I shake my head. “I have a shift at Scents tonight.”
Piper levels me with a look. “You’re out of your fucking mind. Call out like a normal person,” she says.
“Travis is working tonight,” I mutter, my stomach flipping.
“Reckless and horny doesn’t sound like a good way to go into work, Blair. What the hell has gotten into you?” Piper looks delighted and horrified at the same time.
I shrug. “Two knots, so far. Aiming for three.” The words leave my mouth before I can stop myself.
“Holy shit! Who is this new Blair? What have you done with the old one?”
I have no idea, truthfully.
But something my friend said makes my brow furrow. “Wait. Why are you offering to take care of the cats? I’m able to feed them during my Heat. It sucks, but I manage.”
Piper crosses her arms and leans against the reception counter. “So, you’re bringing them to the packhouse?” she deadpans. “You and your pack are going to have six cats to take care of while this happens?”
I huff. “You’re assuming I’m not spending my Heat by myself.”
But I can sense the heaviness of the lie as soon as it leaves my mouth.
Of course I’m not spending this Heat alone.
There’s no point in pretending I am.
“You’re an idiot,” Piper says. “Which is insane, because you’re the smartest person I know.”
“That’s a reach, but I appreciate the compliment.”
“Go home. Get your stuff together. And go to Scents, I guess.” She shrugs. “You’re perfuming so hard I’m sure you’ll get a ton of tips. Then, you can ask Travis tohelpyou, Blair-Bear.”
I scowl. “Let me wash my hands first.”
But the door jingles behind me, and Mari walks in.
“Girls!” she exclaims. “It’s so nice to see you!”
That’s my cue to go. Mari is kind and loves cats, but is also obsessed with gossip and being in everyone’s business.
She does make the best cookies, though.
But unfortunately, there is no tray of cookies in her hands when she stops in front of me and wrinkles her nose. “Oh honey,” she says. “You should go home.”
Piper bursts out laughing as I storm to the bathroom to wash my hands, mortified.
Maybe there’s still pet odor spray in there that I can use.
I’m sure Piper would get a kick out of that.
After my hands are clean, my phone vibrates with a notification and snaps me out of my excitement. My stomach churns when I read the text message from the number I recognize.
Praying for you. Hope all is well.
Justin’s mother, Annette.
Annette, who never liked me, but pretended she did with her tight, fake smiles.
Annette, who made it clear she thought I wasn’t good enough for her son.
