4. You can take the stray out of the shelter…
CHAPTER 4
YOU CAN TAKE THE STRAY OUT OF THE SHELTER…
CHARLIE
N ights and weekends, I swap cuffs for collars.
All because my sister is living her dream of running a rescue shelter.
We might not be related by blood, but I’ll do anything for Reese, and at least three nights a week, anything translates to whatever she volunteers me for .
I love it almost as much as I love her, and that’s a hell of a lot. I’ll gladly take shoveling this shit over the hot air Roberts spews, and also, what kind of monster doesn’t want to spend their spare time around puppies?
They’re puppies .
I brace myself beside Reese, who’s staring down a tabby named Saffron. “Ready?” I ask.
She nods.
“I’ll open on three,” I say. “You grab her.”
“Careful, she’s scrappy.”
Saffron eyes me like it’s high noon, poised and ready to strike. It’s the exact same look a teenage Reese used to give me when I’d drag her out of bed before nine a.m.
“I can handle you, can’t I?”
Chuckling, I duck out of the way before her elbow can hit me.
Once the stubborn kitty is safely out of the way, we get to work freshening up the kennels. The small inner-city pet rescue only has space for six dogs and eight cats, but Reese and Mae work their asses off to find a loving home for every single animal that joins us.
Reese follows after me, replacing blankets and water as we go. “Let me get this straight. You’ll still be doing your old job, plus working on this new project, and they aren’t even giving you a raise?”
“Not a cent. They’re calling it a stretch project,” I say, rolling my eyes. “Free labor, basically.”
“I will never regret going to vet school. Screw corporate life. Even if you earn twice what I do, I’ll take four legs over two any day.” She wrangles her chaos of red curls into a bun.
I throw my arm around her shoulders. “That’s because you’re the smart one.”
Reese shakes her head, but it’s true. I made my bed when I took this job. Would I rather be doing something I enjoyed, instead of drowning in emails every day? Damn right I would. But the pay’s good and the money paved the way for my sister, so it’s really no choice at all.
This is all Reese and I dreamed of as kids.
Pets meant forever, or as close to forever as two misfits in the foster system could imagine. Before Reese, the closest thing I could get to unconditional love came from animals. As long as I looked after them and loved them back, they’d never leave. They’d never decide there was something better out there.
Never dump me on the doorstep of a stranger and walk away.
Reese is the only person I trusted to stay by my side.
All the years we struggled, crammed into tiny apartments with neighbors who were extremely vocal and usually fighting, were worth it for this.
She’s gotten her happy ending, and no one deserves it more.
It’s been a long time since I dared to dream of my own ride-off-together-into-the-sunset ending, but as long as Reese has it, that’s all I need.
She stills, hugging a blanket to her chest. “I feel responsible.”
“Don’t,” I say, my tone firm. We’ve had this conversation too many times since Reese needed help getting this place off the ground. If only one of us gets to do right by the world, I’m glad it’s her.
I can suck it up and take the hits. That’s just what I do.
Besides, the locals love Pet Pawsitive. It’s the best thing either of us has ever done, and I’m so fucking proud of her.
“Once I get this role, it’ll get easier,” I say.
She arches a brow. “That’s what you said before you became a senior.”
Don’t I know it. I’m a broken record at this point, but that’s why I’m going to make sure I make lead. “Yeah, well. They said it would take five years before I would get promoted again, but I’ve done it in three.”
Beside me, she shakes out the throw and lays it inside the cage, mouth pursed to the side. Classic thinking face. “And they really have you competing for it? Isn’t that a little cruel?”
My pulse jumps at the thought of her , but I ignore it. “It’s only cruel if we play into their game.”
Her short laugh echoes off the cinderblock walls. “You’re the most competitive person I know. I’ve seen you make grown men cry.”
I smile at her.
Some of my proudest moments involve taking misogynistic dude bros to task. I may have broken a few knuckles, but it always felt like righting the wrongs of the universe, one left hook at a time.
These days I keep my fists holstered, but that doesn’t mean I won’t use everything else at my disposal to stand up for myself.
“Just be careful,” Reese adds. “This chick’s probably got it out for you, and for good reason, after what happened last year. I’m glad you apologized, at least.”
Emma definitely has it out for me, but at the moment, I have bigger issues.
Ops couldn’t care less that I’m being tasked with extra work. They hate that I was moved up to the twenty-fourth floor without their stamp of approval.
I don’t blame them. The work won’t stop just because I have ambitions. Throw in trying to outmaneuver Cruella, and it was already damn exhausting.
Beds, blankets, toys, bowls. Reese and I move like a well-oiled machine until each kennel is fresh and clean and every paw is accounted for.
“Nice,” she says, giving me a high five. “Thanks again for taking Saint last night. How did she do on her walk?”
I scratch behind the Great Dane’s ears, and she wags her tail. “She’s a trooper. Made it all the way to the second corner before we had to slow down. Should be able to visit her boyfriend next week.”
“No limping?”
“None.”
Reese sags in pure relief. Her heart is too pure for this world. “Fantastic. And you’re still good to take Nugget for a doggie sleepover on Tuesday?”
“Of course. You know it’s not a problem. Whatever?—”
“Yeah, yeah. Anytime I need you, whatever I need,” Reese teases.
Good to know I’ve gotten predictable.
“So,” she drags out in a tone I know all too well. I brace myself. “Are you free Friday night?”
I eye her warily. “Should be, why?”
“Mae mentioned her cousin?—”
I hold up a hand. “I’m gonna stop you right there.” If I had a nickel for every time my sister set me up, I’d be richer than the Conways.
“She’s a historian, Charlie, and she’s super cute.”
I set my hands on my hips. “Then you date her.”
Mae—with perfect timing—chooses that moment to walk in with Nugget. Reese waits as her girlfriend and business partner secures the fluffy Maltese in the last kennel before catching her finger in Mae’s belt loop, pulling her close, and slinging an arm around her waist.
“If Mae wasn’t the love of my life, maybe I would,” Reese says. “One date, Charlie. What’s the harm?”
We’ve been having this conversation for two years. Ever since Lucy left and I decided relationships were too much trouble.
Yeah, it hurt, but it’s not like I’m still pining for her. Last I heard, she’s engaged. I’m happy for her. She dodged a bullet, honestly. I’ve never been good at anything I couldn’t walk away from.
Breaking up was the best thing for both of us.
Who cares that every damn time I think about the future, Lucy’s voice echoes in my mind, saying, “I don’t think I ever loved you.”
She wasn’t the first to throw me aside, but I’ll make sure she’s the last.
Mae, as always, plays backup. “Bar hookups are fun and all, but don’t you want something more?” She brushes her bangs out of her eyes, and the chain mail of earrings cascading around her ear glitter against her spiky black hair.
“No. I’m good with what I have right now.”
And I am. For once in my godforsaken life, things are fine. There are no creditors after me, and our bills are paid.
Hell, I even have savings.
Things are fine.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love how much you help us out around here, but you deserve to find love again. After what happened with Lucy?—”
I toss my head back with a huff. “Enough of the chick flick moments. That was years ago. I’m over it. I’m perfectly happy getting what I need when I need it, no strings attached. I like it this way.”
Reese throws her hands in the air. “Well, I tried. Now, get out of here. Go spend time in that empty apartment by yourself.”