Chapter Twenty-six
The next time I woke up it was to the ringing of my phone. Nonstop ringing.
“Somebody better be dead,” I grumbled and answered it, saying exactly that.
“Cammy, it’s Mary. We have a situation at the salon. Someone spray-painted the word ‘whore’ on the door. It’s bright red and huge.” I jackknifed up and screamed.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I was livid. Someone defaced my baby. Looking over at the clock, which said it was 7:30 a.m., I knew I had to get over there to handle it.
“It’s crazy. What do we need to do?” She was panicking. I took a few calm breaths and spoke.
“I’ll be there shortly. We’ll find someone to get it cleaned off stat, and I’ll check through the security cameras to find out who did it. For now, just open the door and make it look like we are letting some of the morning air in for any people walking by. Act like everything is normal. I’ll see you soon.” I hung up and jumped into action. I got dressed in a blue sundress, threw on some light makeup and put some mousse in my hair. I would be rocking the “bed head but works” look today. I grabbed my purse and put on some cute wedges to complete my look.
I found Jake downstairs finishing up breakfast, with Casey playing around his feet.
“I have to go. There’s been some vandalism at my salon,” I huffed. This was so not how I wanted to spend my day. Especially my last day at the rescue. Now it was back to reality.
“Vandalism?” He looked at me with shock. Yeah, tell me about it.
“Yep, someone spray-painted the word ‘whore’ on the door. Bright red. I have to go take care of it. Not sure when I’ll be done.” I kind of felt like this was farewell to the rescue. Not forever, but I wasn’t sure when I would be able to come back. I had a business to run.
“Okay, I’ll take you over since Bambi is at Rayne’s. If you need anything, give me a call. Don’t worry, sweetheart. We’re big kids, we’ve got this.” He walked over to give me one hell of a toe-curling kiss, then let me go. I gave him a smile and bent down to scratch Casey behind the ears. Her paw came out to get my hand but I yanked back before she could get me. Stinker.
With my purse in my hand, Jake drove me to my side of the world, and dropped me off with a sweet kiss. I so didn’t want to adult today.
Hours later, the paint was off my door. Business was still going strong and no one had any issues. I looked over the cameras that were outside the door but whoever did it was covered in all black, like a ninja. Couldn’t tell anything. I filed a police report and gave them what I could, which was pretty much nothing. And with me now dating one of the hottest eligible bachelors in the city, I was probably going to have a bunch of jealous bitches out to get me.
Which sucked, but, oh well. I wasn’t giving him up because of this. I would fight on. I spent the day holed up in my office, going over things that I had missed from being away for a week. Nothing important. Papers to sign, plans to review, orders to confirm, payrolls to check, the life of a business owner. I was tired, and my girls were constantly coming in to check on me, but my mind was just racing. By the time I looked at the clock, it was almost six.
The salon would be closing soon, so I left the office and helped the girls close up. Rayne had brought me Bambi at some point so I could get back to my apartment without needing to call anyone.
As soon as I stepped foot in my home, I felt like I was in a stranger’s apartment. I sat down on my pretty brown couch and called Jake.
“Sweetheart,” he answered, which made me smile.
“I’ve had a day from hell,” I groaned.
“I know a few ways I could make it better.” I could see his smirk in my head.
“I know you could,” I confirmed, but I didn’t want to drive all the way out to the rescue right now, then come back in the morning. I was just too mentally wiped out.
“It’ll be all right. I want to go take a bath, though. Call you later?” I was not in the socializing mood. I just wanted to take a bath and curl up in bed. Preferably with Jake, but that wasn’t happening tonight.
“Of course.”
“I love you.” I stood up and walked into my bathroom.
“Love you, sweetheart.” I sighed from the feeling in my chest. Him loving me was amazing.
“Talk to you later.” We said goodbye and I got the makings for my bath.
The bath was wonderful, as expected. My sweet pomegranate bubbles surrounded me while I sat there and tried to empty my mind. When I say I tried, I meant I tried for five minutes. My mind kept wandering back to Jake, Casey, and the rescue. Suddenly my bath just didn’t feel as good, so I hopped out and dried off. Once I was in my unicorn onesie that I reserved for bad days, I made myself a sandwich and sat on the couch. Alone.
I missed the sounds of the rescue. The lions roaring, the wolves howling. I missed it all. I looked around my apartment, feeling alone like never before. I couldn’t have imagined that in just a week, my life would take such a huge turn. But it did. I wished I could do so many things to help the rescue.
Light bulb!
I got so excited thinking about the idea that just hit me. I could organize a block fundraiser on St.Armand’s. All the businesses were pretty cool. I could host a get-together, get the community involved. Do discounted services and accept donations. My mind started running through all the things I could do, and before I knew it, I was calling Jake to let him know my idea. Which he approved of. He told me I would need to do a couple of things first, but otherwise he would help. He would bring all kinds of merchandise. We could totally set up some stuff in the middle of the circle where there was a pretty grass area with statues. After I was done talking over everything with Jake, I turned on Netflix and settled into bed. I had something to look forward to and I was excited. It was like I had a purpose for something bigger than myself.
Three weeks had passed since our week on the rescue and I was a busy bee. I’d been to Jake’s every two days to stay the night. We’d spend our time in an orgasmic coma, making up for the lost nights together. I was also there when they moved Casey to her own little habitat. She was so happy to be free to run around, and pretend hunt in her own space. I would sometimes stop over to just talk to her, let her know how things were coming, and that the big fundraiser was going to happen soon. I made her fun little enrichment toys to play with as well; she liked those.
I was also able to take part in the release of the arrow bobcat back into the wild. The poor thing was nervous and scared to turn its back to us, but once we kind of hid in the shade it took off. Hopefully to live a happy life, arrow free.
All in all, my life was pretty good. Jake kept asking me to move out of my apartment and live with him at the rescue, but I wasn’t quite there yet. Yes, my apartment was lonely and I missed them. But I wasn’t ready to leave that life. Driving back and forth to my salon from the rescue every day would get old, and for now I didn’t know what to do about that. I loved my salon, but maybe I was starting to want more in my life than that. I tried not to think of it too much as I got to work for the big block shindig.
