and heads straight for the shower. Just changing into a new outfit wouldn’t erase the lingering scent.
I want to join him in the shower, but the Dobermans come over and whine for attention. I pat them all, still kind of embarrassed that they saw what Tolyan and I did last night. I didn’t notice in the throes of sexual haze, but Tolyan apparently told them to stay back.
It’s a little awkward, but I should think of it like watching a documentary. People watch documentary programs on wildlife mating and don’t consider it pornography. It’s probably the same thing for dogs.
“Isn’t that so?” I whisper to Stravinsky.
He looks at me without a response. I’m certain he’s trying to communicate, “If you give me a treat, I’ll give the answer you want.”
“I don’t think so.” I straighten up, grab a glass of water and pull out my phone. An alert pops up that Lyosha is following me back. Cool.
Seeing the alert makes me realize I haven’t heard from Courtney in a while. She didn’t text me on my birthday, which I presumed was because she got busy and forgot or something. She does have a life in Philadelphia. But she’s never gone this long without at least a quick hello.
Although I rarely reach out first, this seems like the perfect time to check up on her, like she’s done countless times for me.
Tapping a message out on the phone, I move around the dining table with the water in my hand. Something hot and questing pokes me right between my ass cheeks.
“Ack!” I jump and spin at the same time. Water sloshes over the rim and splashes all over Tolyan’s jacket. “Shit!”
Stravinsky moves back with a whine. Tchaikovsky and Mussorgsky give him a pointed look. If they could, they would be waving fingers at him.
Tolyan keeps his phones in his jacket pockets. I take the drenched jacket and pull out both. Thankfully, they aren’t too wet. Things should be okay.
“Stravinsky, don’t you ever stick your nose there like that again.” I wag my finger at him. “Bad dog!”
He hangs his head. I get some paper towels and wipe up the water as best I can, then sit down to finish my text.
–Me: Hey, girlfriend. You doing okay?
–Courtney: Fine, but why are you texting from this number?
–Me: Why wouldn’t I be?
–Courtney: Thought you got hacked and had to get a new number.
–Me: What are you talking about?
Three dots show, then vanish, then show again. Finally she responds.
–Courtney: How do I know you’re who you say you are?
Is she serious? But wait—maybe Roy contacted her, pretending to be me to lure her into something. It’s possible he’s figured out that she and I still talk.
I take a quick selfie and send it to her.
–Me: There. Trust me now?
–Courtney: OMG! Then who was that other person? She sounded just like you! Lemme check right now. This is so weird!
Is she going to confront the pretender?
Holy shit. No, no, no! If it’s Roy, there’s no telling what he might do to her.
–Me: No, don’t!
Just as I send the text, Tolyan’s phone buzzes once. Twice. Three times.
It sounds urgent, as more texts pop up. I glance at the screen in case it’s from Lyosha or Elizabeth with some important business or something. Sometimes she contacts him after hours.