“She’s fine,” I say, but it sounds empty because of course she’s fine. She’s a dog. She can swim.
And evidently, she loves it, since she’s trying to wiggle out of my arms and chase the ball in the water.
“Let her,” Veronica cheers.
“Yes! She’s so happy,” Saffron adds.
“She’s having the best dog day ever,” Ava says, piling on.
Alexandra huffs. She doesn’t like messes at all. But I’ve already made a huge one, and at least the actresses are saving my ass.
And Chloe’s saving the day too. She’s distracted the other dogs, urging them over to her, offering treats at the edge of the pool as Corinne and Alexandra decide what to do about their very wet, very happy dog star.
Corinne shrugs and says with a resigned smile, “Well, it’s her bath day anyway.” She jumps in, ready to handle the dog who finally gets to play instead of work.
I let Jubilee go and she swims gamely to the ball. With her safe and sound in the pool with Corinne, I swim to the ladder and climb out, my sandals waterlogged and squishing, drawing attention to me in a way I hate. Chloe’s there, handing me a towel I don’t deserve, after she’s managed the rest of the dogs.
“You okay?” she asks.
Fuck no.
I don’t answer, though, because Levi’s clapping. Hazel’s hooting, and Zuri is shaking her head in amusement.
“From night golf to dog lifeguard. From fill-in singer to caveman. Look at you! Surprising the hell out of everyone,” Zuri says.
That’s the problem. I pushed a guy in the pool, then jumped in to save a dog who didn’t need saving, and the whole town witnessed and recorded it. All my employees know I’m involved with a co-worker. Which, on the surface, is fine. But it’s not fine with me. I’d wanted to sit them down, tell them, then conduct my romance out of the fucking public eye. Not have them find out like this.
Now, I’m going to be all over social media as the most unprofessional professional ever. This wasn’t just messy, it was a spectacle. And for a guy trying to build a brand on trust, responsibility, and care, that’s lethal.
I might as well have launched a hundred glitter-filled balloons over the town square and popped them myself.
* * *
When the event mercifully ends, I’m at my car with Chloe. I’m wearing gym clothes from my gym bag, always stowed in my trunk. I can’t get the image of August flapping his stupid arms in the water out of my head. I can’t get the whole damn day out of my head. Most of all, I can’t get the comments from my employees to stop playing on a loop.
I didn’t think you had it in you.
You’re not a robot.
A jackass talking smack about your woman riles you all the way up.
And the human has a beef.
I need balance in my life. I need order. I need to be responsible.
“Chloe,” I say, and it’s like a rain cloud is hovering over my head. “I need to take stock of my life.”
The words come out before I think them through. Story of today. But also…they’re true. I’ve been barreling forward in Darling Springs, rushing into a new romance without even thoroughly considering it. A year ago, I was deep in the throes of wedding planning. Hell, late last summer I was ready to sayI do. It’s hardly been a year since Katya and I split up, and I’m practically moving Chloe in.
When I should be focused on Dog Tails. Growing the business. Evaluating ROI. Inking partnerships with the town, with other local businesses, with the producers. Not making myself the center of attention.
The only one who actually had a good day here was Jubilee—ball in mouth, paddling like a queen. But I was supposed to do what Alexandra wanted. Not what Jubilee wanted.
I look at Chloe, finishing the thought. “I’m…not acting professional at all.”
She tilts her head, studying me quizzically. “So you’re breaking this off?”
Whoa. Talk about cutting to the chase. But that’s Chloe. She doesn’t mince words. “No,” I say immediately. “I’m not. I just?—”
