“What are you doing?” I asked, panic rising in my tone.
She swung her irritated gaze my way. “Dogs, Breeze. The barking hasn’t stopped for two hours. You know they aren’t allowed.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I was pet sitting when the fire hit. You’ve seen the news. I couldn’t leave them to die.”
“Take them to the shelter now,” she ordered. “If I hear that dog bark one more time, I’ll chuck him in the garbage.”
Bodhi skidded to a stop at my side, shoving the pet carrier and food into my hands. And then, as if he wore a bodysuit and cape around his neck, my hero stepped valiantly in front of the landlady. “We’re leaving in a few minutes. If you think you’re going to trash that dog, you’ll be going through me first.”
Pat’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Are you threatening me?”
“No. I’m telling you — no one touches that dog.”
And so began the most awkward stare down I’d ever witnessed. Bodhi in his quarantine mask and Pat in her sleeveless flannel button up. Neither budged as they glared at each other. Rather than step between them, I decided to take the opportunity to duck inside the house to give Bodhi the chance to lay on the charm he claimed as his superpower.
It took me all of ten minutes to feed the animals and get everything packed and ready to go. Mentally preparing myself for the fireworks, I opened the door and found … nothing. Had Pat taken Bodhi hostage? In a panic, I jogged to the main house. Slipping through the door unannounced, I was totally prepared to find Bodhi bound and gagged in her living room. Instead he was bent over the kitchen table signing anAnyDayNowcollectible magazine.
Bodhi flicked his gaze to me when he noticed me standing there. “Hey, Breeze.”
“H-hi.” I took a couple steps. “What is happening here?”
“Girl, why didn’t you tell me you were harboring Bodhi Beckett in my granny flat?” Pat asked, her cheeks flushing pink with excitement. “Oh my goodness, this is the most thrilling day of my life. I’m just speechless!”
I cast a questioning glance in Bodhi’s direction.
“Turns out you were right,” he said with a smile. “The haircut isn’t foolproof, nor is the mask. Pat here is a big fan. She recognized me the second you shut the door.”
“I sure did,” she crowed. “You can’t fool old Pat. I’d know you anywhere. You’ve always been my favorite ‘Dayer’.”
Dayer…
Was my lumberjack landlord really using the tween terminology for the band? Apparently there was no age limit for idol worship. More importantly, was she aware of Bodhi’s missing in action status? No way was the fifty-eight-year-old fangirl going to keep her mouth shut about Bodhi’s whereabouts. Suddenly I had a bad feeling about our road trip. Pat’s favoriteDayerwas about to get a one-way ticket back to La La Land.
“I’ve been crying all day thinking sweet Bodhi was killed in that terrible fire and then, as if by some miracle, he shows up at my house… my house, Breeze.”
“You’re the best,” Bodhi said, sliding the magazine in Pat’s direction as he laid on the charm and reduced my landlady to a pile of liquid goo.
It was an impressive show indeed. I’d never question his magnetism again.
Sidling to my side, he slipped a reassuring arm around my waist. “I told Pat how the band was keeping my whereabouts a secret from the news outlets until I could get safely home. She agreed to keep quiet and in return I promised to send her anAnyDayNowgift box in the mail with all the guys signing a personal message just for her.”
“Ohhh,”I said, sporting a fake ass smile that matched Bodhi’s. “What a wonderful offer. I’m so happy you two were able to meet, but we should probably hit the road now. You don’t want to keep the band waiting.”
Bodhi nodded, taking my landlady’s trembling hand in his and kissing the backside. “It’s been a pleasure.”
Pat’s body sagged under the weight of her giggles. “Isn’t he just dreamy, Breeze?”
Oh yeah, he was dreamy all right. In fact, I wasthisclose to buying the two of us matching posters for our walls.
14
Bodhi: Pinnipeds
“What?” I finally asked, cutting my gaze to Breeze, who’d been wearing the same expression since we pulled away from the curb. Shock. Maybe a little awe. Not that I minded. Much. There were plenty of things I wanted to do to earn that look in her eye. But none of them involved my celebrity.
“What exactly happened back there?”
“I was protecting Little Dick, and seconds away from getting axed in the nuts, when Pat slapped her hands over her mouth, mewled like an animal with a mangled limb, and started jumping in place. I honestly wasn’t sure if she was having a medical episode or if a swarm of bees was fleeing the burn zone. I can tell you one thing, it never once crossed my mind that a woman who wears Timberland boots would be anAnyDayNowgroupie.”
