trying to do what was best for her, but what I’d figured out simply wasn’t working. And now she was due for her yearly checkup and shots. I groaned thinking about that. I’d have to take time off work to do that.
Shit. I was probably going to have to let Adrian know more about what was going on. He’d let up a lot with regards to what he thought was my private life, and I really needed to figure out a way to thank Cody for that, but right now, I needed to get out of bed and into the shower. I needed to get on the road because I had another long day of driving ahead of me and I wanted to be through the Rockies before the predicted snowstorm hit this afternoon.
After a quick trip through the shower, I threw on a clean set of clothes and stuffed the ones from yesterday into my bag. I decided to hit a drive-through for coffee, so after checking out, I was back on I-25, heading north.
If I’d been driving through Colorado for any purpose other than why I was, I’d have enjoyed it more. As it was, I was irritated and every little thing seemed to set me off.
Right around eleven hours later, and with ten minutes to spare in picking up Oreo, I pulled into the vet clinic that I’d boarded her at. The open disdain on the face of Ezra, the office manager, had me cringing.
“I know I’m late. But you’re not closed yet,” I said as I walked up to the desk.
“No, but boarders are supposed to be picked up an hour before closing. We close in ten minutes.”
“I know and I’m sorry. Really. I literally just got back in town,” I said, trying my best to smooth things over. I needed to be on their good side because I didn’t want to have to find a different daycare for Oreo.
“Yeah, that’s what they all say,” the pink-haired sprite said. I wondered what color his hair would be next week. It seemed he changed it depending on his mood, but I knew it wasn’t really that often.
“Look, I said I was sorry, and I am. I’ve driven fourteen hundred miles in the last two days and I’m tired. I’m here to pick up my dog, and I have no issues with paying for another day of boarding, but I want Oreo. Please.” I’d had enough. I was upset, tired, and I just wanted to go home.
“You don’t have to get pissy, you know,” Ezra said in a huff before he turned and pranced off. Yes, pranced. There was no other word for it. I sighed and rubbed my forehead, hoping the headache that had been brewing since lunchtime would go away. I didn’t have time for one now, and I was almost positive that Oreo was going to punish me yet again for leaving her here.
I heard a little yip and looked up, and there she was. And yes, that was certainly a prance because both my dog and Ezra were prancing as they walked out into the reception area. I bent down and quickly scooped Oreo up and took the leash that Ezra had been holding before I reached for my wallet. It would have been easier if I’d thought to do that before I picked up the dog, but oh well.
After I paid the bill, I put my card and receipt in my wallet and looked up at Ezra who was more than ready to be rid of me. I studied him, much like I’d done on previous occasions and wondered what made him tick.
“Was there something else you needed?”
“Yeah. Oreo needs her yearly appointment. Can I schedule that?”
I stood there and waited while Ezra typed on the computer. From his bubble-gum-pink hair to his glittery unicorn shirt to his lime-green nails, he just screamed…don’t fuck with me. “The only appointment we have left for the year is this Saturday at nine fifteen. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait until the third week of January.”
I know my eyes got big. Shit, I couldn’t wait that long. If Oreo wasn’t up to date on her vaccines, I couldn’t drop her off at daycare. “I’ll take it,” I said, thankful I got an appointment at all.
“I have you down with the doctor then. Don’t be late. Saturdays are our busiest day of the week, and we’re incredibly busy this time of year,” Ezra said as he handed me a sticker with the appointment date on it. I put it in my pocket with my wallet.
“I won’t be late. Promise,” I said. Ezra huffed, and then Oreo did the exact same thing before she laid her chin down on my arm as I held her. I glanced at the dog and then back to the young man, who was simply staring at me as if I had three eyes or something.
“Was there anything else? Because if not, I have a date and you’re keeping me from that,” Ezra said as he held up a set of keys. I shook my head before turning and walking to the door.
It was snowing and I knew I wasn’t going to want to cook when I got home, nor would I want to go back out unless I had to, so once Oreo was secured in the passenger’s seat, I headed to the closest fast-food joint and hit yet another drive-through. A kid’s meal for Oreo and a cheeseburger and large fries for me.
Yes, I knew I shouldn’t feed my dog people food, but I didn’t care. I’d had to leave her in boarding for almost a week, and I felt terrible about it. While I chowed down as I drove us home, Oreo did the same. I realized that might not have been the smartest move, feeding her in the car, when we pulled into the garage at my townhouse. When I looked over at the seat, there was slobber and fry pieces everywhere.
“You’re messy, you know that?” I asked my dog, knowing she wasn’t going to reply.
I figured I’d clean her mess up after I had her secured in the tiny-ass fenced yard off the back patio. At least I did have that.
“Come on, girl. Let’s get you put outside, and I’ll unload and clean this thing.” I sighed, knowing I was going to have to vacuum the thing on the way to return it tomorrow. At least it wasn’t midnight, and I’d hopefully get more than a few hours’ sleep tonight. Hopefully.
