Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
"Sandy, honey, I understand, but this is a ‘put your own mask on first’ situation. I’m going to be brutally honest here. If you kept working there, all it would do is allow Travis to keep being Travis.” He extracts his cookie just as the white chocolate's getting melty and shoves half of it into his mouth. His eyes close for a moment of bliss. It's fair. Natalie's baking is just that good. “Without you, the whole place might fall apart, and maybe that’s what has to happen in order to fix things in the long run.”
I sigh. “I know you’re right, but it’s so frustrating because the dogs we currently have are going to suffer for it. And I’m stuck here being babysat.”
My guys are back at the club, trusting that I'll be safe here since both the bookstore and the bakery are known to be well protected. There’s some baby biker named Spike, barely out of his prospect time, upstairs reading manga who’s supposed to be my watchdog for the morning.
“I’m not going to pretend to understand that part of it. Why are you in danger? Is it because of the stuff Travis was doing?”
“Kinda? I think there’s something going on and the dog breeders were involved with it. Between that and being seen with them at the Gala, they just want to be extra careful.” I pick at my cookie. “I’m going stir crazy without my job.”
“Okay, so let’s figure that part out.” Jerry spins his stool so he's facing me directly, staring so intently that I'm forced to look back. "You worked things out with Nat, right? That’s progress! Now you can take a good, honest look at what you want to do instead of pretending you’re going to move back to school.”
“Why do you have to be so freaking reasonable when I’m trying to feel sorry for myself here?”
He grins. "If it makes you feel better, I'm really sorry that you lost the job. I just think it’s for the best. Your burly boyfriends are trying to keep you safe, even if you don't like it."
I lean forwards and bonk my forehead on the counter, leaving myself leaning on it dramatically. "So what do I do now?"
"What do you want to do?" he asks, like it’s that simple.
Such an easy question, and so hard to answer.
"I know I want to take care of animals."
"That’s a start, but if you could choose anything right now, what would you do? Honestly. Any job, any relationship. No limits."
I shake my head. "Nah, it's stupid."
"I bet it’s not stupid. Let's hear it."
"I love the shelter, and I love taking care of animals. Despite Travis, I really enjoyed that job. So if I could wave a wand, I’d buy the shelter. Then I could actually make it run the way it’s supposed to, instead of always cutting corners and making compromises like he did." I shudder in disgust. Even if Travis didn't know specifically what was happening to the dogs, he had to have suspected. The more I think about it, the more I regret making excuses for him all the time. "I bet Piston would help out. I mean, I think they all would, but Piston most of all.”
"So, in your future where you dedicate yourself to the animals, does that include the three you're getting down with?"
I turn my head just enough to look up at him from my misery perch on the counter. "Maybe? No, definitely yes. I know it hasn’t been long, but there’s a connection there I don’t want to lose. If I don’t give it a chance I think I’ll really regret it. And not just because of…you know." I hold my hands about a foot apart for exaggeration, still resting my weight on my forehead.
Jerry nearly chokes on his cookie, which I take as a win. He clears it with a sip of coffee. "Well, that’s a compelling argument. Also they seem to feel the same about you."
"They do right now, but what if it doesn’t last? I've seen their parties, and trust me, I have nothing special to offer them there. Live hard, play hard, you know? What if they get bored of me eventually?"
"They risked their lives to save you, no questions asked, and they're obsessed with keeping you safe, just like they're obsessed with those curves of yours. There's no way they're going to let you go, unless you clearly, unequivocally, and hundred percent honestly tell them to fuck off and never speak to you again." He grabs my upper arm and squeezes it. "I know you don't believe me, but you’re actually pretty awesome. And you have good taste in friends. Besides, look at Natalie. Or Faith." He gestures around us. "Do you think either of them regret their choices? Are their men not loyal?"