8. Madison
8
MADISON
Aurora’s laughter fills the air as she kneels to pet the wiggling mass of puppies at my feet. “Madison, these little guys are absolutely adorable! How do you even manage to get anything done with all this cuteness around?”
I smile, watching as the puppies clamber over each other to get Aurora’s attention. Now, I not only have Scout, but I also have a three-month-old Golden Retriever named Barney. He’s a mess, but he’s also very cute. Samson nudges Aurora as though reminding her that he exists, too.
“It’s a challenge, believe me. But they’re worth it. Plus, it’s good money. I’m not going to turn anyone down. I just have to make sure I keep all the doors closed so they don’t steal socks or drink out of the toilet.”
Aurora laughs. “I’ve been wanting to get a dog, but I just don’t know. My apartment isn’t like this place. I would have to walk down to the first floor anytime I wanted to take him out. And it just doesn’t seem like a dog would be happy in my place.”
“Dogs don’t need much to be happy. Just someone who loves them. They’re pretty simple.” I sit down, and Samson comes right over to me, eager for some attention since Aurora only has two hands.
“But seriously, you’ve got to be careful or you’re going to end up adopting every dog that comes through here.”
I laugh, but there’s a tiny bit of truth in her words. “Well, I don’t think their owners would let that happen, though one time…”
“Oh, no. Maddie! Tell me about the one time.”
“The owner was only supposed to leave the dog for a week. Then, he extended his vacation. He asked if the dog could stay an extra week. His mom was sick or something. So, I said sure. I mean, it’s extra money, and the dog was already used to staying here.”
“And?”
“And then, the day came when he was supposed to pick her up, and he never came.”
Aurora’s eyes widen. “No! What did you do? Take her to a shelter or something?”
“No, I called the owner a few times. No answer. So, I took the dogs out and then put them in their kennels for the night. I was up late researching what to do if an owner abandons a dog with you.”
“Did you want to adopt her?”
“Um, I liked her, and she was cute, but I really don’t want another dog of my own right now. Samson is enough work, and I don’t get paid to board my own dogs.”
Scout curls up in Aurora’s lap like he’s taking ownership of her while Barney barks playfully. “So?”
“The next morning, when I woke up, I had like three messages from the owner. Apparently, his flight was delayed and his phone died. It was a mess. Anyway, he ended up picking her up later that day, but I thought I was going to end up with a new puppy for sure. But luckily, I just have Samson.”
At the mention of his name, Samson perks his ears up and looks at me, trying to figure out what I’m saying. I scratch behind his ears, and he leans into the touch, his tail wagging frantically.
Aurora stands up, wiping her hands on her jeans. “Hey, why don’t we take these guys for a walk? It’s a nice day, and I’m sure they’d love it.”
I hesitate for a moment, glancing at the sky. It’s true; the weather is perfect—sunny and no breeze. The only kind of weather that’s good in December. “That sounds like a good idea. Let’s do it. I haven’t been able to take more than two at a time, which means one has to be left behind, and I’m sure you know how traumatizing that is.”
As soon as I grab a leash from the table, all three puppies begin attacking me with excitement. I hand a leash off to Aurora, and they run back and forth, unsure who will give them what they want first.
“Oh, great. Barney got so excited he peed,” I comment, rolling my eyes. This is the one part of dog-sitting that isn’t glamorous.
But finally, I get everything cleaned up, and everyone is leashed. Once we’re all set, we head out with the puppies bouncing along beside us with boundless energy. Samson leads the way, his head held high as if he knows he’s the leader of this little pack. The other two puppies yank at their leashes behind him, yelping as though reminding him that they’re coming but then getting distracted by large weeds or little pebbles.
As we walk, Aurora chatters on about her week. She’s talking about work, which is the one subject she talks about that completely bores me. Half of my mind is listening to what she says so I can nod in all the right places. The other half is replaying the last encounter I had with her father, Ethan. Whenever I think about how he had me groaning, my pussy tightens, like it wants more of him.
But of course, that can’t happen. He made it clear it was a one-time thing, that he’s not interested in a relationship. We couldn’t even have a relationship. That’s just not something that would work with us being the people we are.
“So, how are things going with the dog-sitting business other than someone nearly abandoning their dog? Have you thought any more about expanding or doing something else on the side? Or are you getting enough from this to start your surf school?”
I shrug, trying to keep my tone casual. “It’s going okay. I’ve had more clients this month, which helps. I think everyone is traveling for Christmas. I have four dogs booked over Christmas, even though I’m charging more each night. But I’m not really sure about expanding. I mean, I can only take so many at a time. Four is my absolute max.”
Aurora nods thoughtfully. “That makes sense. Just don’t sell yourself short, okay? You’re really good at this, Madison. I mean, look at how happy these pups are. What if you got a job at a vet or with a big doggy boarding center in Wilmington? You wouldn’t have to have the dogs in your home, but you’d get to do the same sort of work.”
I smile, appreciative that she cares enough to try to help me brainstorm ideas. “Thanks, Aurora. I might. I’m not saying no to anything at this point.”
