My Fake Fling

REESE

The land was perfect. The neighborhood was in the renovation process. A lot of old stuff was coming down and new stuff was going up. In a couple years, this would be prime real estate. The plot of land I checked out would be an ideal place to put Sky Tower East.

I really wished I could talk to my dad and get his opinion on the situation. I trusted his judgment. I did the leg work, but I supposed I was still that little boy who needed my father’s approval. Not to mention, my dad was a real estate guru.

Was? Was I referring to him in the past tense? No. I was not giving up on the man. Not yet.

The shelter was just a few blocks over. I was hoping the so-called gentrification would stretch to her area. It could use some serious cleanup and cleaning out of bad guys. I decided to swing by. I didn’t know what excuse I was going to use, and it was probably a big mistake, but I found my Porsche headed in that direction despite by better judgment.

Every time I thought about my dad, I immediately thought of Thea. She was my support whether she knew it or not. She was the only one I had really been able to talk freely with. She couldn’t fix the problem and didn’t try to. She was there to listen and that was what I really needed.

I parked my car as close to the front doors of the shelter as I could. I was counting on the goodwill of the locals to keep an eye out for my car. I pushed the button on the key fob to lock the doors and set the alarm. When I stepped through the front doors, the first thing I smelled was bleach. I remembered that smell from our relationship so many years ago.

“Hello,” a young woman greeted me. “Can I help you?”

“I’m looking for Thea,” I said. “Is she here?”

“She’s in the grooming room.”

“Could you point me in the right direction?” I asked.

She grimaced as she looked me up and down. “Are you sure you want to do that? It’s not exactly the neatest area and that suit looks very expensive.”

“I’ve got plenty of others,” I said with a wink.

She pointed down the hall. “Last door on the right.”

“Thank you.”

There was a small window in the door, which I used to peek through. I immediately thought about walking away. Was I really brave enough to walk into what looked like a very chaotic scene? Chaotic and messy.

I pushed open the door just a few inches. “Hello,” I called out.

She turned to look at me just long enough to lose her focus. The dog in the tub took advantage and jumped out. “No!” Thea called out just as the dog moved to the center of the room and shook.

Water flew everywhere. Thea was trying to cover her face, but it was fairly ineffective. I pulled the door shut but not before a few splashes landed on me.

“Lucas!” she shouted.

I opened the door again to see the dog bolting through a narrow side door. A young kid with shaggy black hair hanging in his eyes was standing in the doorway. I didn’t miss the little grin on his face when he saw the scene.

“Dammit!” Thea snapped and stomped her foot.

The kid quickly shut the door and went outside with the dog. I had a feeling I was in trouble. Thea shot me a dirty look and reached for a towel.

“Sorry,” I said.

She sighed as she wiped her face and arms. “It’s fine. It happens almost every time. Most of the dogs we get in here are not fond of baths. I try to tell them it will go a long way toward getting them adopted, but they don’t listen.”

“I don’t suppose they do,” I said with a smirk.

“I need to get out there and make sure Lucas isn’t being mauled.”

“Can I come?” I asked.

She tossed the towel in a basket. “This is where the actual dogshit is,” she said with a sarcastic laugh. “I would hate for you to step into dogshit in your Gucci’s.”

“I’ll watch where I walk,” I told her.