Chapter 3
Nate
Isit up so rapidly my hip ends up dangerously close to the edge of the mattress, but I grab my pillow and manage to keep myself from falling.
The cold, alien sensation I experienced on the banks of that horrifying river is still present but somehow easier to ignore when I’m wrapped in my warm comforter—No.
It’s something else, even softer. Prying my eyes open again, I look down my body to see fine navy velvet embroidered with the most intricate of patterns and closed at the front with a clasp of what looks like antique silver.
The gears inside my head jam because… what is this? How am I in my bed when Richie and I invaded that damn farm, and he left me there? I remember running and…
I spread the front of the cloak, looking for blood, but when I lift my T-shirt, I find only healthy skin. Was I… not shot? Have I dreamed about the quest to rescue the puppies, or—
The sweetest high-pitched bark leads my gaze to the edge of the bed and a tiny muzzle and even tinier paws. The rottie is desperately trying to join me on the bed. I remember him being quite the skinny thing, but now he is the picture of health.
I reach for him and pull him close for a hug he’s happy to accept. The pup starts licking my jaw with such enthusiasm Richie’s dismissive attitude seems even more jarring.
I survived. I must have gone through some kind of adrenaline high that caused hallucinations when I ran away with the puppy, because I have no other sensible explanation for what followed. I wrap us both in the cloak of the imaginary knight. God knows where I got it, yet it smells like Tristan did.
Tristan would not have left me behind. He didn’t let me drown, and he didn’t let the other guy throw me back in the river. Was that my subconscious saying I need to dump Richie? I usually look at the world through rose-tinted glasses, but I can’t deny the red flags anymore, can I?
I exhale, hugging the puppy as I lean back against the moody tapestry hung behind my bed and take in the room.
I’m renting, so the walls are a clinical white, but I added some character by putting up pictures with easily removable hooks.
Then, there are the bookcases filled with my favorite novels, as well as trinkets, and a family of plants.
Everything seems normal. What the heck happened to me last night?
I take in the puddle in the corner with a dose of acceptance, because it’s my fault I didn’t take the puppy out when it needed to go. But potty training starts now.
I realize Richie took all the other puppies, and I’m about to write to him in panic, but then I realize that could incriminate us both.
I can’t believe we did that. We broke into someone’s shed and stole the dogs.
No wonder I ended up with some kind of psychotic break.
I’m the law-abiding type and never do anything like that.
Maybe… calling would be safer? I don’t think the phone is recording all my conversations. I choose Richie’s number.
“Come on… come on… come on…” I mutter to myself, hugging the clingy rottie. My heart is beating so fast I worry I might once again fall into the ‘Nightmare Realm’.
“Nate! Is that you?” he finally answers, sounding frantic.
I sink against the wall as the puppy rolls in my lap and starts scratching its side with its hind leg. “Who else would it be?”
“I… I don’t know. Are you okay?”
Maybe I judged him too harshly? He seems rattled. In the chaos of last night, I could have misunderstood his actions. Maybe he just wanted to get the puppies to safety? After all, he did go with me in the first place.
“I’m fine. I’m glad you’re okay. Are they with you?” I ask so only he knows what I’m talking about, and in the unlikely case the FBI is recording us, they’ll have nothing on me.
“What? No! Seven damn puppies, Nate!” I guess Richie isn’t as security-conscious as me. He takes a shivery breath. “I left them at the shelter. What else was I supposed to do?”
A cold sensation spreads in my gut. “They’d ask questions!”
“Yeah, I told them you told me to get them there, since you volunteer there.”
I utter a broken sound, and the rottie climbs my chest, licking my chin with its wet tongue. “You did what? We were meant to be anonymous about it!”
“Well, you weren’t there! I told you to follow me to the car!”
“I would have if you bothered to help me,” tears out of my chest with an amount of regret I didn't expect. But now that it started flowing, so do my tears. I could have died last night and he… what, returned home, hoping it won’t be traced back to him? Why do I have such horrible taste in men?
“Listen, I’m glad you’re okay, but I have to go now. We’ve got a frat meeting about tonight in five.”
I open my mouth, but he hangs up.
I slam my head back, but the tapestry is a cheap product and doesn’t have enough density to protect me from the pain. “Ow, ow, ow,” I mutter as the puppy licks my face, its tail wiggling as if all is good in the world. I suppose it is in his… wait, is he even a male?
I hold him behind the front paws and gently raise its body to deny my assumption.
“You’re one lucky girl…”
I don’t even know what to do about Richie, so I decide to ground myself in reality. I have a puppy that needs care and attention. Luckily, I have some doggie snacks and puppy pads left from the time I fostered, but I need to introduce the pup to grass.
There’s no point in changing before I shower, so I quickly clean the spill on the floor, put my new charge in a semi-stylish harness-and-leash set, and carry her outside. I live in the first floor, so within less than a minute, I lower her to the ground.
“What should I call you?” I mutter, snorting when the puppy keeps her legs stiff as if they’re sticks. Poor thing has never been outside… no wonder she finds the grass overwhelming.
The day is chilly, since it’s October, but the sun is so bright I end up pulling on the hood of my new cloak.
I feel a bit silly in it, but it’s Halloween, so I’m sure anyone who sees me will assume I’m in costume.
I’ve dabbled with LARPing as a teen, but it wasn’t my thing despite my love of fantasy novels.
I absentmindedly stroke the inside of the garment as I watch the puppy explore. It’s of such good quality. This isn’t some flimsy polyester thing. Did I… steal it from somewhere when running away? Dread fills me at the very idea.
The window next to mine opens and my roommate peeks out, face covered with a layer of blue makeup.
She’s probably trialling a look for the party she’s going to later.
