Chapter 25
Ihate airports. They’re crowded, and smell…
and if it’s bad on my sniffer, I can’t imagine how much worse it is for Sarah’s sensitive omega senses.
Poor Mr. Shaggbutt is irritated, even after sitting between us on the plane.
Heck, the trip was shorter than when we drove out to her family’s for Christmas.
Still, he’s been stuck in his carrier since the shuttle picked us up this morning, and I can’t blame him for being irritated with the situation.
Thankfully, Sarah already found our luggage and has a cart that she’s loaded up with Shaggy’s travel accommodations as well as our suitcases.
She’s currently shoving through the crowd on her way to the car-rental desk.
She booked the flight and the car the same day she started packing, back in January, and has been checking periodically to make sure they still have all of her information.
She’s meticulous to the point of obsession about this trip going smoothly.
I’ve reached the stage where I’m not sure if her level of organization skills terrify or astound me—she could probably take over a small country with a couple of months to make preparations.
Before I can even catch up, she’s smiling politely at the woman behind the desk and plucking the car keys out of her hands, nearly running me over as she swings the heavy cargo cart towards the car rental lot.
A couple of loud thumps sound from Shaggy’s carrier, and she slows down to talk to him.
“I know Shag-man. I’m going as fast as I can.
You just gotta hang in there a bit longer.
I’ll call Thicc once we get outside and make sure everything’s set up for you. Ok?”
Neither of us expect the little mad bastard to reply, and we aren’t disappointed as she starts picking up speed again, almost running over a couple of packs standing in the middle of the lobby talking.
Everybody else is going around them, and they look like they might be there for the duration, just shooting the shit.
Until Sarah runs over somebody’s foot. I can’t even blame her, that cart looks heavy as fuck and I’m panting to catch up with her as she speeds across the room.
There’s a lot of shouting, which she ignores other than to fling one hand behind her, shooting the bird at the entire group.
Several loud snarls and growls break out, but she’s already out the sliding door.
Shit, I gotta up my cardio. How the fuck do those short legs move that fast?
I finally catch up as she is throwing our suitcases into the back of a minivan, not unlike the one I drive at home.
Without looking up, she passes me Shaggy’s carrier.
“Here, hold him for just a minute. I need to put the seats down.” Then she’s scrambling over the luggage she just loaded, and the two seatbacks in front.
Before I can even check on the bun, she has the entire rear area flattened out and is spreading out a newspaper she must have picked up from the service desk.
Grabby hands snatch the cage from me, and then she stares at my face, eyes flicking up to the hatch before meeting mine again.
Oh, shit, she wants me to close it so she can let Shaggbutt out. Shit.
Closing the hatchback door, I see her reach over the luggage and rummage through a pocket on the inside wheel well, pulling out a large net that she stretches between herself and our suitcases, effectively trapping them in.
As soon as that’s done, she pops open Shaggy’s carrier, and a tiny black nose pops out, whiskers twitching in annoyance.
Her voice is muffled as she sweet-talks the angry little ball of fluff.
Apologizing for taking so long to let him out to stretch.
By the time I get around to the front seat, he’s slowly making his way out, nosing at her hand, probably looking for treats.
Her voice comes out tense. “Sure, sorry, bud. I’m just…
Yeah, I think I have something around here.
Probably just pellets, but I’ll message Thicc and make sure he picks you up some cilantro for when we get there.
Just another hour or so, I promise.” He thumps again before looking at me.
He then turns his bunny butt my way and leans heavily against her folded legs.
I guess I’ve been officially dismissed and am free to drive.
As much as I want to ask her to put her seatbelt on, she needs some time to calm down and to feel like she’s back in control.