My fridge had water and protein shakes and that was it. No beer, no liquor, no wine. Fuck, all the good-tasting shit was off-limits until the case got dropped or until I got signed with the Los Soles baseball team again.
I groaned into my hand. Just thinking about not signing with them physically hurt me. They were my home. My family. My everything, and if I’d fucked it up for a night of fun, I’d never forgive myself. For one solid hour, I was distracted from thinking about my bleak future and I credited that to my temporary neighbor. She distracted me with her audacious personality and colorful everything. She made me feel normal and it was an addicting feeling.
Staying out of trouble was still my plan, but I adjusted it just a bit—make sure to run into Sarah Blue.
Chapter Three
Sarah
The dog stroller mocked me. I swore it. It rested in the corner of the apartment as both dogs were perched in it, despite having the entire place to run around in. They could’ve chosen the couch, bed, rugs, marble flooring, but no. They wanted the freaking stroller and wagged their tails whenever I looked at them. There were just a few things I never wanted to do, and walking two dogs in a stroller was one of them.
But Mr. Alexandre insisted I do it. It was in the rules.
Showtime.
My dignity had left long ago and had no plans to return.I might as well wear the fanny pack and fedora to complete the ensemble.Plus, the fanny pack was a great place to store my phone and the dog bags. It might not have been in style, but it was functional. It was still hot as balls outside and I changed from my pajamas to a sundress before adding the rest. It would do for a nice morning walk where outside felt like the inside of a stove.
“You guys wanna go outside? You wanna go for a walk?” I asked, raising my voice and clapping my hands. Cassie made no movements, but Pico wagged his tail frantically.Total opposites.“Good boy, Pico. Come here! Leave the stroller.”
The dog jumped out of the front part, forgoing the doggie stairs and landed on the floor so that his legs went in every direction. There was about two seconds of panic before the dog righted himself and I exhaled. I did not want to call Mr. Alexandre and explain how his precious pooch broke a leg on day one.Nope. Not a good look.
“Okay, Cassie, please, pretty please, get out of the stroller.” She glared at me, and when I tried to near her, she let out a deep growl. Not one that meant she would bite me, but it was enough of a warning for me to accept defeat. I would walk one dog like a normal canine, and the other in a stroller. The picture I made should’ve been on my dating apps. Boys would be lining up to date this.
Stroller.
Fedora.
Bright pink dress with a hot orange fanny pack.
Two dramatic dogs.
God, I screamed sex goddess with the look. I snapped a picture and sent it to my friends in our group chat, and was immediately sent back various forms of sobbing emojis. After taking the keys from the front table, I shut the door and made my way down the hall to the elevator. Did I glance at Brigham’s door? Yes. Did I sniff the air to see if his cologne was present? Also yes. He was so pretty to look at and kind anda terrible influence on a young woman like me.Mr. Alexandre’s insistence on staying away was as successful as the calorie labels on chocolate.Hello, yes, of course I know how much fat is in this and no, I don’t care, thank you.
There was no lingering man-scent in the air, and while it disappointed me, I was bound to run into him again a few times within the three months. We arrived at the elevator and I pressed the button, waiting for the familiardingto signal its arrival, and when it happened, Pico chose that moment to lift his leg and pee on the right wall. “Ah, shit. Come on, man.”
“Hello to you too, Blue Bell.”
Ah, that sweet, wonderful voice. It was like a sexy hug the way it hit my ears. I looked up to meet his amused expression and blushed head to toe when his attention shifted to Pico and his mess. “This isn’t ideal,” I said.
“Running into me or having to clean dog pee? One sounds great, the other not so much,” he replied, chuckling and moving into the hallway so he stood next to me. He wore workout gear that showed his spectacular arm muscles and made my skinny, non-athletic body feel like an uncooked noodle.
“You damned well know that pee is not ideal. You are a nice surprise.” I unzipped my fanny pack and pulled out some napkins I’d stored in there. Brigham’s eyebrows rose into his hairline when I made a dramatic attempt to zip it shut.
“What else you got in there?”
“The essentials.” I rolled my eyes. “Gum, wipes, fruit snacks, dog bags, mints and lip balm.”
“Right. The essentials.”
“Don’t mock me, Monaghan. Sometimes walks are long and I need to be prepared for anything.”
“Fruit snacks?” he said, smiling so wide I got lost in his perfectly straight teeth.
“We all have our vices. Mine happen to be sugary crap filled with goo.” I frowned at Pico, who was now tried trying to eat the wipe I’d put on the floor. “Well, that didn’t work.”
“Do you need help?”
“Wiping pee?” I asked, deciding to head back in and clean it now before Fernie found it and reported it to someone who actually had authority. “Hm, can you stay right here with the dogs?”
