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“Atta boy!” I call out to Lucky. “Now, bring it back, buddy! That’s it!”
I’m playing fetch with Lucky on our usual patch of grass, while Auggie fetches smoothies for us from our usual place. Today is a variation from our normal routine, however, in that, usually, we come to this little park on-campusafterour first show of the day to relax and recharge before round two. Today, we came herebeforeour first show, due the videos I showed Auggie when he got home from class and the unexpected—but yummy—sexcapade that followed.
No regrets about the sex. I feel nothing but purring satisfaction about what happened between Auggie and me about forty-five minutes ago. So much so, I’ve scrapped plans to tell Auggie about the job interview I had this morning while he was at school. It was only an interview, after all. Not a confirmed job. So, why put a damper on the incredible afterglow we’re both feeling by telling Auggie about a job interview that might not lead to anything?
I know Auggie would be happy for me to land a new flight-attendant gig. Especially onethisgood. He knows that’s all I’ve wanted since my layoff—to get back to my old life. But I alsoknow this crazy situationship we’ve found ourselves in has been as confusing as it’s been fun—a wild ride neither of us saw coming. Just this fast, Auggie feels like my best friend, next to Tessa. A bestie who’s amazingly fun to kiss and fool around with. So, I think it’d be naive of me not to realize Auggie might react to the news of my job interview this morning with some conflicting emotions.
As I’m tossing the rubber ball for Lucky across the grass again, my phone rings with a call from Tessa.
“Hello, Crazy Girl!” I bellow in greeting.
“Maddy had her baby girl today!” Tessa blurts. Maddy is Tessa’s sister-in-law—the wife of one of Ryan’s three brothers.
“Aw, how wonderful. Is everyone healthy? Did they go with Billie as her name?”
“Yup. Both mommy and Baby Billie are doing great. The entire Seattle Branch of the Morgan family is flying down to LA tomorrow morning, first thing. Are you still game to stay here with Ru-Ru? We’ll be in LA for a week, probably.”
Shoot. I forgot I volunteered to house- and dog-sit for Tessa and Ryan when the time came. Usually, one of Ryan’s local family members watches their husky, Rudy, when they travel. But this time, all their usual dog-sitters will be traveling to LA to meet Billie. Back when I volunteered, I thought I still had five more weeksto pay Carlo back. I also hadn’t yet dragged poor Auggie into my mess, so we didn’t need to be productive and put on multiple shows per day, every day, to meet our new, shortened deadline back then. “Yes, of course, I’m still game to stay at your place,” I say, my mind racing.
“Awesome. Thanks. Why don’t you come tonight, since we’ve got an early flight tomorrow. We’ll have dinner and catch up a bit. What’s kept you so busy lately? You hardly ever text or call me back.”
“Sorry. I’ve been busy doing projects around the condo.” I pause, trying to decide if I should let the confession that’s on the tip of my tongue free, and finally decide to go for it.“Also, having sex with Auggie.”
“You’ve been fucking the boy bander next door and you didn’t tell me?” Tessa shrieks. “Tell me everything!”
Chuckling at Tessa’s exuberance, I glance across the large lawn and notice Auggie walking toward me with two smoothies. “I’ll tell you everything tonight. He’s heading toward me right now. Can he stay with me at your place this week? He’ll be on spring break all next week, so the timing would be perfect.”
“Of course, he can stay!” Tessa snickers. “Auggie can come and makeyoucome, all week long. Have yourself a sexy little vacay at our place, girlie.”
Before I’ve replied, Auggie reaches me. As he hands me a smoothie, he says, “I asked for extra strawberries, exactly the way you like it.”
“Thank you.” I point to my phone. “Tessa. Hang on, girlie. Let me get Auggie up to speed.” I put Tessa on mute and explain the situation, and Auggie expresses excitement.
“I’ll need to bring Lucky,” Auggie says. “I don’t want to leave him with a friend, even a future vet. He’s scared of everyone besides you and me.”
I unmute the call, advise Tessa she’s now on speaker phone, and then deal with the Lucky situation. Not surprisingly, Tessa says she’d be thrilled for Lucky to come along. In fact, she says her dog, Rudy, will be thrilled to have a new friend to hang out with.
“Lucky might not feel quite as thrilled,” Auggie cautions with a chuckle. “The poor little guy is scared of any new creature, whether human or animal. I’m sure this week will be good for him, though.”
We talk a few logistics, at which point Auggie and I say we’ll head back to our building to pack a bag and then head over to Tessa’s place immediately after that. After disconnecting the call, Auggie scoops up Lucky’s rubber ball while I throw away our empty smoothie cups. Just as I’m turning away from the trashcan, however, I notice a stoic face across the large lawn that sends a chill racing down my spine.
“Auggie,” I whisper-shout. My heart thrashing, I bound to him and grab his arm. “Don’t look, but I think I see one of Mr. DiMarco’s bodyguards over there.”
“Where?”
“Don’t make it obvious when you look. He’s sitting on a bench, way on the other side of the lawn. Eating an ice cream cone. Black shirt.”
“I’ll throw Lucky the ball so I can look casually.” Auggie turns and tosses the ball, prompting Lucky to race after it. When Auggie turns back around to me, he looks dubious. “Are you sure that’s him? He doesn’t seem to be watching us.”
“I’m pretty sure.”
“How sure? What percentage?”
“Sixty percent?”
“That’s not that high.”
“I only flew once with the guy I’m thinking of, and we didn’t speak during the entire flight. He slept through most of it. It was my last flight before I got laid off—the one where I got that text from my friend in HR—so I wasn’t all that focused on my passengers. I was totally freaking out.”