“Nate? Is that you?” Viola asks in her thick Italian accent, and it feels like déjà vu from the conversation with Richie.
“I didn’t hear you come back last night. ”
I don’t remember much about last night either, but I’m not willing to share that.
Before I’m forced to act the part of a normal person and explain myself, Viola notices the little critter at my side and squeaks, sticking her head of dark locks out of the window.
“And who is this lil ’fella, huh?” she asks in a soft childlike voice that has the puppy’s body swinging with joy.
I clear my throat. “Her name’s Lady.”
“Lady, of course, you are such a pretty bebe!” Viola continues, reaching down to stroke the little dog. She almost falls out of the window to achieve this feat. “Where did she come from? Are you fostering again?”
I don’t want to tell her.
In fact, I specifically didn’t share my plan with her because she’s so cool, and fun, and I didn’t want her to know in case I failed. But here we are. “Uh… I rescued her.”
Viola’s eyes go wide. “So she’s yours-yours? Are you a doggie daddy now? Does she have an Insta yet? Or is she more of a TikTok girlie?”
I have to smile, even though my thoughts are a puddle of darkness and gloom. “I would never let her loose on TikTok. She might just get hooked on all the spicy books.”
Lady staggers back to all her paws, smells the grass right under our window, and pees.
“Good girl,” I tell her, happy that at least something’s right in the world again.
“What’s with the cape? Is it because you’re now part of her entourage?” Viola asks.
I rub the base of my nose. I could dismiss her comments for now and regroup, but last night’s a thorn in the middle of my chest, and I have to tell someone. “I kinda did something illegal.”
“No! You? I don’t believe it. Tell me everything. Are you covering for Richie’s pyramid scheme?” Viola’s still in her PJs, but she climbs over the windowsill and joins me on the lawn.
I scowl and lower my voice. “Look, I’ll spare you the details, but the puppies were treated really badly, so Richie and I went there to take them.”
Viola stares at the perfectly healthy pup with a shiny coat of fur but doesn’t comment on it and instead goes right for the kill. “Richie actually went with you? So he does have a heart?”
She immediately picks up on the fact that I don’t answer her joke and leans in, staring straight in my face from up close, which is made even weirder by the fact that she’s painted to resemble a blue tiger. “No… babe, girl, what did he do?”
I guess a part of me wanted her to voice that question, because no matter how I move the facts around in my head, the result never paints my boyfriend in a positive light. “The owners appeared, and he left me behind.”
“No!” She pulls open my cloak to look at me. “Are you hurt? Nate. Who does that? I keep telling you he’s an asshole.”
“I know, but what was he supposed to do? I get it, he was stressed, and I stayed behind to get Lady—”
“Stop excusing him! You deserve so much better.”
Do I? Do I really? I don’t seem to attract the kind of guys who’d sweep me off my feet. “It’s tough out there. You know what guys are like.”
Viola looks straight into my eyes. “Nate, I won’t believe for a second that sex with him is that good.
If you’re horny, you’re better off finding hookups than dealing with an ass like Richie.
I’ve seen him hurt your feelings too many times.
Please rip this band aid off. I know the world isn’t filled with knights in shining armor, but it’s not too much to ask for someone to stand by you. ”
My eyes itch, and I rub my throat, trying to offset the choking sensation.
Because she’s right. While I never expected Richie to be my heroic prince, I assumed he wouldn’t just leave me to the wolves.
Is it really so naive to dream of romance?
Of a love that will overfill my heart and take my breath away?
“It really sucks…”
“Are you ready to break up with him? I’m cold,” Viola adds and slides under the cloak to give me a hug. “What the hell? This is quality fabric.”
When my phone rings, I’m hugging Viola with one arm. I half-expect Richie to be calling me back after the rude way he hung up on me before, but it’s my boss at the vet clinic.
“Hi, everything okay? I’m not scheduled to work today.”
She sighs so deeply my stomach sinks. “I’m sorry, Nate, but I’m calling to tell you we are terminating your contract and letting you go.
We have found out that you used your position at work to access a client’s personal data for unprofessional reasons.
You can, of course, refer to a lawyer if you feel this is unfair, but with what we both know you did, I would advise you to just accept the dismissal. ”
The ground shakes under my feet, and I rest some of my weight on Viola as everything sways. “I— thanks for letting me know. I’ll pick up my things tomorrow,” I say as the last of my energy drains out.
I loved my job.
I know what I did was technically illegal but… I just wanted to help those poor dogs. Does that not count for something?
I suppose not.
Viola’s squeezing my arm as I exchange a few final words on the phone and end the call. “You’ll find someplace better,” she says as soon as I hang up, but I don’t need comfort.
I’m a volcano about to erupt, and someone has to pay. “They probably found out because Richie delivered the other puppies to the shelter and mentioned my name.”
“Scumbag,” Viola mutters as her gaze drifts off to Lady joyfully licking grass.
“You’re right. I’m done. I’m breaking up with him.”
“Yesss! Finally! I know where he’ll be tonight. They’re having a huge Halloween party at their frat.”
I bite my lip. “I… Maybe I’ll just text him. I don’t want to cause a scene.”
“Babe. Cause a scene. Make him pay. And then find yourself a rebound stud. Come oooon. Live a little.”
I’m not the kind of person who hooks up with strangers. But if I had good chemistry with someone in real life, maybe it would feel a bit like a moment from one of my favorite stories? I bump into someone, we start talking, and who knows…
“I don’t really have a costume.”
Viola pats my cheek. “You have this cloak. And I have some masks.”
The decision feels draining, because I kept excusing Richie’s actions like a fool, only for him to ditch me when it mattered most. I really am naive. “If I’m to survive this day, I need coffee.”