I thought thegetting run overpart would be the hard part . . .
Fuck was I ever wrong. I could throttle my physiotherapist. The guy is a sadist. There’s no way there’s nothing wrong in his head given the things he makes me do. I’ve never hated another human being as much as I hate him after a session.
I need a run. Running has been my escape my entire life. It’s how I relax, clear my mind. It’s when I do my best thinking. A good run also means I can actually sleep.
But I can’t go for a damn run.
The thought of running gets my heart beating way too fast and my hands start to sweat.
I’m brought back to that late August morning . . .
I’m brought out of my spiraling thoughts by Sloane’s annoying little mutt who joins me on the couch and starts licking my face. If Sloane heard me referring to her precious little Gigi as a mutt again I swear she would throw me out of her house, crutches or not. I gotta say, though, over the few short days I’ve lived here, she’s grown on me. I woke up to her cuddling me while I was napping on the couchthe other day and I can’t say I was mad about it. Not that I would tell Sloane.
When I realized she wasn’t just a crazy plant lady but also a crazyfur mom—whatever the hell that means—I told her to keep her mutt away from me. I’ve never been on the receiving end of a more murderous look than at that moment. Usually, I’m the one handing those out like candy, but I’ve received more than one from her every time she sees me looking at her plants, or her dog. She actually goes as far as telling her plants to watch out for me.
Apparently talking to them makes her a goodplant mom,and not a weirdo.
She’s said the same to the dog, but I’ve learned the way to her heart. Cheese. The little mutt will do anything for cheese. I swear she could be sleeping in Sloane’s bed and still come running for a piece.
I tested it the other day, while Sloane was at work. I’ve been getting more and more bored these days, with not being able to return to work or run. So every time she was out of the kitchen, I would open a bag or a package of food. She only came barreling in for the cheese, though. Apparently, to my surprise, cheese wrappers, no matter the kind, make a specific sound.
As my fingers slowly rub up and down Gigi’s spine, I’m pulled from my thoughts. This time, by Sloane’s gaze. Like a sixth sense, I can always feel her gaze on me.
Turning toward her, I see her eyeing her dog, who is falling asleep on my lap. She doesn’t say anything, her frown deepening as she turns her attention back to her Kindle. But not for long. Her gaze keeps coming back tome and Gigi. She’s pissed that the dog is choosing to sit with me instead of her.
I can see her trying to call the dog with her eyes, but in true dachshund fashion, she couldn’t care less. The lazy little thing just burrows deeper into my lap.
“So, how’s living with Sloane?” Ronan asks me later that night. We try to chat every few nights.
How’s living with Sloane?Now that’s a loaded question if I’ve ever heard one.
It would be easy if she was still the docile girl I knew growing up. If I wasn’t catching the smell of peaches and caramel at every turn. If she wasn’t naked in the shower right now. Living with her should be easy, like living with Ronan would be. But although it might not be easy, it is fun. I never thought I’d like riling a woman up as much as I love pushing Sloane’s buttons. It’s the only bright spot in my day. Probably because it’s the only time she gives me any sort of attention. I feel like a six year old on a playground.
Just this afternoon, I went around and turned off one or two of her automatic plant light thingies, telling herI couldn’t nap with them on. I’ve never seen such an exaggerated eye roll.
“It’s not bad. She mostly ignores me, honestly,” I eventually tell him. I can hear the disappointment in my voice.
Laughing, he says, “Yeah, she’s definitely grown up over the last few years; she isn’t as shy. Cassie has been trying to break her out of her people-pleasing habits so that’s probably not helping your case.”
She definitely doesn’t try to please me, that’s for sure. “Since when is Sloane a people pleaser? I can’t remember a time growing up when she ever did anything we asked of her,” I say, feeling a smile grow on my face.
I lost count of how many times we included her in our plans when we were younger because she wouldn’t take no for an answer, always wanting to be with us. Sure, she had a hard time making friends in high school, but I think that was because she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, was a little too smart, and a little too quick at calling out stupid ideas.
“I don’t know. It’s a habit she got into when she left for university in Montreal. It’s like she forgot how to take up space, stopped speaking her mind, and preferred to go along with what others wanted instead of making herself heard.”
“That’s weird. Did anything happen?” I ask. I can’t remember him ever telling me that something had happened when she was out there.
“I reckon something did happen, but you know how she can be. I’m assuming something happened while she was still living here. Probably the same thing that madeher change her mind at the last minute and move across the country for school,” he continues. “But enough about Sloane. How are you doing? How’s rehab?” He changes the subject.
“Not bad,” I answer honestly. “It’s actually going better than I expected it to.” A little lie won’t hurt him after everything he’s done for me. “The therapist got rid of my boot and I’ve actually been sleeping like a baby since I’ve moved here.”
It’s more than sleeping like a baby. I’ve never in my entire life slept as well as I am, sleeping in Sloane Callahan’s guest bedroom.
“Have you told Sloane that?” he asks, cutting me out of my thoughts.
“No, why?” Why would I tell her that? She barely gives me more than ahello.
“Because she’ll never let you live it down. She’ll tell you it’s because of all her plants and the classical music she plays. Then she’ll make you apologize to every single plant she has for being a dick to them. At least, that’s what she made me do, when I finally relented that her plants did in fact make her place cozy and relaxing.”
