31. Verena
31
VERENA
For once in my life, I have no complaints. No notes, chef’s kiss, all the good things. Grimm and I spent the last week in bed, only leaving the house for walks with Flame. He cooks us breakfast every morning, orders lunch from my favorite Spanish restaurant in town, and then chefs it the fuck up for dinner. I don’t have to lift a finger or strain a single muscle. He wants to cook for me. He wants to be there for me.
And I want to bounce on his dick later because of it. It’s the simple things.
We’ve been at each other nonstop, like it’s fucking mating season and we’re a couple of rabbits. We fell into such a nice routine over this last week. It’s given me a glimpse at what life would really be like with Grimm, without roommates and secret societies and art projects to worry about. There’s no weird brothers or psycho ex-boyfriends. Just Flame, Grimm and me.
He’s been acting funny for the last two days, though. I heard him murmuring on the phone earlier this morning but I don’t know who was on the other end. His usual goofiness has dialed back and I’m unsure if he’s having second thoughts about us getting together or if I’m just overthinking it.
Grimm left this morning to grab more clothes and things from his place and I’ve done nothing but think of him since he’s been gone.
He ignited something in me creatively, and in our down time, I began drawing again. It has felt so nice to have my spark back. I can’t recall the last time I was this happy with my life. Maybe when I first came to Blackwood, maybe even as far back as before Ronnie was diagnosed.
It’s been a fucking while.
My phone lights up and I snatch it from the nightstand, and align my face with the screen. It unlocks to my thread with Grimm where a new text awaits my response.
Grimm
We’re going on a road trip. Pack for a week and be ready in an hour, pretty lady.
Me
Where to?
Grimm
No questions. Somewhere sunny.
Me
Yes, sir.
Grimm
Mm, can’t wait to hear those words from your lips.
Miss you. See you soon.
An hour later, Grimm pulls up in front of my house and rings the doorbell. My bags are packed, Flame’s things are ready to go, and all that’s left is to pack up the car and go.
I shout, “It’s open!” and Grimm flies inside, slamming the door.
“And why, exactly, is it open, Verena?” He speaks, his tone harder than usual.
My brows furrow and I turn around to meet him in the hallway but he’s already crowding my doorframe. “What’s wrong?” I ask.
“What’s wrong? Your roommate was literally kidnapped and then attacked in this very fucking house. Locked windows and locked doors unless I’m with you, please. I don’t want anything happening to you.”
I nod and my heart blooms. His protective nature forms a ball of butterflies in my stomach that travel lower and lower until it reaches the apex of my thighs. Grimm grabs all our bags and Flame follows him out of the house and to the car.
When I step outside, I’m surprised to see a blacked out Escalade instead of his usual ride, the McLaren. “New ride?”
His smile spreads and the sight of his dimples, or should I say craters, set that ball of butterflies on fire. “We may need the extra space,” he says with a wink.
Yes, please. A thousand times yes. How have I resisted him for so long?
He loads our bags into the trunk, sets up Flame in the backseat, and I get comfortable in the passenger seat. When he’s settled in the driver’s seat, he turns the music up and tells me to relax. “Nap, draw, snack, smoke, do whatever you want. We’ve got a little bit of a drive ahead of us. We’ll stop at rest stops whenever you need a bathroom, but other than that we’re driving straight through so I’ll do my best to keep you entertained.” he says with a chuckle.
I spend the next few hours controlling the aux, sparking up, and drawing. After my initial burst of energy was depleted, we recharged with burgers, fries, and milkshakes, then continued on our journey to the mystery location.
Hours go by before I see that we’re crossing state lines and there’s signs welcoming us to California.
What in the hell could Grimm have planned in California?
GRIMM
Verena has no idea where we’re going and more importantly, who we’re bringing home. I’m surprising her with a trip to her hometown, Fremont, and we’re getting her dog back.
I’m reuniting Verena with Mística and I can’t wait to see her face. She never specified the shelter she was being held at, so I called every single one in the Fremont area, hoping to get lucky. Once I found what I thought was the correct place, I verified all of Verena’s information and even asked them to send a picture. Verena’s home screen is a collage consisting of Ronnie, Mística, and an older woman whom I assume is her grandmother. The dog looks identical to the one in her phone, and once everything was verified, I told them Mística would have a comfy new home back in Devil’s Lake, with Verena and I.
We’re currently at a rest stop. The girls had to piss and I needed something to eat. I’m chomping on a meatball sub as my mind fills with anxious thoughts of Verena not liking the gesture of bringing Mística home.
What if she doesn’t want another dog in her house, dumbass?
What if she preferred you to talk to her about it first?
What if she appreciates the gesture but decides to leave her at the shelter?
What if it’s the greatest thing someone could do for her and she’ll love me forever because of it?
What if?