After I made sure Oreo couldn’t escape from the yard, I went back out to the rental and started carrying in the half dozen totes that I’d been given out of Dad’s room. I didn’t exactly know what I was going to do with them, so I carried them into the townhouse and put them in the second bedroom. I stared at the six totes that were stacked against the wall and realized that was it. That was all I had left of my dad.
I couldn’t deal with that right now, so I closed the door on my way out and then went to the patio and let Oreo in. She shook the snow off her black-and-white coat before she trotted over to her water bowl and looked at me.
“Yes, princess,” I said while rolling my eyes at the dog. It was empty, of course, so I went over and filled her bowl before I went back out to the SUV and grabbed the rest of my things and carried them into the townhouse.
When I didn’t spot Oreo, I walked back to the bedroom and there she was, curled up in a ball on her side of my bed, sound asleep. That made me feel even worse because she’d obviously missed being home. Shit, I was a terrible doggy dad.
After I knew where Oreo was, I went back to the living room and flopped down on the couch as I pulled out my cell. After finding Adrian’s contact, I touched the screen and connected the call.
“Hey, man. Everything okay?”
“Yeah. I’l
l tell you about it next week. I just got home and I’m beat, but I wanted to let you know I wasn’t coming back in until Monday. I really need to figure some stuff out.”
“Bishop, you’re going to have to share, man. You can’t keep shit from me.”
I felt guilty about that because Adrian was right. We had to trust each other explicitly, and he did need to know what was going on.
“Look, how about I meet you tomorrow or Saturday and I’ll tell you what’s going on. That work?”
“Are you okay?”
“I will be. I just…it’s been rough. I’ll tell you, but not on the phone.” I pinched the bridge of my nose before I started rubbing my forehead. Nope, the headache was definitely going to hit, hard, if I didn’t do something about it. “Look, I’ve spent all day driving and I’m tired. I have a headache coming, and I need to take something before it gets bad. I’ll call tomorrow. Okay?”
“You sure you’re all right? Cody and I can come over if you need us to.”
“No. I’m good. Promise. I just need sleep. I didn’t get a lot this week, and it’s caught up.”
I heard Adrian sigh through the phone, indicating he was irritated but he was going to give in. For now.
“I’m working tomorrow, so it’ll have to be after work. Cody and I are supposed to go out with his friends and their guys though.”
“Saturday works. Honestly. That gives me time to sort through stuff,” I said, thinking about the totes in the other room.
“Fine. Saturday it is. What time?”
“I have an appointment at nine, so lunch or later?”
“If you just got back into town, how do you have an appointment on Saturday already?”
It was my turn to sigh. I really didn’t want to get into this right now.
“Saturday. See you then,” I told Adrian, who grunted before ending the call. I fired off a text to Cody real quick, apologizing for his guy’s bad mood. He replied with a laughing emoji, so it seemed all was forgiven ahead of time. That was a relief.
I got up from the couch, and after checking the front door, I went back to my bedroom to shower and hopefully get some sleep. I’d buried my dad two days ago and spent too many hours driving for the past two days. I was both physically as well as emotionally exhausted. Maybe the snowstorm would come farther north and we’d get snowed in for a few days. One could always hope.
I shook my head at Oreo, who was now on her back, snoring, then stripped and went into the bathroom to wash off the trip. I groaned when I stepped inside the shower stall and the familiar showerhead massaged my tired shoulders. I quickly washed, and after rinsing and drying off, I grabbed a couple of Motrin and swallowed them before brushing my teeth.
I pulled on a pair of briefs and then slid between the cool sheets and moaned. It was good to be home. No matter what, your own bed was always the most comfortable. At least, that was my experience. When Oreo didn’t budge, I shook my head before pulling the covers up and quickly giving into much-needed sleep.
Xander — 2
Why was it that people who had no business having pets always had them? I had a few minutes after Mrs. Smith and her cat, Inky, left. Somehow that appointment went smoothly. Usually Inky wasn’t one for playing nice.
I glanced at the chart of my next patient and smiled. Oreo. Oreo Jones had been a patient here for only a year, but already I was completely in love with the little Havanese. She was a sweetheart that spent way too much time in our doggy daycare facility as well as being boarded for several weeks at a time here and there. And that was why people like her owner shouldn’t have pets.
“Doc, Deputy Hunk is here with Oreo,” Ezra said.
“Deputy Hunk?” I asked, confused as I looked at the chart again. It said Bishop Jones was her owner. Then it hit me and I groaned. “Ezra, I’ve told you that you have to be professional. That’s not—”
“Thanks, Pinky. You’re not really my type though. I usually go for older men,” the tall blond man with a Southern accent said from directly behind Ezra. My trying office manager turned and stared up at the other man, who simply smiled down at Ezra. Yeah, I could certainly see why he called him Deputy Hunk. Damn. Why did he have to be Oreo’s owner? And why did I have to be so damn attracted to the man?
