TWENTY-TWO CUTE PUPPY INCOMING
TWENTY-TWO
CUTE PUPPY INCOMING
“Heard you want dog?”
Prepared as I might have been to meet Amara, when she drawls the question in my ear, I still jump.
Rachel, Wynter’s mom, clucks her tongue. “Amara, do you have to terrify my guests?”
“Oh! I’m not terrified, Ms. Laker! She just startled me.”
“Amara will accept either emotion, Victoria.” Her lips purse in disapproval. “Can’t you peddle your animals elsewhere? We just took in that damn budgie. It never stops squawking.”
“Budgie friendly animal.” Amara bares her teeth. “Nobody friendly in this house.”
That earns her an eye-roll.
“I do actually want a dog,” I insert sheepishly. “A cute girl, if you have one?”
“Cute? Dog not cute. Dog bred for biting.”
My eyes widen. “You’d get along great with my fiancé.”
Amara sneers. “I come back with dog.”
Relief hits me as the woman disappears. “Why is she so scary?”
“She’s feral. Does whatever she wants.” To her mom, Wynter inquires, “Do you think she can speak better English than she makes out? She’s no dummy.”
“Probably. We all have our security blankets.” Rachel taps her phone screen. “Do you know why Wynter isn’t attending my gala tonight, Victoria?”
Wynter immediately blushes. Man, she’s terrible at lying.
“She’s going on a date.”
“A date?!” Rachel sputters, focus darting from her cell to her daughter, which tells me that was a ruse.
“A date?!” Wynter squeaks, agog.
“Yeah. You know. With that hockey player? In the city.” I nudge her with my elbow. Because she still looks like I’m oncoming traffic on the verge of mowing her down, I quickly add, “I’ll be there, Ms. Laker. I didn’t realize you were the organizer!”
“Rachel, please.”
“Rachel.” I beam at her. “I’m looking forward to it. I’m attending with Maxim Lyanov. Do you know him?”
“Do I know him? Of course I do.” Her brow puckers as she looks me over. At first, I think it’s in dismissal. Then, she leans into the table. “Vasov?”
“Um, yes. That’s my last name.”
“I heard about that arrangement.” Her mouth tightens. “He’s not forcing you, is he, Victoria?”
Wynter, back on some semblance of solid ground, snorts. “You can’t force Victoria to do anything she doesn’t want.”
“So, you genuinely wanted a dog?”
I twirl a strand of hair around my finger. “I like to live down to expectations.”
“How… interesting.” Her focus shifts to Wynter. “You’re very different people, aren’t you?”
Wynter pulls a face. “You can say it. I’m a dork and she’s cool.”
“Hardly!” Rachel loops her arm around her daughter’s shoulders. “I don’t think you’re a dork at all. You’re just…” She hesitates. “A people pleaser.”
Insulted, she tsks. “A people pleaser? Ugh.”
I smirk. “If the shoe fits…”
“Bitch!”
We both cackle.
Rachel’s gaze softens as it settles on me. Somehow, I think I gained her approval?
I didn’t intend on meeting Wynter’s family. Just thought I’d do a drive-by dog fostering, but Rachel insisted on me coming in for coffee before heading to the city and I’m super glad that I did now.
“So, who’s the date?”
Wynter groans, “MOM!”
“What? You owe me an answer if you’re skipping out on the gala!” When Wynter covers her face with her hands, Rachel confides, “I thought she was all about Priest.”
I scold, “You have a crush on your priest?!”
Apparently, the O’Donnellys have instilled some Catholic values into me. Who knew?
“No. It’s his road name,” she mutters from behind her hands where she’s still hiding.
“Ohhh. A biker?” I yank on her wrists. “Didn’t think you had it in you. You’re such a good girl.”
“I am not!”
“Are too!”
“Girls.” I can tell Rachel’s intrigued as she peppers, “So? Who’s the date?”
“A hockey player.” I repeat the lie before Wynter forgets.
“I didn’t know you liked hockey.”
“She doesn’t. She just likes his glutes.”
“Well, I can’t blame you for that, sweetie.”
“MOM!”
“She likes other things too,” I sing, grinning when Wynter swipes at me with her hand.
“I don’t believe you!”
“We won’t tell your father, Wynter,” Rachel says dryly. “He doesn’t like Priest, but I doubt he’d prefer a hockey player. I, on the other hand, am relieved you’re moving on.”
“Can we please change the topic?” Wynter begs.
“Of course.”
“Dog. Here!” Amara’s bark has everyone at the table jumping. A smug gleam pops into the woman’s eyes like she knew that’d happen and pre-planned it. “Dog cute enough?”
My request clearly still disgusts her.
But my heart melts.
“Ohhhhh, my god. So adorable!” I hold out my hands. “Yes! So cute!!”
Amara deposits the dog on my lap, folds her arms, and studies me. “Had shots. No pee in house. Need puppy milk. Mama dead.”
Sniffling, I croon, “We’re both orphans, huh, baby?”
Amara’s expression softens, but Rachel clears her throat. “You’re sure about this, Victoria? Puppies are a lot of responsibility.”
“I’m sure. I have guards and they can do the walking and stuff, no worries.”
Rachel snorts. “Not sure that’s what I meant.”
I press my nose to the fluff ball’s fur and when she licks it, I squeal.
“Hurt ears,” Amara admonishes, tugging on her own. “Lower voice.”
Because I don’t want her to take the dog away from me, I whisper, “We’re going to be the bestest friends.”
“Need more dog?”
My mouth works. “Um, no. One’s enough.”
“Want more, come back. Have plenty. Look after or I find you and hurt you.”
As I gape at her, she stomps off. Wynter gleefully assures me, “She means it.”
“I guessed as much!”
Rachel reaches for her coffee cup. “Your mother…”
“Murdered,” I say quickly, knowing it’s best to rip off the Band-Aid.
“How didn’t I know that?” Wynter gasps.
“I don’t talk about it. Anyway, it’s not something you bring up in everyday conversation, is it?”
Wynter brushes my shoulder with a hand. “I’m so sorry, Victoria.”
“It happened a long time ago.” My smile’s probably brave. At least, I attempted bravery. Not sure it lands when both of them turn sympathetic expressions my way. I jump up. “Okay! I’d better go now. I have places to be.”
“Wait a second, Victoria. I’ll have you escorted to the turnpike.”
“Oops! I was supposed to do that,” Wynter mumbles.
“That’s not necessary,” I protest.
“Of course it is.” Rachel’s eyes are still gentle and she pats my shoulder with warmth that wasn’t there before.
“She likes you,” Wynter whispers.
My nose scrunches. “Because I’m an orphan?”
Wynter tuts. “Of course not.” A glower aims itself at me before she whisper-shouts, “What the hell were you thinking? Saying I was going on a date?!”
“Worked, didn’t it?” At her groan, I grumble, “You were tongue-tied. I had to think fast.”
“Think faster next time,” she grumbles back.
“Girls,” Rachel shouts. “Nyx says he’ll escort Victoria. Are you ready now?”
Nyx? Ohhh, boy. No way.
“Rachel?”
She pops her head around the door. “Yep?”
“Can it be anyone but him?”
Her lips work and she grimaces. “Oh, sorry, sweetie. Of course.”
No way am I about to get within twenty feet of the man who treated my sister like dirt! Even if he’s on his bike and I’m in Shay’s car!
“Link says he’ll do it, Victoria. Are you ready?”
Ignoring Wynter’s questioning look, I tumble the bundle of fluff into my arms and get to my feet. Then, I gag. “One second, Rachel. I think the puppy peed on me.”