We walk in companionable silence for a while, the puppies exploring every scent and sound along the way. It’s peaceful, and I find myself relaxing, letting go of the tension that’s been building since that awkward encounter with Ethan .
After we’ve gone a couple of blocks, Barney starts dragging.
“We should turn around. What’s a short distance for us is longer for poor Barney, here.”
Barney perks up when he hears his name, and he bounds over.
“He doesn’t seem tired to me,” Aurora comments.
“Oh, you just wait. As soon as we get home, he’ll stretch out on the floor and pass out like we’ve just put him through the Puppy Olympics.”
We turn around, talking about the difference in Oak Island during winter versus summer when it’s flooded with tourists. Aurora suddenly perks up, a gleam in her eye. “Hey, we should stop by my dad’s house! He loves dogs, and I bet he’d get a kick out of seeing these little guys.”
My heart skips a beat, and I shake my head quickly. “I don’t know, Aurora. We’re almost back to my place, and the pups are probably getting tired. Maybe another time?”
She waves off my excuse, clearly not taking no for an answer. “Oh, come on, Madison! It’ll just be a quick stop. Besides, my dad’s house is right beside yours. It’s not like we’re taking a huge detour. You know he’s a sucker for puppies. It’ll be fun!”
I try to think of another excuse, but nothing comes to mind fast enough. Before I can protest further, Aurora is already leading the way with the puppies trotting along behind her as if they’ve decided they’re up for the adventure. I sigh inwardly, knowing there’s no stopping her once she’s set on something. “Aurora, seriously, I don’t think this is a good idea.”
She glances back at me, her expression innocent but determined. “Why not? It’s just my dad. You’ve met him before. Oh, is it because you asked him for money? ”
Yeah, I’ve met him before, all right. And it didn’t go exactly as planned. But I can’t exactly tell her that. I latch onto the idea she’s just offered. “Yeah, it’s just awkward I think, since he said no.”
Aurora stops walking and turns to face me, her eyebrows raised. “I get that, but maybe if we stop by and he sees how good you are with the puppies, I mean…who knows what sort of goodwill we could create? Maybe if you and I ask him together , then?—”
“Aurora, please don’t bring up the loan. If we’re going to stop at your dad’s house, that’s one thing, but please, please, please don’t mention that I asked him for money, okay?”
“Okay, okay, I won’t bring up the money. But that doesn’t mean a visit with puppies won’t make him love you and want to hand over a couple grand.”
I bite my lip, realizing I’m not going to win this argument. It’s just a quick visit, I tell myself. In and out. No big deal. I can handle this. “Okay, fine. But just a quick stop, okay?”
Aurora beams, satisfied with my reluctant agreement. “Perfect! Come on, it’ll be fun.”
We continue walking, my nerves jangling with every step that brings us closer to Ethan’s house. I try to focus on the puppies, but it’s no use. The closer we get, the more my anxiety builds. I can’t help but replay that last encounter in my mind, the way it felt when he was licking my pussy. Aurora would kill me, outright murder me, if she knew the thoughts flowing through my mind right now.
As we turn onto our street, a knot of tension settles in my stomach. Aurora chatters on, oblivious to my discomfort, and I force myself to nod and smile, trying to appear as nonchalant as possible. But my heart is pounding in my chest, and I’m already planning my exit strategy, rehearsing what I’ll say to get us out of there as quickly as possible.
Finally, we reach Ethan’s house. Aurora is already reaching into her pocket, pulling out a key.
“Don’t worry. I’ve still got a key. We can just let ourselves in.”
“But isn’t he a doctor?” I scramble for an excuse and find one. “What if he’s working right now?”
Aurora makes a face. “Yeah, you’re right. He might be working. Shit. I should have texted him first. Oh, well. We’re here now. We might as well check.”
The garage is closed, but it could be empty or have Ethan’s car in it. It’s hard to tell by looking at the front of the house if Ethan is home or not.
My mind races as we approach the front door, trying to think of some way to get out of this situation, but Aurora is already unlocking the door and pushing it open with a cheerful, “Dad, we’re here!”
The puppies scramble into the house after her, their nails scrabbling across the wooden floor. If he doesn’t hear us, then he would have to be deaf.
I take a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever’s about to happen. This was a bad idea. A very bad idea. But it’s too late to turn back now. All I can do is hope that this visit will be quick and painless and that I can get out of here without any further awkwardness or confrontation.
Aurora calls out for her dad again, and I follow her inside reluctantly, my heart pounding in my chest.
“Aurora? Coming downstairs. Give me a second!” I hear Ethan’s voice echoing through the house, and it makes my heart leap in a way I try to ignore.
The puppies scamper inside, and I wonder if Ethan is going to blame me if the puppies decide to pee on something. Samson darts out to explore, then realizes he’s still on a leash and comes back to my side.
Aurora grins at hearing her dad’s voice, clearly delighted that she’s managed to surprise him, and I force myself to smile, trying to hide my anxiety.
But as I hear Ethan coming down the stairs, my heart races faster, and I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve just walked into something I wasn’t prepared for.