Chapter 5 - Nora
I smiled at Charlie as he walked back toward me.
His long black hair was freshly brushed, and he’d had his half-mile walk.
Out of all the dogs, he was the easiest to handle, and I liked spending extra time with him.
“Who’s a good boy?” I asked as I bent down, running my hands over his fur.
He started to lick at my legs, and I chuckled.
I had thought about adopting Charlie, but my apartment didn’t have the space. That and they had a no pet policy.
“You’re such a good boy,” I said as I held his face, kissing his nose. “And some family is going to come and pick you soon. I feel it deep in my bones. You’re going to have that happy ending.”
I pulled myself back up, looking for more dog poop that needed to be cleaned up. I had finished walking the dogs, and Mike was inside cleaning out the dogs’ kennels, giving them all a spray down.
Spot was playing with Dotty near the north side of the gate.
Dotty was gentle as she let Spot run around barking at her.
Frank was lying in the sun near the water dishes we brought outside, which left Lily, a new dog that arrived last night.
She was sitting by the door, still unsure about everyone and everything going on around her.
She’d been picked up on the side of the road, looking lost and alone.
We already had a few people interested in adopting her, but Mike said she needed to gain a couple of pounds first.
“Nora.” I turned my gaze up a little, finding Mike standing in the doorway. “I’m going to go feed the cats. You can bring the dogs inside. Everything is cleaned in here now.”
Lily moved closer to him, and I felt my heart jerk. It always made me feel bad to see a dog so lost and confused. I knew she, like the others, needed love to be reminded that there were caring people in the world.
Mike bent down, letting her sniff his hand. “Has Lily gone potty?”
I nodded. “Yeah, if you want to bring her in, she’s good to go. I think she’s just overstimulated.”
He pulled the door open a little, and I watched her slip inside with Mike.
I couldn’t help but smile because Mike cared just as much about the animals.
He worked long hours, getting the animals what they needed.
When a new dog started, they all received a clean kennel with their own bed and toys.
He stated they deserved a home as if they were being adopted.
I turned back to cleaning up poop and watching the dogs. I hummed as I moved, enjoying the piece and the quiet that came with it. I heard the gate near the parking lot open, and I looked over my shoulder, feeling my heart sink.
Ryan stepped into the gated area, and I felt every fiber in my being tense up as I took his stern, serious face in. He walked straight for me, and I felt my stomach drop, knowing I had nowhere to turn or run. It was just me and the dogs outside.
It was the one downside to working here: Ryan came and went as he pleased. He didn’t work here, but he sure liked to act like he ran the joint. Like his father, owning the place meant he had a say in things.
“We need to talk,” Ryan said, stopping a few feet away from him.
“About?” I asked, setting the bottom part of the pooper scooper to my feet. I tightened my fingers on it, knowing I would use it as a weapon if it came down to it.
“You didn’t tell me you were dating Kaleb. Of all the times we had a conversation, all the times we spoke, you never once brought him up. You never once said you weren’t single.”
I swallowed. I had expected this. Ever since the farmers’ market, I managed to avoid him, but my luck was running out. “It’s new.”
“How new?” Ryan snapped, taking a step toward me. I hated how his presence always made me feel off. It was like a bad energy was coming off him in waves.
I took one step back and scowled. “I don’t know the exact date. Why does it even matter?”
“Because everyone saw what happened! Everyone saw me ask you out at the farmers’ market. Everyone saw him come up and announce you were his.”
So he was embarrassed and was going to take it out on me. Typical Ryan.
I offered a tight smile, trying to look sympathetic. “It was an honest mistake. Like I said, it’s new.”
“No.” He waved a hand and pointed at me. “You should have told me you weren’t single! You didn’t! You let me go around thinking you were available when you weren’t! I look like an idiot because of you.”
I swallowed. Charlie growled as he stopped next to me, and Ryan tensed up slightly as Charlie barked. Ryan took a step back, which calmed Charlie. But it didn’t stop him.
Ryan’s voice dropped low into a warning tone, “I know you like your job, and it would really suck for something to be said to my father that would make him get rid of you. I would walk very carefully.”
I felt my heart stop beating. I knew Ryan was capable of being like this, but I hadn’t seen it firsthand yet.
I knew it was there. I heard things around town.
I always feared he would pull that move, use my passion for animals and his connection to his father to ruin the one amazing thing in my life.
Sure, I had Jade and Ilsa. I had a great apartment and people who were amazing friends.
But this job was my life. It was my relaxation and my soul.
I came to the shelter, and I knew I was doing something right.
These animals depended on me for help. They looked at me with hope and love in their eyes every time they saw me.
And he knew that. He saw how much I cared.
He knew it would rip me apart to leave this place.
“What do you want me to say, Ryan?”
He stared at me, his hands curling into fists. “Tell me it’s a lie. That you aren’t dating him because I don’t believe you. There is no way that you’re dating Kaleb, and no one knew about it. I asked around, and not a single person knew you guys were dating.”
