Kari looked like she was about to die from laughing so hard. She was doing one of those silent laughs where you gasp for air and tears start to roll down your face.
I patted her shoulder. “It’s not that funny of a joke, Kari.”
She started to fan herself as she tried to gain composure. “I don’t know if I am laughing or crying at this point. I am in the same damn boat as Martha right now and it is just so freaking pathetic.”
“Why is dating so fucking hard?” Martha exclaimed. “Either you are sleeping with the enemy or you can’t find a date to save your life. No one wins.”
“I think most of the good ones were snatched up in college and God knows how fucking busy we were back then. Dating was the farthest thing from the top of the priority list.” I was definitely not in any state to start dating again and the thought of it repulsed me, but I knew that Martha and Kari were actively on the prowl and nothing was working for them.
Kari pulled out her phone. “You guys have to hear the latest message I got from a dude on a dating site.” She scrolled through a few messages. “Oh here it is.” She cleared her throat before continuing, “‘I hope that I am the reason why you are distracted, smiling down at your phone this morning, and then you walk directly into a telephone pole.’ What the fuck is wrong with guys in today’s society? Who the fuck says something like that?”
I could not stifle my rolling giggles to save my life. “This, is why I will remain single for the rest of my life.”
Martha rolled her eyes. “You say that now. Wait until you can’t remember what the last dick you slept with looks like. You’ll be crying into your pillow wishing on a fucking star for a beautiful penis to enter your life.”
Chapter 8
Karla
Two Years Later
My alarm clockstarted beeping at me. I had already hit the snooze button three more times than I should have. Groaning, I stretched and checked my phone. I had a missed call from Janine, the dog rescue coordinator I was supposed to be helping in a few hours.
I shot off a quick text to her.
Me: Just getting up. I’ll be there in about an hour.
Grabbing my jeans from the floor, I yanked them on before making my way into the bathroom.
Brush teeth—check.
Put makeup on—kinda check.
Hair tamed enough to be out in public—check.
Dog butt t-shirt that saidMoney can buy lots of things, but it doesn’t wiggle its butt every time you come home—check.
My phone lit up with a response from Janine.
Janine: No worries, just meet us at the park. Dogs are loaded up. We just need help setting up the tables and play areas.
Me: Perfect. See you there.
I loved working the Central Park adoption events. It was so fun to see all the pups that got to head to their forever homes with loving families, and it made having lost my two dogs just a little bit easier. Everyone kept telling me that I should just adopt another puppy, but I worked far too much to have a dog. It just wouldn’t be fair to the little fur baby.
Central Park was already buzzing with its own life force of exercisers, families, kids playing, couples taking a stroll, tourists snapping pictures of everything, and tons of yapping puppies.
“Karla!” Janine waved me over to the head table.
She shoved paperwork into my hands right way. “You’re going to be working booth eight.” She pointed. “Ready to get some dogs their forever homes?” Her smile went from ear to ear as she looked over at the huskies next to the booth I was about to start working.
“You know it!” The energy that pulsed through our area started to get me psyched for the day.
I started to get the huskies’ paperwork all sorted out. I checked each pup, making sure I had their information ready and waiting. I tried to keep everything as organized as possible so if anyone wanted a dog that I was in charge of, the process could be as smooth and stress-free as possible.
A high-pitched howl came from an adorable brown and white fluff ball. I walked over to her. “Someone is learning how to get her grown up voice,” I cooed to the dog. I probably sounded like a raving lunatic, but I couldn’t have cared less. I loved those damn dogs so freaking much, especially when they were being so stinking cute.
After playing with the huskies for a bit and making sure they had plenty of water in their playpen, I started to put the adoption paperwork onto clipboards. I had to stay busy at these things or I would go a little stir crazy.
