It won’t always be so hard.
I’m in control.
I’m… going to bed.
Flopping back, I pulled the blankets over my head and gave up.
Chapter Seven
Right
Him
EVEN IF I hadn’t known her schedule, I could tell where she was heading from her mood.
The shelter.
It was the only time there was any excitement in her step. Any emotion in her expression.
It was the only time she seemed even slightly happy.
Moving around her apartment, she gathered her things before heading for the door. She paused suddenly and backtracked to her kitchen island.
What’re you up to?
After a moment, she picked up something and left.
I patiently waited until the coast was clear before going into her building. I got my answer about what she’d done when I saw a piece of paper taped to her door.
Flower delivery person: You have the wrong apartment.
No, I don’t.
Setting the vase down, I pulled the note from the door and pocketed it.
It’s the right apartment because it’s sure as fuck the right person.
Briar
For the dogs with stupid names
I’VE SAID IT before, and I’ll say it a million times more.
Animals are better than people.
Sitting on the hard floor in the shelter, I let the dog climb all over me. The way I figured, if an eighty-pound pitty took me out, that was how I went. There were far worse ways to die. But even with his immense size—and the fact he thought he was a lap dog—he was careful in his pursuit to lick every inch of my face.
Yeah, real killer beast and menace to society he was.
People rarely wanted to visit the pit bulls, much less adopt them. And those who were interested never passed our vigorous screenings, either because they had no clue how to train one or because we suspected they wanted to use them for fighting. That meant pit bulls were left to pay the price for shitty humans.
I could relate.
One of the metal doors squeaked open and then closed with a heavy clang before voices echoed in the concrete room of cages.
I recognized my boss’ voice when she asked, “Do you currently have a dog?”
Uh-oh.
Busted.
“No,” whoever said. “We were just driving by and saw the shelter, so we thought we’d stop.”
Oh. Impulse pet adoption.
Yeah, those end well.
Sue gave an unintelligible murmur that said she was thinking the same thing. “Well, these are the pups we have waiting for their fur-ever home. This sweet pit bull is Mr. Worldwide…” She did a double take and her words trailed off when she saw me sitting in the cage. “And that’s Briar, my best employee. She’s not available to adopt, otherwise this whole place would fall apart.” Despite her kind words, her eyes were narrowed and her lips curved down.
As were mine when I saw the way the couple eyed Mister with disdain—and not just because his name was a stupid play on the singer Pitbull’s nickname. Mister didn’t look too impressed with them either as he stood protectively in front of me.
Yup.
Animals are way better than people.
Sue gestured down the line of cages. “Go ahead and keep meeting the other dogs, and I’ll be right with you.”
The couple happily moved on, likely looking for a tiny, cute toy breed that came already trained, never barked, and was in perfect health so they wouldn’t incur any vet bills.
They’d have better luck adopting a unicorn.
“What’re you still doing here?” Sue asked. “Your shift ended over an hour ago.”
Oops. Time flies when you’re snuggling dogs.
“I was just visiting Mr. Worldwide.” Sue opened her mouth, but I continued. “And I clocked out before I came in here.”
That appeased her enough that her features softened. “Is he doing okay?”
“Sad and lonely earlier. He just needed a little love.”
My kindred spirit.
Sue’s smile was lined with pity, but I wasn’t sure if it was aimed at me or Mister. “We’ve got a visit scheduled on Saturday for him. They’ve already passed screening.”
That lightened my mood, though my pessimistic brain kept me from putting the cart before the horse. Or the home before the dog. “I’ll be here.”
“Good. He’s always calmer around you.”
I scratched behind his ear, just where he liked. “It’s mutual, huh, buddy?”
“Now, get out of here. You should be off doing something fun, not sitting around work after your shift.”
“I’ll give him a quick brush down and then go.”
“Why do I feel like I’m going to circle back in another hour and you’ll still be here?” she muttered before walking away to catch up with the couple.
I cut it close but was only there for another forty-five minutes before dragging myself away—and that was only because I had a bus to catch.
When I got to my building, I walked inside and stopped at the entrance of my hall. Even from a distance, I saw them.
Flowers.
Someone can’t read addresses or notes. Got it.
Walking over, I glanced at the door to see the note was gone.
No wonder they left them, the note must’ve fallen before they got here.
I’ll add extra tape tomorrow.
I picked up the vase. The bouquet was even lovelier than the last. It was packed with an abundance of blue, purple, and white flowers, but something niggled at me—well, something beyond the fact they didn’t belong there.
With each new delivery, the flowers looked progressively… off. I finally realized why.
The petals were sparser than they should be.
Weird.
Why is someone leaving their old, wilting flowers outside my door?
Except they didn’t look like they were wilting. The stems were strong and green, lined with lush leaves. The remaining petals were velvety soft and bright, not faded and dry.
I was going to add the vase to the rest in the lobby but I couldn’t force myself to take a step. Despite their flaws—or maybe because of them—they were the prettiest flowers I’d ever seen.
It’s not my fault someone keeps leaving them at the wrong door. I tried to do the right thing.
I’ll bring them out to the lobby in the morning.
I unlocked my door and headed inside with the unusual arrangement. Standing back, I scanned
