Pawliday Love

Chapter 10

CHAPTER TEN

MASON

“ U s?” Juliet asked, sounding shocked.

I cursed my choice of words.

“Well, I’d rather take her with me. This car is pretty small, I don’t think you should drive with her loose in here,” I said, trying to sound confident.

I was fine–at least, I was sure of that much–but my body felt like it’d been hit by, well, a truck. I just wanted to get bothJuliet and the dog somewhere safe so I could take a mountain of painkillers and get some sleep.

“I’m not sure you should be driving,” Juliet said, continuing to frown at me. Concern looked adorable on her.

“Gotta get home somehow,” I said, attempting to sound reassuring. “How far away do you live?” she asked.

“‘Bout half an hour,” I said. My apartment’s location wasn’t ideal for working at Epic Studios, but it was a great central spot between all the major theme parks.

Juliet blew out a breath and looked up at the sky like she did when she was thinking.

“I only live ten minutes from here. Why don’t you follow me back to my place? I don’t think you should bealone. You might have a concussion.”

I’d been hit enough times during my brief football career–before discovering being a male cheerleader was an option–to know I didn’t have a concussion... but no way in hell was I turning down her invitation.

“Okay,” I said. “Help me get the dog in my car, and I’ll follow you.”

Juliet pursed her lips, like she regretted making the suggestion. It took all my self-control not to smile.

Juliet’s apartment building was older but nice. I didn’t like that half the lightbulbs in the stairway were out, but at least we only had to go up one floor. Juliet opened the heavy wooden door and a delicious smell spilled into the hallway. It was enough to make the dog perk up and trot right inside.

“Come in,” Juliet said awkwardly, motioning for me to follow her. I did as she asked and smiled inwardly as she set both the deadbolt and the chain lock before scurrying towards the kitchen.

Her apartment was small, but I wasn’t one to judge. A one-bedroom studio with a plush queen-sized bed and the world’s tiniest Christmas tree perched on the dining table. Without thinking, I walked over to it and flipped the switch so it lit up, casting the room in dim, multicolored light.

I turned to find Juliet in the kitchen, stirring whatever was cooking in the crock pot.

“It’s a little overdone since I’m home later than I expected, but do you like pot roast?” she asked. “Love it,” I answered honestly. “But do you mind if I get cleaned up first?”

I wanted to get the blood off my face so she’d stop wincing when she looked at me. “Oh, of course. Bathroom’s right over there. There’s a first aid kit under the sink.”

“Thanks,” I said, hefting my duffle bag onto my shoulder. I’d never been so grateful I kept it stocked with clean sweats and a change of clothes. Too many nights I’d wound up showering at work because I was too disgustingly sweaty to drive home.

I took the world’s fastest shower, just enough to get the dirt off. Then I turned my attention to my face. It was a minor cut, but it had bled like a bitch. We’d gotten incredibly lucky. I’d be one enormous bruise tomorrow, but I had absolutely no regrets. I hadn’t had time to think, only to react–but there was no way I could have lived with myself if I let Juliet get hurt.

Quickly, I put two bandages on the cut to help close it up. I’d have to take it off before work tomorrow, but it would keep it clean in the meantime. Then I pulled a white t-shirt over my head and stepped into my gray sweat pants, giving myself a once over in the mirror to make sure I was presentable. The goal was to make Juliet worry less, and the last thing she needed was to see a big bruise I missed.

I opened the door and padded on bare feet back into the room. Juliet had two bowls set out on the table next to her little Christmas tree. The dog had her muzzle buried in what looked like her own bowl, slurping noisily as she ate.

“You gave the dog pot roast?” I asked, amused.

Juliet shrugged.

“I didn’t know what else to feed her, and she looked so sad!”

My girl had a soft heart. Clearly.

“We’ll get her some kibble tomorrow. But that was a good call for now,” I said, sitting down at the table.

Suddenly Juliet looked at me, panicked.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“How are you going to perform tomorrow?”

I shrugged.

“Same way I always do. I’ll be fine.”

“Mason, you got hit by a car!”

“Yeah, and I’m fine,” I said.

“What are we going to do with her tomorrow?” Juliet asked, looking at the dog and changing the subject. Luckily, I’d already thought of that.

“My roommate Damian is off tomorrow. I’ll run her to my place in the morning, and he can go get her checked at the vet and pick up some supplies.”

Juliet looked up at me with the saddest look on her face, and I wondered what I’d said wrong.

“What if the vet finds her family’s information? We won’t get to say goodbye.”

I didn’t want to get Jules' hopes up, but I was pretty sure the dog didn’t have a family. She was too skinny, and her fur was matted in a bunch of places. She’d clearly been on her own for a long time. If she had a family, they would have found her by now.

“He won’t take her back to them without us, I promise,” I said instead, before digging into my food. It tasted as good as it smelled, and I couldn’t hold back a moan as it melted on my tongue.

The bowl was nearly empty before Juliet spoke again.

“Why’d you do it, Mason?”