She gives me her poutiest face. To think … at one point I found it cute. “I thought we ended things amicably.”
“We did. That’s why I’m saying, ‘Thanks for the offer, but no thanks.’ I could have said, ‘Are you out of your fucking mind, bitch?’ But I didn’t because we ended things amicably.” Doubling down on my condescending, toothy grin, I get into my car. I’m perfectly capable of finding someone without the help of a dating app. Backing out of the driveway, I wave. A wave with all five fingers, not just my middle one because … “amicable.”
CHAPTER THREE
SOPHIE
Saturday morning, I sneak past Jimmy snoring and drooling on my sofa and leave him a note.
Taking Cersei for a walk. Look for a job and an apartment.
No X’s or O’s.
No smiley faces or hearts.
Not even a dash and my name.
Jimmy has six more days to get out of my house.
God … please let him be gone.
Cersei and I stop for an iced coffee before heading west. We pass Wash Your Tail, a pet wash and bakery that opened a year ago. I’ve never been inside because I’m loyal to one of my patients who owns another dog wash and pet supply store here in Scottsdale. Today, I make one exception due to the sweltering heat. Pulling Cersei toward the store, I open the door and gulp breaths of cool air before looking around.
Pet lovers and wagging tails fill the aisles of the bustling store, so I tighten my grip on Cersei’s leash as we weave our way around the displays.
“Good morning. Is there anything I can help you find? Or are you just looking around and soaking up the cool air?”
Busted!
I smile at the blue-aproned man giving me a disarming grin. The ends of his floppy brown hair curl around his ears and tease his eyebrows. The mischievous twinkle of his hazel eyes holds my attention.
“First time in here. So I’m just checking you out. Thanks.”
His smile swells and I feast on it until … it hits me.
“Things!” I choke on what comes out as a half laugh and a hard cough. “I’m just checking things out. Not you. I meant to say thank you. But the ‘you’ got a little too anxious and devoured the word ‘things.’ So …” I tuck my chin and scratch my forehead and mutter, “Just tell me to shut up.”
Every inch of that exceptional smile and a slow nod await when I risk a glance up at him. “Take as much as you need. And can I say … what a gorgeous creature?”
Heat gathers along my cheeks. “Oh gosh … thank you. I’m Sophie.”
On a chuckle, he shifts his gaze to Cersei. “Well, I meant your white floofer, but you’re equally deserving of the compliment, Sophie.”
For the record, I’m not this awkward. When I’m not taking in stray men or drooling over strangers, I’m entirely put together.
Smart.
Educated.
Confident.
Okay, somewhat confident.
And now that I think about it … I’m questioning my intelligence.
I blame Jimmy. He has royally annihilated my psyche, rattled my confidence, and demolished my sense of trust and good will.
If this dude meant my dog, then he should have looked at her when he said it. Now I feel presumptuous and stupid.
It seems to be the new theme in my life.
“Kidding. I’m such a kidder. Of course I knew you were talking about my dog. Her name is Cersei. And now I’m going to exit the store and never return.” I suck on the straw of my iced coffee and turn to slither toward the door like Hercules the garter snake.
“Nothing beats a classic standard poodle. Doodles have taken over the world. It’s nice to see a purebred.”
I turn. He’s good. Too good. “Yeah.” I nod. “Only … I’m not sure if she’s classic or a purebred. The vet thinks she might have something besides poodle in her. So she could be a doodle. But don’t worry, I don’t really see her taking over the world. She’s scared of shadows, the trash truck, and her tail until she realizes it’s attached to her body.”
He laughs, pulling a treat out of a drawstring bag hanging from the waist of his pants, then he holds it up to me.
“What is it?” I ask.
“Dehydrated lamb lung.”
I shake my head. “No thank you. Just coffee for me. But Cersei might like it.”
The tiny bit of his smile that faded while showing me the treat quickly returns. He lets Cersei sniff his fisted hand before opening it and offering her the treat. “She really is gorgeous.” He scratches behind her ears.
“Thank you.” I smile.
Cersei’s brown eyes track him, waiting to see if he’s going to offer her another treat.
“I’m Shep. If you have any questions, let me know.”
I slide my blue-framed glasses higher on my nose and blow my bangs away from my face as I nod several times and whisper, “Thanks,” with the composure of a fifteen-year-old girl at a BTS concert.