Leigh laughed loudly. “Keep lying to yourself.”
“I’m not lying. Blaze doesn’t belong to me… not anymore.”
Nia leaned forward slightly, amusement flickering in her eyes.
“Girl, please. Half this town watched you and Blaze act like divorced people still in love.”
Johanna groaned and glared at them over the rim of her coffee cup.
“I really hate y’all.”
Tasha smiled smugly. “No, you don’t.”
Unfortunately… she didn’t.
Milan took a long drink of her latte before shrugging gracefully. “Besides, we weren’t about to let some random woman buy him.”
Johanna blinked. “Buy him?”
“Mmm-hmm.” Nia nodded seriously. “Everybody already knows where he belongs.”
“Blaze is not a rescue dog.”
Leigh nearly choked laughing.
“Oh my God,” Milan wheezed, doubling over slightly. “You should’ve seen your face when your number went up on the screen.”
Johanna dropped her forehead directly into her hands.
The table exploded with laughter loud enough to turn heads again.
And somehow, despite the public humiliation, the gossip, and the complete betrayal… Johanna felt warmth spread quietly through her chest.
She could still hear the crowd screaming at the auction.
Still see the bright stage lights.
Still feel the panic that flooded her chest when the auctioneer yelled, ‘Sold!’ and Blaze turned toward the audience searching for her.
The memory sent warmth spiraling unexpectedly low in her stomach.
Johanna immediately sat upright.
No.
Absolutely not.
That man was a very bad idea.
Milan smirked slowly. “There’s that look.”
“What look?”
“The one you get every time somebody says Blaze’s name.”
Johanna picked up her cupcake and pointed it threateningly. “I’m warning y’all.”
Tasha grinned. “Girl, please. That man was your entire focus.”
