He half-looked back at me with a panting grin, as if to say, “I don’t care, just walk me, human!”
“First, I’m going to come home on my lunch break,” I said. “You know why? So I can look for a second job! That way, I’ll have more money to buy you more treats and better food! Isn’t that exciting?”
It, apparently, wasn’t quite as exciting as finding a bush to mark his territory on. But when he finished, Shiloh looked very happy for me, coming up to me and leaning his head into mine.
“Thinking of maybe going into bartending or waiting tables,” I said. “Gotta be something flexible. You know?”
Something that would allow me to be more social. Like if I get the chance to be with... him.
I was trying my hardest not to think about LeCharles like that. And I felt I could sincerely say that if, when it was all said and done, I realized I had to move on and find someone else, I would be able to.
But there was also the truth that had settled in a little bit since Saturday morning that even if I kept my distance and even if I had the strength to build myself back up, not having to rely on him, I still cared about him. That hadn’t gone out the window. In fact, in some ways, it felt like the more strength I had myself, the more easily I’d be able to show my affection for him. It was like I could take the risk knowing I could pick myself back up if I fell down.
I just had to make sure I approached things in a mature fashion, not in the kind that got me hurt or did a disservice to one of us.
“However it turns out, buddy,” I said to Shiloh. “I’m sure it’ll be great.”
* * *
When I got back from my walk, I put Shiloh in my bedroom and planted a kiss on his forehead.
“I’ll be back around one, okay?” I said. “You be a good boy until then. I know it’ll be a pleasant surprise to see me, so try not to get too excited.”
Shiloh just rubbed his head on mine. I kissed him one more time before I walked out.
While en route to the vet clinic, I had the sneaking suspicion I was being followed. Every time I looked in my rearview mirror or even just turned around, I didn’t see anyone, but the rumble of a motorcycle was never that far away from me, and it never changed in pitch or volume to suggest it was just a coincidence. It wasn’t at all like with the Fallen Saints, where they could sound close one second and then be very distant the next.
But when I looked around at the area before I walked into the clinic, I couldn’t see anyone, and so I just went about my workday. It went well enough—none of the pets acted too crazily, I applied to three different jobs on my lunch break, and I got to the end of the day with a smile on my face and had not lost any of my morning energy or excitement. Considering how low Friday afternoon had gotten, to be back up to this spot in about seventy-two hours was nothing short of miraculous.
When I headed to the car and drove home, though, I again had the sensation that I was being followed. This time, though, the feeling didn’t last all the way home. It was like someone had been waiting for me outside the vet clinic, and as soon as they saw me leave, they had sped off... toward... my apartment, maybe?
I gulped. If this was a Fallen Saint trying to get some revenge for Friday night, there was no way I had the skill or strength to defend myself from him. I’d need some help when it came to physical safety.
At one of the traffic lights, I pulled out my phone and texted LeCharles quickly, asking him to swing by my apartment for fear of being stalked. With the light turning green right after, I didn’t have the chance to see if he’d read my message. I just had to hope that he had.
I got home and, sure enough, saw a bike parked next to the spot where my car would be. But...
Wasn’t that LeCharles’ bike?
Curious and a little nervous, I stepped out of the car and came up the stairs slowly. I kept my keys between my fingers just in case I needed to defend myself in any fashion.
I turned the last staircase.
There was a large man waiting for me.
LeCharles.
“Christ, you scared me,” I said.
“You wanted me to be here, didn’t you?” he said, a slight smirk on his face. “I had to see it for myself.”
“See what?”
He swallowed.
“I had to see that you really were a vet now,” he said. “No, not just. Like a vet assistant or something.”
“A vet tech. But yeah, same idea.”
