Page 6 of Promised to the Nightmare Realm
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’syours-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 tellsomeone. “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 isthatgood. 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 tobe 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 isqualityfabric.”
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.
