“Hannah and I would be happy to have you, man.” Taz added. “Seriously.”
“That’s why I’m calling. I’ve decided to take you up on your offer.”
“Score. When were you thinking?”
“Why don’t I wait until you’re ready to head back and go with you?”
“I’m sure it won’t be an issue.” Taz assured me. “Like I said, I need the ride.”
“Why don’t you come here for the next few days?” I asked him. “I don’t suppose the hotel is very comfortable.”
“And I told you, I don’t want to impose.”
“Taz, bruh. Besides, I have enough food in my fridge right now to feed a small village.”
“How?”
“My mother struck again.”
Taz laughed.
I smiled. I hadn’t seen Taz in person in over a year and a half. We were close at one point—but then he took a job with the Protectors after he came home and then became busy. We spoke on the phone and video chat and our friendship had survived the distance and adult life. We chatted a little longer, until Taz was being called by someone in the background.
After our goodbyes, I immediately climbed out of bed and packed a bag.
Ellie
It was barelyten in the morning, and already the temperature was nauseating. It bore down on Eagle Rock, unforgiving and scorching. For the millionth time as I made my way back toward the house with Lilah on her leash, I wondered why I’d gotten a puppy. She needed to be walked—regularly, the heat of summers in Montana wasn’t conducive to that kind of commitment.
My father honked and waved as his Mercedes Benz sped along the driveway leading to the main road from our ranch. I waved the little bag of doggie doo at him. I didn’t mean to, but my other hand was full.
When I faced my path again, I wanted to cry.
The ranch seemed so far away. I figured the heat caused the exhaustion in me but there really wasn’t anything I could do. Breathing was a chore but, I forced one foot ahead of the other with Lilah panting beside me.
I finally managed to step into the cool interior and quickly locked the door behind me. There wasn’t any sight of my mom and I didn’t bother looking. She always went back to bed after having a cup of coffee in the mornings. I, personally, didn’t see the point. They merely stood in the kitchen, the only sound being my father slurping from his mug. Mom would climb back into bed, irritated, after muttering that my father was raised in a barn.
Inside, I filled Lilah’s water bowl and watched as she drank greedily. The puppy ran to the door, barked, chased her tail then hurried back to the water. I shook my head and grabbed a bottle of water. I didn’t move until the entire bottle was empty. When I turned for the stairs, Lilah ran after me, so I picked her up.
I set the puppy on my bed but instead of settling down, Lilah looked toward the window and barked. She was always doing that, mostly because of the squirrels or sounds. Another thing I had to teach her not to do for she would wake the entire house. I gave her my sternest look. “Sit.” I told her. “Sit.”
Lilah yawned as though I was boring her, then turned and stuck her head under one of the pillows with her ass in the air. I frowned and wandered into the bathroom for a shower. Training Lilah was impossible. I should have known better than to get a husky.
Everyone warned me they were stubborn and impossible to train.
Instead of focusing on the puppy, I turned my attention to my plans for the day. I had a late lunch with Jennifer, a little shopping with Susan then will have to tolerate dinner with my parents.
I rolled my eyes.
After my shower, I wrapped my body in a towel and sat at my dresser. I lifted my eyes to my reflection and could barely recognize the face looking back at me. My pale blue yes seemed different somehow—I just couldn’t quite put my finger on it.
A line of zits dotted the left side of my chin and I could see the beginning of one between my eyes. At my age, should I still be getting zits?
I sighed.
This is some bullshit.
I probably needed to go back on my sugar-free diet.
