“First of all, it’s a she. Second of all, the dog is doing exactly what she’s supposed to be doing. She’s protecting my property, her home. You don’t get to decide what happens at my house. You are not the king. You’re a small man with a small mind.”
“Keep harassing me,” he said. “This is gold. I can’t wait to sue you. You’ll be thrown out of the neighborhood along with your dogs.”
I smiled at him. “Oh, Mr. Wedge, you don’t have that kind of power. I have the power to decide what happens in my life. And you know what, I’m going to give you the win on this. There will be a for sale sign up by the end of the week. I will take the first offer I get. I will do just about anything to be away from you. You are one of the worst neighbors in this country. You might win this round, but who really wins?”
“I do,” he said. “I want you gone. That’s all I want.”
“Good,” I said. “I will be. I’m going to buy a new house, in a better neighborhood with nicer neighbors. My life is going to be filled with happiness. It’s going to be a peaceful existence. I’m going to forget all about you. You’ll be a bad dream, but you? You’re going to remember me. You’re going to have to find someone else to torture. You will live the rest of your days a miserable man. If it’s not me, it will be someone else. I win.”
Reese slid his hand into mine and pulled. “Let’s go.”
“I wish you luck on finding a better neighbor than I was,” I called out. “I hope it’s a family of bikers with dogs. One of these days, you are going to fuck with the wrong people, Mr. Wedge. You’ll have no one to blame but yourself. You’re a sad, lonely man and your life will be filled with misery. Good luck on battling karma.”
Reese was physically pulling me away. I was shaking with rage. He said nothing as he opened my front door and escorted me inside. I walked straight to the kitchen and opened the cupboard above the fridge. I stretched and reached until Reese reached over my head and pulled down the bottle of tequila. “Is this what you’re after?”
“Yes.”
I grabbed a shot glass and poured myself a full shot before slamming it down and refilling the glass. I splashed tequila over the side. My eyes were burning along with my throat. I took the second shot and paused to let the liquid roll down my throat.
“Want another?” Reese asked dryly. “If so, you should probably sit down. Once it hits, you’re not going to be able to stand up.”
“I’m fine,” I said.
I refilled the glass, took a third shot, and decided it was enough. I slid into a chair at the table and let it all sink in. “Fuck me,” I groaned.
Reese sat down and scooted close with his knees touching mine. He took his hands in mine and gently caressed his thumb over the back of my hand. “What can I do?”
“Blow up Mr. Wedge,” I answered.
He smirked. “I could arrange it, but his little video is probably going to come back to bite you in the ass.”
“I can’t believe him,” I said. “I truly believe he is the most miserable human on the planet. I can’t live here. I will not lose my dogs. They will not go back into the shelter. It will be a cold day in hell when that happens. I truly will blow up his house if it comes to that. I will not go down without a fight.”
He was smiling at me, which seemed really inappropriate in the moment. “You’re so fucking hot.”
I scowled at him. “Are you seriously trying to make light of this situation?”
“Not at all,” he said. “I’m just telling you I’m so hot for you right now. I like this fiery side of you. But that doesn’t negate the real issue. Do you want me to hire you a lawyer?”
I shook my head. “No. I’m going to move. I’ll put the house up for sale. I can’t live next to that man anymore. He is making my life miserable. I refuse to give him that power. If he wants to be hateful, that’s on him.”
“What will you do if the house sells?” he asked. “I’m not sure if you realize the market is pretty hot. You’ll get a good offer on this place, but it won’t be enough to buy anything like it in the same price range.”
“Now you sound like Rich,” I said.
“We’re both worried about you,” he replied. “But I agree, living here next to that man is not good. I don’t trust him not to do something to you or the dogs.”
“I feel like I was fighting a losing battle from day one,” I said with disgust. “My dogs are good. Look at them. They just want a home where they can be safe and comfortable. I don’t know why he is so against that. Who could not like animals?”
“You have a big heart,” he said. “The biggest. It’s what makes you you. I wish I could see the world the way you do. I can’t claim to be an animal lover, but I would never go out of my way to make someone’s life miserable.”
“He’s probably going to post that video on the neighborhood watch site,” I said. “I’m going to look like the lunatic. He’s the horrible one.”
“Yes, he is,” he said. “Want me to buy you a house?”
He said it with a grin. I knew he was teasing. It made me smile because I knew if I asked him to do it, he would. Not because we were seeing each other, but because he was a generous man. At least he used to be.
“Thank you, but I’ll figure something out,” I said. “I’ll move into the shelter.”