There was a scratching at the closet door.
I rushed over and ripped the door open, Lucy sprinting out snarling as she spared me a once over sniff before she started scoping the place out.
I released a breath, my heart racing in adrenaline filled relief. It was a ridiculous thought that Steven would ever be able to do her actual harm, but even still there was always a chance.
I had gotten her as a puppy when I first moved here. An all-white half-wolf, half-German Shepard pup, with piercing blue eyes and shaggy fur. She was huge, and she was one of the few things I had invested any real money in. I spent thousands training her, along with the thousands of hours I had spentmyself training her to recognize silent and sound commands. She was the most well-behaved dog I had ever known or seen. Losing her would be the end of me.
Losing her would be the end of everything.
She was all I had in this world. My only real family.
I walked after her, unzipping my boots and kicking them off in the living area as she jogged around sniffing, snarling, checking everything out to make sure it was safe. To make surewewere safe.
I let her go through her process, feeling much safer if she did. While she took care of the house, I took my jacket and sunglasses off and went to pick up my things. Today was supposed to be a good day. I got another deal, my publisher loved my pre-edited chapters, and I got intoVarien. It should have been something worthy of celebration.
Lucy walked up to me when she finally decided the place was clear. Her tail was wagging, her tongue rolling out as she sniffed over me, nudging her nose under my hand.
I smiled, crouching down in front of her, scratching her ears. “Hey,” I greeted. “Guess what?”
Her ears perked.
“I got intoVarien,” I told her, my eyes burning. “My publisher loved my chapters. We got another deal.” God, how pathetic was I that I didn’t have one single person in my life I could tell? Someone who would be excited for me.
She wagged her tail a little more, licking my cheeks before my tears could fall as if she could actually understand what I was saying.
I laughed and leaned into her, wrapping my arms around her neck as her head fell around my shoulders. She always smelled so good. Better than other dogs, I would say. A mix of her shampoo and her natural scent.
I inhaled deeply, forcing the tears back. We could stillcelebrate. Just us. I didn’t need anyone else here. I had her. I always had her.
I leaned back and met her big blue eyes. “We are going to celebrate,” I told her, standing. “How about some sushi and steak?”
Her head tilted to one side, her tongue disappearing.
I laughed. “Want some steak?”
Her tail started thumping and she jumped up, barking.
“Good,” I nodded. “I’ll call some in. We can drink and eat and watch some shitty romcoms that’ll give us a better reason to cry, eh?”
She barked again, hopping and jumping around and I couldn’t help but laugh again. I didn’t need anyone else. I didn’t need people to gush to when I received exciting news or someone to complain to when things didn’t quite make sense. Complaining was terrible for the mental state anyway.
What I really needed was this. Some quiet time with my very best friend and a glass of wine or two with some sushi.
6
Olivia
April 4th, 2022
Ihated April Fool’s Day. Steven always used it as an excuse to play the most cruel and outlandish pranks on me.
I still felt the effects of it days later. I was on edge and irritated. I was tired from not sleeping last night. I certainly wasn’t up for going to The Club today, but as usual, I didn’t have a choice.
I followed after him from where the cab had dropped us off a block away. I kept my distance, although he really didn’t give me much of a choice with how fast he was walking.
I was a pretty fast walker myself, but he was practically running. Why? I wasn’t sure. Something seemed off about him today and I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.
Even so, the only thing that truly caught my interest today was the new poster that had been hung up in front of The Club.
