“I just can’t look at him,” Annie adds. “Every time I do, he reminds me of Mom, you know? But it isn’t like I can give him to a
shelter or something. He deserves better. Mom loved him.”
“Yeah.” I pluck a Kleenex from a box and hand it to her, wondering what I can do to help. I’m a problem solver, after all. If I can take care of Salazar’s needs, surely I can help with Annie’s.
“Thanks.” She dabs at her eyes, then blows her nose again.
“Okay, look. Don’t worry about my problem,” I say. “What you’re going through matters more.”
“No, no. It’s my job to make sure your place is, you know…”
“Yeah, but…” I wish I could just evaporate like a dab of rubbing alcohol. If I’d known, I would’ve never bothered Annie.
Champ looks over at Annie, and Annie starts crying harder. Obviously, the idea of sending Champ away to some random stranger is bugging her, even though she can’t cope with him herself.
I make a decision. “You know what? I can take Champ for as long as you need, until you figure out what you really want to do with him.”
Annie looks at me, her eyes redder and even more swollen. “No, it’s okay,” she says weakly. “I’ll figure some—”
“It’ll be my pleasure.” I smile. It’s the least I can do to make up for the fact that I made her cry, even indirectly. Besides, I like dogs, and Mom’s fifth husband owned a golden retriever, so I have some experience. It isn’t a big deal.
And it solves my boyfriend problem. A dog is probably more reliable than a man anyway. Definitely more loyal. I don’t know a single dog that would dump you for another girl right after you’d fed it.
“Well…okay. Thank you, Kim. And I’ll give you a break on the rent to make up for the cost of feeding him and everything else.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m good.”
“I insist. Most people wouldn’t have offered.” Annie sniffs. “Thank you.”
I nod, happy to be able to put her mind at ease a little. Annie runs her hands down Champ’s head and neck, then whispers something in a low, soothing voice. The dog stares and wags his tail. She hands me a leash and a bag full of treats and kibbles.
She puts a couple of bowls in another bag for me. “These are his, too.”
Champ watches the exchange, his eyes tracking the food bag, and comes back over to me when I take it. I rub his head. “You can just let me know if you want to see him. It’s no problem.”
She nods. “Okay. He’s really well behaved and everything. Hardly ever barks. He just needs to be walked.”
“Got it. I’ll be a good mom, and if I have any questions about him, I’ll text you. As a matter of fact, why don’t I walk him a bit now, and then take him home?”
“Thanks, Kim. You’re a lifesaver.”
Chapter Eighteen
Wyatt
When Kim offered to find me a date to Geneva’s wedding, I thought she might be the lifesaver I needed, especially since Melanie has been proving to be more and more worthless every day. Dane said Kim was efficient, and Salazar sure acted like she could do no wrong.
But they’re totally wrong. She’s not a lifesaver. She’s the devil. Evil incarnate.
Tonight’s date sucks. Like, I want to murder the woman sucks. Every other sentence out of her mouth is a criticism or disparagement of someone.
“Look at that waitress. I’m surprised she can even get between the tables with a butt that wide.”
“How can she walk around without covering her face when she has a zit that large? I’d just kill myself.”
“Nobody gets food stamps because they need them. Have you seen those people? They’re huge! They could use some serious dieting.”
Does Kim really think a woman like this is an acceptable date? What the hell happened to her? Maybe she’s gotten out of touch with the real world after hanging out with billionaires so much. She might not be one, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t part of their whole—