I tried to rack my brain for what to say. How could I prove that Kaleb wasn’t lying? I couldn’t. I had no evidence to back it up. I didn’t even have him saved in my phone yet.
But before I was even able to think further, I heard my name.
I knew the voice that spoke and turned just as Kaleb came through the back door of the shelter.
The very door Mike had just been at a few moments ago.
He was wearing some ratty jeans and a navy blue shirt.
He smiled brightly as he walked across the yard toward us, holding nothing but joy in his eyes.
He didn’t even glance at Ryan like he wasn’t there, which I could see irritated Ryan even more.
“There you are. Did you forget about our plans again?”
Ryan looked between us quickly, his eyes narrowing.
Kaleb stopped next to me, taking the pooper scooper out of my hands as he pulled me into a side hug.
I inhaled his scent, feeling his arms tighten around me as he held me against him.
I felt Kaleb sigh softly, like he was content.
“I missed you all day. I would have been here sooner, but I was held up.”
I gave Kaleb the best smile I could muster up. “That’s okay.”
Kaleb beamed and turned to acknowledge Ryan. “Oh, Ryan, nice to see you again.”
Ryan looked between us, and I knew he was looking for a mistake, something to prove we weren’t an item. I tried not to tense up or let it appear I was uncomfortable. Ryan held the same happy smile he had since he spotted me. He didn’t look like he was trying to hide the truth.
Ryan offered a tight smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Kaleb, I’m pretty sure you aren’t supposed to be back here. My father is pretty clear on that rule.”
I almost snorted because he followed that rule just as well as Kaleb was at the moment. He wasn’t supposed to be back here, yet he was.
Kaleb’s fingers tightened on my hip, and I watched Ryan’s eyes track the moment. “I know, your dad actually told me to just come back here. Had nothing but great things to say about you.” Kaleb looked at me. “He said it was refreshing to have someone so passionate about the animals as he was.”
Ryan worked his jaw, and I could see the comment irritated him. Mike always talked about how he wished Ryan would take more interest in the animals. “I heard about your relationship. When did that happen?”
Kaleb chuckled. “A couple of weeks ago. We’ve been stepping around the idea, but finally gave in. We just couldn’t resist it anymore. “
Ryan grunted. “Not a lot of people know that it seems. Little weird to me.”
“Not everyone knows my business, Ryan,” Kaleb said, moving his hand from my hip to my shoulder. He leaned forward a little cocking his head to the side. “Everyone has things they don’t share. Just as you do, Ryan.”
Ryan shrugged. “I just figured people would know. Your father didn’t even know you were together. Seemed a little odd.”
“My father doesn’t know everything about my life. I’m a busy person. Just because I’m Beta doesn’t mean everyone knows everything about me. And I like to keep it that way.”
The space fell quiet for a moment before Ryan looked at me, and I knew it wasn’t over yet. He didn’t say anything more as he turned, heading back inside the shelter. I swallowed, feeling angry. Kaleb hadn’t made this better. He’d only poked the already pissed-off bear.
I heard the door shut, and I stepped away from Kaleb and turned to him. I pulled the poop scooper up, being sure to use it to force space between us. “What the hell!”
“He’s the reason you agreed, isn’t he?” Kaleb asked, not even seeming to care about the scooper. “I thought maybe at the farmers’ market, but I could see it in his eyes. He’s determined to get into your pants.”
I worked my jaw, grinding my teeth together as I looked away from him. I spotted Charlie walking the line of the gate, seeming happy in his own little world, unaware of the disaster that was unfolding.
I looked back at Kaleb. Perfect, put together, Kaleb. “You can’t just show up at my work.”
“I’m your boyfriend, remember, I should. Besides, how else am I to get your attention?”
“Even if that were true, I would expect a warning. Not just showing up when you want to.”
“Maybe if we talked about the rules before, I would know that.” He stuffed his hands into his pockets, which just pissed me off even more.
“I gave you the list.”
He nodded. “You did, and it’s shit. You do realize things are going to happen. You can’t just write rules down and expect them all to be followed.” I hated how calm he was being, which made me question if he was even being serious about this entire thing. Did he think this was a joke?
“I don’t have time for this. I have an extremely busy day, and I can’t have you just showing up here. I need a warning.”
“Are you going to answer my questions?”
“What questions?”
“Is Ryan the reason you agreed?”
He glanced over toward the building. “I heard him threatening to have his dad take your job. Kind of an ass.”
I felt my fingers curl in tightly, rage building up. “And you’re what my white knight?”
Kaleb chuckled. “Is that how you view me, Nora?”
I hated the way he was teasing me like my entire world wasn’t being shaken. He was no better than Ryan. Ryan might be threatening to ruin me, but Kaleb had. Kaleb had acted like he wanted to be with me and then ripped it apart.
“You’re not even close to a white knight, Kaleb. You’re just as big of an asshole as Ryan is.”
Kaleb frowned, looking insulted. He crossed his arms. “I beg to differ.”
“You’re both wanting to use me. He wants to use me to get laid, while you want to use me as ammo against the war you’re waging with your father.”