“As if. You wish you could have this. I need a man that’s home on the regular. And you, sir, aren’t.”
“But yet, you just called me Deputy Hunk. By the way, there’s a lady and her cat in the room you told me to go into, Pinky.”
“My name’s Ezra.”
“Yeah, and mine’s Bishop, not Deputy Hunk. But your hair looks like cotton candy. Or bubble gum. It’s interesting. I know a guy who had to stop bleaching his when it started falling out. You have that problem yet?”
Ezra gasped and put both hands on his hair before he started patting and smoothing it back into place. As if it could move with all of the product he put in it.
“Ezra, which room did you put him in?”
“Three.”
“I just came out of three. Did Mrs. Smith not leave yet?” I asked, concerned. I picked up the chart and walked toward the pair standing at the door to my office.
“She did. So I’m not sure who…oh hi, Anne,” Ezra said as my mother came out of exam room three, carrying Snowball, one of her cats.
“Mom? What are you doing here? I thought you and John were skiing this weekend?”
“We are. I realized Snowball was due for her checkup though.”
I ran my fingers through my hair, frustrated. “Mom, you know Saturdays are busy. Why don’t you take her to your vet at Second Chance?”
“He quit.”
I looked up at the ceiling and counted. There was no way I could be the only vet left at Second Chance Sanctuary, the animal shelter my mother ran. Well, more like that I ran because my mother had gone and gotten married and didn’t really have a lot of interest in running the shelter anymore.
“Mom, either make an appointment, or you’ll have to wait until we close at noon. Up to you,” I told her before I smiled at Oreo, who was happy and content in the muscular arms of her owner. Damn, why did he have to look like that and be a shitty pet owner?
“Fine,” Mom said, sounding somewhat pissed.
“Great. Ezra, show her to the waiting room. Mr. Jones, follow me, please,” I said as I walked off toward exam room three. I didn’t have time for this. I really didn’t have time to be a full-time vet at Mom’s shelter and still run my own practice. That was something she’d have to deal with herself. Not me.
I mentally prepared myself as I entered the exam room and turned toward Oreo and her owner. "Mr. Jones?” Damn, he was definitely attractive. Why did he have to have eyes that were so piercing blue I could get lost in them? Oreo started squirming, and when she wiggled enough, he set her on the floor where she immediately ran over to me.
I’d spent more time with her than I had any other one of our daycare dogs. It wasn’t wise to get attached to clients' pets, even less advisable to be attracted to the client, but I couldn’t help it. I was already in love with the little dog and certainly wouldn’t mind getting to know Bishop Jones on a more intimate level. If he wasn’t a client that was.
I really was torn about my feelings toward Oreo’s owner. When she first came to us, she was a matted mess but still so sweet. I had to admit, even though Mr. Jones didn’t seem to have a lot of time for his dog, she was otherwise well cared for.
“Hey, Oreo,” I said as I picked her up.
“She seems to like you,” the tall blond said to me, looking at his dog that was trying to lick my face.
“No issues that you’ve noticed when she’s home?” I asked, changing the subject.
“Nothing that I’ve noticed. She eats well and we play for a little while in the evenings before she calms down and I can either work or do something else I need to.”
“Good,” I said as I set her on the exam table and gave her a thorough exam. I’d held and played with her enough in the p
ast week to know she was fine, but I wanted her owner to know that I was doing my job. I went over to the tray by the door that led to the back kennels and picked up the syringes with her vaccines in them. In no time, I had her swabbed and vaccinated without her even realizing it. But now that I was finished, I needed to get Oreo and her owner out of here before I said something I’d regret. Damn, he was certainly easy on the eyes.
“So she’s good?”
“Yes. She looks great. But I already knew that.” I tried to bite my tongue, but I couldn’t help it. “She’s spent the last week with us, and she’s here on an almost daily basis for daycare. Why did you get a dog if you don’t have time for one?”
I watched as a look that I couldn’t quite decipher came over the handsome face in front of me. Perhaps I’d struck a nerve with him, but I didn’t care. I was tired of crappy pet owners having pets they had no business having. At least Oreo didn’t show any signs of abuse or neglect.
“You know, if you have a problem with people using it, maybe you shouldn’t have a daycare for dogs, then,” he said as he reached over and plucked Oreo from my hands on the table. When his hand touched mine, it was warm but wasn’t as soft as I expected it to be. Maybe he actually did some sort of manual labor or something, but Ezra had called him deputy, so I figured he sat behind a desk most of the day.
“We have the daycare so irresponsible pet owners don’t continue to neglect their pets. At least you utilize it. Otherwise—” I stopped, remembering I needed to remain professional.
“Can I go?”
I nodded and watched as the man turned and left the room. He had broad, well-defined shoulders, a narrow waist, and an ass that…damn, I really needed to jack off more if I was staring at a client’s ass. I shut those thoughts down before they could go any further.
