Page 42 of Doggy Style

Preston appears in the doorway. “Hey, can we talk?”

I exhale.

Breathe, Yessi, breathe.Preston did not dump Gidget in the night drop. He was with you the entire time. Fucking you, as a matter of fact. You owe it to him to hear him out.

“Fine, talk. Have you gotten a hold of Hugh? What’s his pathetic ass excuse? Are all our other dogs dumped in night drops?”

“I can’t get a hold of Hugh, but when I do, I’ll figure out what happened. If he did anything shady, I’ll personally fuck him up. I called the kennel tech at the store. She said all the other dogs, including your rescue dogs, are fine. She said that Hugh took Gidget home with him last night and he didn’t come into work today, so she assumed that Gidget was with him. Maybe she got loose, and someone else dumped her?”

I shake my head in disbelief. “Are you that gullible? It’s obvious Hugh dumped her. It’s too much of a coincidence that she’s the only dog he took home and then she just happened to end up in the night drop. Good news is we can solve this riddle. I know Deb from the shelter. All she has to do is look at the video footage on the camera, and we can see who dumped her. If it’s Hugh, I’ll beat his ass myself.”

I grab the shirt I wore yesterday and toss it into my suitcase. I crumple up the fabric as my heart constricts in my chest.

I picture sweet Gidget, only a few days after being dumped by the only family she’s ever known, being thrown away like yesterday’s trash. Shivering in that cold, dank cage, her eyes blinking back tears, with all the rest of the dumped pets. Only cowards drop their pets in the night drop. What does it say about Preston that this motherfucker is his best friend?

Thank god Preston had chipped her, or she would’ve most certainly died. I kick myself for not chipping her myself. For going on this trip. For trusting Preston.

And I can’t help it. I begin to sob.

Preston kneels by my side and holds me in his arms. “Hey, babe. Look at me.”

I look away because I have the maturity of a five-year-old. I’m emotionally stunted. Five. Five was the age my mom abandoned me. Five was the last time in my life that I had a home. That I had a family.

And I was never adopted. Because everyone wants a cute baby. Nobody wants to adopt the quiet girl who does nothing all day but sketch in her notepad and play with stray pets.

Kind of like how no one wants to adopt the old dog with a grey mug who just wants to sleep all day.

Ugh, I’m a mess.

“Yessi, look at me.” Preston’s voice is gentle, but with a strength that catches my attention immediately.

I look up at him, my cheeks damp from my tears.

“I’m taking complete responsibility for this. I don’t know what happened, but I’m going to get to the bottom of this. If Hugh dumped Gidget in the night drop, then I’m through with him. I mean it. Gidget is a great dog. I care about her life, and she doesn’t deserve that shit. In fact, I’ll adopt her when we get home. Whatever you need me to do, I’m on it. Please don’t shut me out. How can I help?”

I surrender. I need his help. For once, I can’t do this on my own. “Can we just get out of here? Can we fly back tonight?”

“Yup. I’ll call now. Yessi, I’m so sorry. What about Cuffs?”

Fuck, I need to take care of Cuffs. “I’ll call the vet now. I doubt he’s ready to fly and even if he were, he would need shots and a health certificate. Do you have any friends who can take him until we can arrange for transport?”

Preston thinks for a second, and then his face turns stern. “I don’t have any local friends who can take Cuffs, but I can ask my parents. My father hates me but loves dogs. Don’t worry. I’ll figure it out. Worst case scenario, Cuffs can stay at the vet or at boarding until we can bring him home.”

I exhale. As mad as I am at this situation, I’m not going to write Preston off yet. I recognize that he is trying. “Thanks. It means a lot to me.”

“Not as much as you mean to me. I’m going to fix this, Yessi. Just give me a chance to fix things. That’s all I’m asking.”

I nod. I hear Preston call the airline as I continue packing my things.

After years of taking care of everyone else, it’s nice to have someone take care of me.