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“Yeah, groveling is probably a good idea.”
How had it come to this? Alanna Sandoval didn’t apologize for anything, and she never, EVER groveled. But to earn Sully’s forgiveness? To regain his trust? Yes, she’d grovel. She’d grovel like no one had ever groveled in the history of humankind. Till her knees were nothing but bone.
Alanna let out a long breath. “Okay, step one, I’m going to eat this pancake. Step two, I’m going to get dressed. Step three, I’ll walk over to Sully’s house and apologize. And then we’ll discuss the Petunia situation.” She gave Tess a hopeful look. “We’re both reasonable people. I’m sure we’ll figure out a solution.”
On the table, next to her plate, Alanna’s phone dinged with an incoming message.
“That’s probably Sully,” Tess said. “I bet he’s on the same page as you.”
Tess was right about the first part. The messagewasfrom Sully. But she was a million miles off on her second prediction. As Alanna read the message, her blood heated to a boil.
Fact: You and I both have a claim to the cat known as Sheba/Petunia. Fact: I am not prepared to give her up. Fact: We could go to court over the matter, but this would require a significant amount of time and expense. Therefore, I suggest we present our case to a neutral third party who will make a custody judgment that we both agree to abide by. I have someone in mind. Let me know if this is acceptable to you.
“Is he understanding that you were a little, um, distraught last night?” Tess asked hopefully. Alanna looked up from the text.
Tess’s face fell. “No?”
“That four-eyed, paint-covered bastard!” Alanna seethed. “He wants to take me to… to… cat arbitration!”
Her mind spun. She could call the police, but what if they didn’t believe she was Petunia’s true owner? And—damn him!—Sully was right about going to court. Even if she would clearly win the case, she didn’t have the time or money to see a long, drawn-out court battle through. Not when she needed to focus on building her new PR firm.
Fuck!He had her pinned into a corner and he knew it. Nice guy, indeed!
Alanna grabbed her phone.
“Maybe you should take a few breaths before you text back,” Tess suggested.
Alanna’s fingers flew over the keys.
Name the arbitrator.
She waited, grinding her teeth so hard it was a miracle they didn’t shatter. Would he really name someone who could be a fair judge? After five indescribably long minutes, a name popped into the chat.
Alanna was surprised. It was a good choice. One that probably bent more in her favor than Sully’s. He must be confident in his case. Excellent. Alanna had spent her whole life destroying men who underestimated her.
I accept,she wrote. Over the next two minutes, as Tess watched with growing unease, Alanna and Sully ironed out the details of the arbitration. As they negotiated on the time, Alanna glanced at Tess, and a thought hit her.
She typed a new message.I demand the right to be accompanied by counsel.
Silence. Tess bent over the table to read Alanna’s phone screen. She looked up with a quizzical expression. “You’re bringing a lawyer?”
“No. I’m bringing you.”
“Me?” Tess squeaked.
“I need backup in case he tries any manipulative nice guy tricks.”
“This is getting so out of hand,” Tess moaned.
Alanna’s phone dinged.
Fine. Then I’ll be bringing counsel as well.
So be it. As Tess brought the dishes to the sink, Alanna opened her calendar app. Tomorrow at 2 PM, she typed in all caps, RESCUE PETUNIA!
Ch. 44 Sully
“HaveImentionedthatthis is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard of?” Sully’s counsel asked as the two men walked across the parking lot toward the entrance of The Rose and Thorn Winery.