The girls enter the car as I’m finishing up my sub and V holds up a bag of snacks. “Flame befriended this adorable little girl and it turns out, her parents own a snack shop in there and gave me all of this for half off! All because she wagged her tail and handed out a few licks.” She does a little dance before digging out a preroll and sparking it up. She inhales and hands it to me, then digs in the bag. Pulling out a bag of doggie snacks, her verbal enthusiasm continues, “Look! She even weaseled her own free treats out of them! That’s what I’m talking about, girl. Gimme paw!”
Verena holds her hand out towards the backseat and Flame follows the command. Verena lifts her up to her lips and kisses her before murmuring a string of good girl’s to Flame.
The ticker in my chest is ready to explode, the detonator pin feels like it’s hanging on by a thread. Seeing my two girls together, knowing we’re on our way to get a third and they don’t even know it, gives me the most heartwarming feeling.
Maybe I'm a little bit anxious to know that I'll have three ladies hanging up against me from now on.
I drive throughout the night and into the morning. V moved to the backseat and snuggled up with Flame a few hours ago. She wakes up any time I spark up a joint and we pass it back and forth for a few minutes before she drifts back into sleep again.
Sometime around noon we enter Fremont. Verena eyes me suspiciously and wastes no time interrogating me. “Why are we going to Fremont?”
“Heard it had some nice sights. What do you think?” I answer, without making eye contact. I hate not being transparent with her, but she’ll find out the truth soon enough.
She shakes her head, “You know I live here, right?” I open my mouth in an exaggerated gasp and look at her in disbelief.
“I’m with a Fremont local?” I answer sarcastically and continue. “You can show me all the best spots. Just have to stop by a couple places first.”
We pull up to a white brick building that has a metal plate on the left side of the front wall in the shape of a paw print. To the right, in shiny metallic lettering reads, Pitbull Paradise. Verena’s eyes widen and she looks at me in complete shock. “You did not.”
I smile and turn off the engine, then grab her hand and give it a squeeze. I bring my other hand up to her chin and softly stroke her skin. “There’s not a thing in this world I wouldn’t do to see you smile. Anything you wish for is yours. Anything at all, Verena.”
Her eyes water and a small tear slides out of her tear duct and slips down the bridge of her nose. Placing a soft kiss on her lips, I wipe the tear with my thumb and pull back to look at her fully. “Let’s go get our girl.” Her smile brightens and I swear I’ve been blinded by the brightest light ever to be shone.
Flame hops out of the car and walks alongside us into Pitbull Paradise. The front desk lady smiles brightly when she notices my little monster. “Verena! How nice to see you! It’s been a long time. How’s school?”
Verena swallows and nods slightly, “Hey, Liz. Good. I’ve been good. How has everything been here? How’s Mística?”
The lady beams and waves her hands motioning for us to follow her. “She’s alright. Been a bit sad lately. She had made a couple friends here and spent most of her free time with them. One was rehomed and the other passed. She hasn’t wanted to connect with the other animals much since then.”
The woman leads us down a hallway and turns left to a new corridor. Past the doors and down a few cages, she stops and takes out a large ring of keys. Finding the correct one, she unlocks the gate and calls out to Mística. “Hey, pretty girl, some special folks are here to see ya!” The scratch of Mística’s nails tick against the floor as she pads her way out of the small room. Verena drops to her knees, her eyes watering when she sees that first spot of snow white fur.
“Mística! Hi, baby.” Verena chokes out. Mística’s eyes light up when her eyes meet V’s and her tail wags furiously. She dashes into Verena’s arms, tackling her and pinning her to the ground. Mística licks V’s face, making up for the years of kisses that they’ve lost. Verena breaks out into a laugh as she remains splayed on her back, her arms around her four-legged best friend. I’ll never get over that feeling that consumes me when her happiness shines brighter than every glittering star in the sky.
Verena sits up as Mística backs off of her. I step to the side and Flame walks out from her spot behind me. She treads carefully near Místic as Verena introduces the two. “Místi, this is Flame. She’s a very good girl, just like you, and I think you’ll love her.” She pats her leg and calls Flame over to her. The dogs sniff each other for a few seconds and before we know it, their tails are wagging and Flame rolls over in front of Mística. Her tongue hangs out the side of her mouth and Mística swats her in a playful manner.
I look at Verena and her giddiness tugs at my heartstrings. She whistles, getting Mística’s attention and her head swivels in my direction. “Come here, mamíta. There’s someone else you need to meet. He’s the whole reason we came here.” Her nails click against the floor as she inches toward me, a familiar light glinting in her eyes. It’s one that is reminiscent of the one Flame had when I first picked her up from the side of the road. She sniffs my shoes and then moves higher and sniffs my jeans. Her tail wags slightly before she brushes her side against me and looks up at me, her tail still wagging, tongue hanging out of her mouth now.
Verena chuckles, “She wants you to pet her.”
I bend down and pet her winter white coat. It’s the complete opposite of Flame’s short-haired pelage. “Hey there, beauty. Let’s go home, yeah?” She wags her tail in response and Verena stands.
She faces Liz and thanks her for her time. Five minutes later, we’re packed into the car and getting back on the road.