Dr. Stud

r a second, I’m the hero of the story, even if I’m the jerk that started it.

Once I’m out on the sidewalk, I realize I’ve got another problem. I don’t have a ride home. My mother said she would pick me up after her shift, but that’s not for another four hours. My best friend, Dahlia, used to do it for me, but that was before she got all married up and knocked up and whatnot.

Squinting down the street one way, then the other way, I check out the sparse traffic. There are a few people walking aimlessly under the elm trees in the tiny park. A post office worker rolls a cart from shop to shop in her cool safari hat and blue uniform.

It’s early afternoon. A perfectly respectable time of day to be walking down the sidewalk in a waitress uniform, right? Sure.

Perfectly normal. Nothing to see here.

Even though it’s probably not my best idea, I head for the warehouse district by the railroad tracks. I don’t know where else to go. Dahlia and August’s place is within walking distance. I’m sure they’re up for a friendly visit from their old pal Bunny.

Or I suppose I’ll find out if they’re up for a visit, after the half hour it will take me to walk there.

Maybe was Nick was right. I really should learn to keep my mouth shut sometimes.

Chapter 2

Bunny

Berner Security is in one of those brick warehouse buildings that looks like it might be a bomb shelter or secret lair or something. There are windows, but you can’t see them from the street. It’s a fortress.

As I walk up the sidewalk, my feet absolutely fucking killing me in my kick-ass boots, I scan from side to side. Even though it’s the warehouse district, the cars that are parked here are all Mercedes and Hummers. Reinforced steel and probably bulletproof glass and everything. August has a flair for paramilitary shenanigans, you might say.

I wonder how much of that is real sometimes, and how much of that is just him being an aggro, macho dude with a savior complex.

That opinion, at least, I have been smart enough to keep to myself. He is pretty delicious to look at, so I understand why Dahlia was so gaga for him all those years. He was her dad’s BFF and so she got to crush on him up close since she was still in a training bra.

Still, he’s got to be twice her age. In fact, I think he is exactly twice her age. Kind of gross, if you ask me. But I guess that’s none of my business.

See, what Nick doesn’t understand is that I am mouthy for justice. I’m not judgmental. I’m not one to look down my nose at Dahlia’s dad-like husband playing GI Joe all the time. But I will speak up to defend people. I’m a good friend like that. That’s the kind of mouthy I am, and he would do better to accept it.

But August is… well, he snatched my best friend away. So I can throw their relationship a little bit of side eye, right?

Okay, I’m really going to make an effort to be less mouthy for the rest of the day. Haven’t I learned my lesson or anything?

There is a simple steel panel next to what looks like an industrial freezer door. This is the entrance. It’s meant to be intimidating, not welcoming. I jam my thumb against the glowing green button at the bottom. A square screen flickers, and up pops a face all distorted and squinting back at me. The face tips from side to side, apparently trying to see behind me to check out if I’m alone.

“Good afternoon, Berner Security. Do you have an appointment?”

“No, I don’t have an appointment,” I huff impatiently. “Is Dahlia here? I’m here to see her.”

“Is she expecting you?”

“Is she expecting me?” I repeat, exasperated. “Yes. She’s always expecting me. At least she should be.”

“Please stand by,” the face sniffs.

“No, stop!” I blurt out, slapping my palm against the metal plate in frustration. “Just let me in, would you please? I’m Dahlia’s friend, Bunny.”

“Please stand by,” he says again.

The face glides off to the left, disappearing from view though the screen stays lit.

“You think I’m armed or something? You think I pose some kind of threat?” I yell, not even sure the microphone is still on.

I feel kind of stupid yelling at a square on the side of a brick cube, not entirely certain how many cameras are recording this. Are people listening in? Are people skulking around in doorways and armored vehicles?

Christ. This is stupid.