Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 111980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 373(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 373(@300wpm)
Her lips twitch, and is that an almost eye roll? More like she’s fighting it off. She says, “I’ve got it. Don’t worry. I know how to be ‘part of a team.’” She sketches air quotes.
I sigh, frustration rising in me—over me. “Chloe, I’m just trying to be—”
“Helpful. Right? But it’s all good. I’ll let you know when I need efficiency advice,” she says, flashing me a bright smile, the kind that looks legit. Since she is this person—all sunshine and sugar.
As if to prove my point, a few days later, she strolls in with vanilla lattes, setting one down for me on the counter. “These are from Pick Me Up. So don’t try to pull that I don’t like donuts routine on me. Especially when I need efficiency advice,” she says, then shows me a question on the script about a handful of extra dogs. “I need to get them from here to here. Do we have an hour’s worth of training time with all the daycare regulars?”
“Let me figure that out,” I say, then roll up my sleeves and check the schedule and the local dog talent releases. “We do.”
“Which dogs?”
I peer back at the scheduling software. “Looks like Dandelion and Gunnar for sure. There’s also Baxter.”
“Oh! The sheriff’s dog. I trained him.”
“You did it well. We’ll also have Shortcake, since Veronica’s in town. Florence has been bringing Bagel here. Your dad and Luca are dropping off Porcupine. And a few others.”
“Ooh, I can’t wait to see Porky,” she coos. But when she slides in next to me at the counter to get a closer look at the timing on the screen, I freeze.
Do not inhale her scent. Do not sniff her hair. Do not groan at her being that close to you.
I stay very, very still. When she stretches an arm and points to the screen, a stupid rumble works its way up my chest. I smother it with a fake cough.
“We can do it right here?” she asks.
Filthy images flash by. Me on her couch. Her on my lap. My hands in her hair. Her nails scratching my back.
“Yes,” I grit out, then glance at my phone. “I’m waiting for a call. From…a bar. About Yappy Hour.”
I turn and walk away without another word.
Yappy Hour, man. Is that the best you can do?
Evidently. But it’s true. I have been talking to a local bar about that. I just wish it didn’t sound so stupid.
* * *
Then it’s showtime. Or dress rehearsal, really. The place is ready. I made some fast adjustments to the front counter so that it could easily double as the register at a pet supply shop. It’s stacked with treats and dog bags, but we’ve added more stickers and some dog tags as well, since that’s a staple at most stores.
Chloe’s trained the regulars like Dandelion and Gunnar, and their job is simple. To play with toys as Ava—playing the local librarian—walks in with Jubilee and asks the world’s cutest dog to pick a new collar, only to be distracted by the pretty bartender who just dropped her dog off. That character will be played by Saffron.
Jubilee’s role? To give a “Really, Mom?” look to Ava at just the right moment when Ava’s flirting goes on for too long with Saffron. Then an eye roll.
I’m checking that we have exactly the proper setup at the front counter. No doubt the logistics producers will do that too, but my job is to make this shoot easy for everyone. As I check off the items on the list, the chatter behind me grows.
“Did you hear she can roll her eyes?” Levi squeals to Hazel, raving about the dog star as he brushes out a Maltipoo. “I can’t believe I’m going to meet her any minute.”
“I’m such a fan. But also of Ava Hartley. And Saffron Morgan. They’re all going to be here,” Hazel says while adjusting the dog beds on the floor for the regular canine crew.
“I can’t wait to tell my guy. He’s going to be green with envy. He’s obsessed with Jubilee. He’s seen all her vids,” Levi adds as he ties a bow around the Maltipoo’s collar.
“But you can’t take pics of the shoot itself,” Nisha puts in, emerging from the back to sweep unseen dirt.
“I know. Maybe I can sneak in a pic beforehand,” he muses.
Pretty sure that’s not how it’s going to work. “Levi, it’s best if we don’t play paparazzi today. Let’s just see how things go. It’s our first shoot. Only take a pic if the handler or producer invites you to. Got it?”
Levi sighs like I’ve deflated all the wind from his sails. “Okay.”
“And don’t forget, you’re being paid to help with the dogs who are here. To check them out at the end of the night,” I add, since it seems like I need to remind him. Maybe I sound like a dick, but somebody has to lay down the law.