CAITLYN
Ifeel like I’m walking on air as I glide around the kennels, and even Mamma pug making a mess everywhere doesn’t dampen my good mood. I clean it up, and bathe the dogs, before letting them outside for their morning exercise.
As the dogs frolic outside, I check my work emails.
The pug puppies will be ready to be sold in two weeks, and we already have a huge waiting list of people wanting to buy the dogs.
I’ll have to vet each one carefully first before accepting any offers.
Even though I’m a dog breeder, I try to do it as ethically as possible.
I also have some emails about male stud chow-chows, but sadly, most of them are out of my current price range.
While I will make good money from the pugs, that money will have to go into the maintenance of the kennels and replenishing my savings.
Still, it won’t be long until my dreams of finding a mate for Bella become a reality.
As I slowly empty my inbox, my thoughts drift to Joshua and our date the previous night.
Is it crazy I’m falling for him already?
He treats me with such reverence, respect and care.
I expected him to be disappointed I didn’t invite him back to my place, but instead he was understanding and patient. Nothing like David.
Honestly, I don’t think I’ll be able to resist inviting Josh back to my place the next time we have a date.
After our first night together, my body is longing for him.
I’ve never had a lover that cares about my pleasure as much as their own, but Joshua is proving to be different.
And he’s so hot. I’ve always appreciated that Josh is a good-looking man -- it runs in the family, after all -- and he’s got a toned, athletic body, from all the hours he spends in the gym.
But I’d never looked at him in that way before until the other night, and then I saw him in a whole new light.
I’m startled from my thoughts as the front door to the kennels opens. As we operate on an appointment only basis, I’m not expecting anyone. I look up, and my blood goes cold as I see David approaching.
Part of me had worried seeing him again would bring all my old feelings flooding back, but instead of love, all I feel is revolution. I can’t get the picture of him with the other woman out of my mind.
“What do you want?” I practically spit.
“Caity, I just want to talk.” His use of my nickname makes my body bristle.
“I have nothing to say to you,” I grind out.
David inches closer, reaching for my hand, but I pull away. “Please, Cait. I'm sorry. I made a mistake, I admit that. But I love you. I can’t live without you. Please, can’t we just work this out?”
“Every word out of your mouth is a lie, David. It’s always the same. You cheat, and promise it will never happen again, and then a few months later, you cheat again. It’s the same thing, every time, and I’m not falling for it again. We’re done. It’s over. I’m seeing someone else.”
David sneers. “Well, that didn’t take you long, did it?”
“Don’t try and turn this back on me,” I bite back fiercely. “You’re the one who cheated. I never did anything wrong. I gave you my love and loyalty, and you constantly threw that back in my face.”
“It won’t last. This other guy won’t love you like I do. Give it a few weeks, and you’ll come crawling back to me, begging me for another chance.”
“There’s more chance of me becoming president than there is of me ever begging you for another chance. You need to leave.”
David grabs my arm, and yanks my body towards him, so he’s pressed up against me. Once, this would have made my heart thunder with desire, but now all I feel is revolution. I try to break away, but David is too strong.
He leans in, his breath hot on my face. “I’ll be watching you, Caity, and I’ll be waiting. I’ll never let another man have you. You’re mine forever. Do you hear that? Mine!”
He crushes his lips against mine, but I refuse to melt into him. Maybe in the past this would have been enough to break me, to have me running back to him, but not now. Not since I’ve experienced what it’s like being with a man who actually respects me.
I remain cold and still like a statue, as David tries to plunder my mouth with his tongue, but I don’t part my lips.
Finally, he’s done, and shoves me back. Without another word, he turns and stalks out of the kennels like a predator.
Only when I hear his car pull away do I allow myself to shudder all over. I rush to the front door, lock it, and then set the alarm. I hole up in the breakroom, a blanket wrapped around my shoulders, as I finally break down in tears.
I cry until my eyes sting and my throat feels raw. Sniffling, I cross the room to the restroom to grab some tissue. I blow my nose, wipe my eyes and then straighten.
I’m not going to let David win.
I turn the kettle on to make a cup of coffee and pull myself together. I put plenty of milk and sugar in my coffee, and after a few sips, I’m starting to feel much calmer.
With the calm comes clarity.
David has controlled my life for much too long.
Now that I’m free of him, I won’t let him have any more power over me.
I will get security cameras installed both here, and at my apartment, and report David to the police.
If he shows his face again, I’ll bring charges against him and get a restraining order.
I finish my coffee, and head to the back to check on Mama pug and her pups. They seem to have tired themselves out in the yard, so I call them in for food, and then after they’ve eaten, they settle in their beds to sleep.
With the animals’ content, I go back to the main office, and turn off the alarm -- though I don’t unlock the doors. To keep myself busy, I start sending out email updates about the pug puppies and arranging meetings with prospective buyers.
I also message one of the chow-chow stud sellers, hoping maybe I can arrange a deal for a cheaper price if I offer to share the profits from any puppies conceived.
I’ve been putting my dreams aside for David for too long. Now it’s time to focus on myself.
As I dream about the future, my thoughts drift to Joshua, and I picture him beside me, as the kennels grow.
How understanding and patient Joshua was last night during our date, compared to how forceful and controlling David was earlier makes me realize David was never the right man for me.
I just let him trick me with his charming lies.
But Josh … Josh is different. Josh never puts pressure on me.
Instead, he simply supports me being the person I want to be.
Even when I was still with David, Joshua was always there to listen if I’d had a bad day at work, or needed some fitness advice, or anything else.
For the three years we’ve known each other, Joshua has been a rock in my life.
My heart fills with lightness and hope thinking about him. I know it’s early days, but I really feel like we could have a future together.