“Yeah,” Mimi, said, waving her phone in her unarmed hand. “They’re on their way.”
“Good.”
“I totally got that on video,” Keelie said. “I was running, so it’s probably vomit-inducing, but you shoved dog poo in his mouth, Ida Jane! Holy crap.” She laughed. “That’sso gross.”
Dillon moaned and coughed while Blade stood over him, slavering and growling.
“Ah! There’s the calvary.” Naomi smirked. “Now we’ll definitely have something to celebrate, even if the boys lose.”
“They’re losing?” I asked, my stomach dropping. No, this was an important game. They needed to win this game and the next one in order to clinch a chance at the Conference Finals.
Keelie shot me a glance. “Maxim was sent to the penalty box, and San Diego scored on the power play. He’s having a hard time.” Keelie raised her golf club and snapped at Dillon, who’d gotten a hand on Blade’s neck. “Try to slink away, and I will take a full swing. Just try me.”
God, Ilovedthese girls. I pressed my hand to my heart and let the joy sink into my soul. “Y’all are the best of friends a girl could ask for. Ever.” Without taking my eyes off them, I pushed my foot between Dillon’s shoulder blades until he collapsed back down in the spilled spittle and dog poo.
“Perfect. Just where he belongs,” Naomi deadpanned.
“Ooh, Maxim is going to bebesidehimself when he finds out,” Keelie said. “And he’s going to rage out when he realizes he missed this.”
“I’ll call Paloma,” Naomi said. “She’s the only one who can get to Coach Whittaker, who will talk to Maxim. That way, Maxim can focus on the game.”
“You think he’s unable to focus?” I asked.
All their eyes stared at me. “Right,” I mumbled. “Yeah, we’re still not good after the gala. Of course he’s struggling.”
With my ladies standing watch, I took Naomi’s phone and dialed Paloma’s number.
“Naomi. Is there a problem?” Paloma asked. The crowd noise was loud.
“It’s Ida Jane. Can you get word to Maxim? We caught Dillon—he was sniffing around our house.” I shifted my stance, puffing out my chest like Maxim did sometimes. “But thanks to my rad fighting skills, he’s now sobbing in a pile of dog poo, and…ooh! The police cuffed him. It’s like being in a show! Don’t worry, Keelie’s getting it on video.”
“I am?” Keelie blinked. “Right!” She clutched her club to her chest and used her phone to video Dillon’s arrest.
“We’ll send it through in a minute to Maxim’s phone.”
“Well, that’s good news. I’ll make sure he knows.” The crowd roared. “Oh, that’s not good—San Diego scored again. Damn, they really need to go into the playoffs on a winning streak.” She hung up.
Once Dillon sat into the back of a patrol car with the door shut, Blade relaxed, settling his bulk on my foot. I shoved my hand into his fur when he leaned against me, and I braced myself against his weight. We needed the connection. I also needed to call the vet to look him over, which I’d do as soon as we finished with the police.
We trooped back into the house, where officers took our statements, and Keelie forwarded her video—she was right; it was vomit-inducing. But it was also evidence that Dillon came after me.
“Right. Well, that’s all we need for now,” the officer said, closing her notebook. “I’m glad no one was hurt too badly.”
“Just Dillon,” Naomi muttered under her breath.
“He totally deserved it,” Mimi said.
I walked the officer to the door, Blade at my side the entire time.
“I’m okay, Blade. You did good. How about we get you checked out now? You deserve the biggest treat.”
“I already called my vet,” Keelie said. “He makes house calls, but it’s expensive. I figured Maxim wouldn’t care about that.”
“I need a glass or three of this wine,” Naomi said, picking up her bottle of Cabernet that she’d set on the kitchen counter. I’d bet her face was pale under that cracking green mud masque.
“But first, you’re going to explain why that gorgeous ring is not on your finger,” Keelie said, waving her golf club at me.
Chapter21
