She was one of those girls who was all bark and no bite, trying to hate me while hungering. That’s why she’d been so sweet and made a care package before I’d left.
Damn it. Why was I continually thinking about her? Why was it that my mind was frazzled with thoughts of fucking her instead of what was important? Mentally preparing myself for the next day.
“Sailor. Come on, buddy.”
He didn’t react, but at least he stopped digging. Fine. There was nothing else I could do but grab his butt and toss him into the truck.
At least we had a place to lay our heads.
After he was inside, I pitched the trash and climbed in myself, still thinking about her. As I drove toward the motel, I sensed my sweet companion was still beside himself. “I know what it’s like, buddy, when you want something, but you realize it’s not good for you. I mean not really. Or maybe it’s the other way around. I’m not good for her. I have way too much baggage. If you think about it, you do too. Ellie May isn’t prepared for your needs. She’s been pampered her entire life. While you… I’m sorry, buddy, but you’re a little rough around the edges.”
Woof.
I threw him a glance and he was giving me the side-eye. I knew it well. “What? You know what I’m telling you is the truth. You tried to hump her last night. I know. You witnessed what I was doing with Grace, but you can’t just go behind a girl and hump her. That’s not polite.”
With a twist of my hand around the steering wheel, I almost laughed.
“What the hell am I doing? I’m talking to you. No offense, but you’re a dog. You can’t understand me or what I’ve been through. What I might go through.”
I’d be damned if Sailor didn’t lie down in the middle of the bench seat, placing one paw on my leg. I shook my head, trying to keep my eye on the road. When he whined, I couldn’t stand it any longer, petting his head. “I know, little buddy. I miss her too. But this is for the best. I can’t even feed you, let alone be the kind of guy she deserves. So we’re going to go this alone. Just you and me. Okay?”
His sigh was heavier than before. Maybe he did understand. Just like everyone else, I’d disappointed him. Whatever.
As soon as I pulled into the parking lot of the motel, I’d be damned if the creepy-looking guy who’d rented me a room didn’t come scurrying toward my truck. I was shocked the parking lot was almost full. Was there some festival going on I didn’t know about?
Weary of the day and my shit mood, I had a feeling I wasn’t going to like what the man had to say. “Stay here, Sailor. I’ll be right back.” As soon as I climbed out, the shitty little man was on me.
“You can’t stay here,” he said with some sense of urgency to his voice.
“And why is that?”
“Because…” His gaze flitted to my face and in the ugly neon lighting someone had forgotten to replace a long time ago, I could see fear.
Not just see fear in his eyes, but I could smell it.
“Yeah, why?” I folded my arms, daring him to say it. I’d been told there was a chance I’d get some feedback I wouldn’t like given the victim in the situation had been such an… important person, but I was now several hundred miles away.
“Just because I said so.”
While I knew it was in my best interest to keep my nose clean for several reasons including for the job I’d yet to start, shitty people like the peon in front of me just pissed me the hell off. So I responded without thinking, grabbing him around the throatand shoving him against the big black SUV he was standing beside.
“Hey!” His eyes nearly bulged from his head and he started wheezing immediately even though I didn’t have a full grip given the fat on his neck.
But he was ready and eager to act as if I was trying to kill him. “I don’t take kindly to discrimination. Not even a little bit.” I moved closer, towering over him, trying my best not to snap the asshole’s neck, but I was having a difficult time.
“What? I’m not… Just…”
I shook him a little, noticing there were a few people outside. Fuck. This was definitely not on my bingo card for the day. I let go and he slumped against the vehicle, coughing and grabbing his neck.
“The damn… dog. I don’t… allow dogs. The owner. I’ll get… fired.”
Dropping my head, I honestly didn’t know if he was telling me the truth or not, but I could either kill him or move on. “Then I want a refund.”
“I can’t do that. Policies.” He backed away from me.
I realized the sweetest pup in the world was growling, the sound menacing enough I was fearful the man was about to shit in his pants.
“Just go. Or I’ll be forced to…” He didn’t finish his sentence.
