Page 88 of Work It Out
They were dating, weren’t they? She’d never had a boyfriend before.
Not the time for that worry, Rayah decided as her stomach bottomed out. She had more immediate problems than her relationship status, like the reporter closing in on them. Intellectually, she didn’t care who knew they were together or what they thought they knew about her past. She was tired of living in fear of seeing her face all over the internet again. But fear obviously didn’t give two shits about her intellect, because when the camera flashed, she thought she might puke.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
November 8
Tweet by Jake Newman @NotJustAnotherChris
Featuring a picture of Hogrid in Jake’s coat
Purse piglets, because purse dogs are so 2003. (Just kidding. #AnimalsAren’tAccessories)
Rayah always looked beautiful, but Jake had to admit—at least to himself—that green wasn’t her best color. The piglet, however, was an adorable addition. Zandar thrust Hogrid into Rayah’s arms and the little guy snuggled right into his new favorite bed and oinked at Jake.
“Keep gloating,” he grumbled. “Bacon’s sounding awfully good.”
Rayah glared at him, covering one of Hogrid’s ears with her palm and pressing the other against her chest.
Oink, oink.
Translation:Nener, nener.
A short discussion about custody of Hogrid ensued, but Rayah’s cabin was the only option. Everyone else lived in apartments.
“Mr. Newman.” The reporter walked away from Chad and pushed past Jared. “Amanda Benton withThe Journal. I’d love to ask you a few questions.”
The entire team closed ranks around them.
Lightning flashed in the distance, followed too quickly by aboomof thunder that made the ground tremble. Rayah jumped, and she must’ve squeezed Hogrid too hard, because the piglet let out another squeal and struggled to break free. Of course, Jake had his suspicions the big ham hock was milking it when Rayah started cooing to him. The oinker settled right back into her breasts and rubbed his chin all over her.
“Sorry,” Jake said, feeling zero remorse. “I need to get my girlfriend and our new—” He paused. “Do pigs qualify as fur babies?” When Rayah stared at him like he’d lost his mind, he shrugged, preferring to think she was pondering his question about fur babies, rather than overthinking his assertion that she was his girlfriend. “I need to get them home before the storm hits.” As if punctuating his point, another bolt of lightning arced through the sky, followed by a thunderous crash. Hogrid started to shake.
“One quick comment on your new physique?” Amanda pressed, holding her phone out toward him, presumably recording whatever he said. “Should we expect to see you in superhero tights soon? Or is the new you just the result of dating a former gymnast?”
She was fast. He’d give her that.
“Miss Summers has done amazing things to my body.” Jake grinned wickedly. “You know, to help me get in shape. But I’m hoping to avoid tights, thanks.” He placed his hand at the small of Rayah’s back and urged her toward the parking lot where they’d left her wind-up toy car. Good thing Hogrid was small yet. A smile pulled at his lips. He wondered if Rayah knew how big pigs got. Even the smaller of the “teacup” breeds could end up the size of a chunky beagle and weigh twice as much. Good thing she was strong.
“That’s not a no to the superhero part!” Amanda shouted.
Jake didn’t reply.
Thanks to some quality time with a heat pack and the boot, he barely limped now, but the trek still took a while. Half the town congratulated Rayah, patted Jake on the back, or gave Hogrid a quick pet as they passed, but they didn’t linger. No one wanted to get wet. Their trio had almost reached the lot when the skies opened up.
The rain came down fast and hard. Jake tried to tell Rayah to run for it, but she refused. By the time they squeezed into her car, they were soaked to the bone. Poor Hogrid. Two drenchings had been too much. His badass mohawk was no more, replaced by a wet mop that dripped into his big, dark eyes, and he trembled with cold.
Jake cranked the heat, and once he’d buckled himself in, stuffed Hogrid up his shirt. Little dude wasn’t amused at first, but he seemed to get the gist quickly enough, tromping around in a circle (on Jake’s junk) before snuggling in against his stomach, spikes and all.
The ride home was a nightmare. A few miles out of town, the downpour turned into a monsoon. How Rayah kept the car on the road, he had no idea. The asphalt was barely visible, and the tires slid more than once. He would’ve suggested they pull over, but there was no safe place to do that on the windy mountain road. When she finally bumped up the long gravel drive toward the cabin, Jake let out a slow, measured sigh of relief.
Rayah nodded, understanding. She shifted the car into park and leaned back against the seat with her eyes closed. Her arms flopped to her sides, and she shook out the tightness in her hands from having them locked around the wheel.
“Let’s never do that again,” Jake said.
She nodded without opening her eyes. “Agreed.”
At the sound of her voice, Hogrid wriggled out from under Jake’s shirt and hopped the narrow gap between Jake’s lap and Rayah’s, planted his front hooves on her chest, one on each boob, then stretched up to nuzzle her chin. “I’d complain about desertion and ungrateful heat-stealers, but I’d drop me like a hot potato to get my hooves on you, too.”
