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“You look awful,” she said.

“Thanks.”

“When we’re done here, we’ll drop the pups at my house to sleep off their playtime, while we treat ourselves to a pastry at the café.” She squinted at me. “Multiple pastries.”

I didn’t argue as we unloaded dogs.

Only Clara, Teague, and Kit knew I was trying to write.

I’d told Teague and Kit, though each already had figured it out. Clara caught me in mid-write. She wasn’t surprised.

Their knowing gave me people to vent to about writing.

Except Kit. She classified venting as whining and didn’t tolerate whining.

With Teague out of town, I shouldn’t overload Clara. On the other hand, these dogs’ playing endurance meant I wouldn’t last through the whole session.

Why delay the inevitable?

So I was venting — not whining — as we entered the large dog section.

“I know the main character, Alex, has a block about trusting — other people and herself, mostly herself — but I can’t figure out why. I know it has to do with the past, but what specifically about the past I can’t figure out.”

“Haven’t.”

“What?”

“Not that you can’t figure it out. You haven’t. Yet and— Oh, look. Donna’s still here.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

I trailed Clara, making a beeline for Donna.

A happy, chirpy bee. Totally unlike me.

So, of course, Donna addressed me.

“Gracie must be relieved.”

“Relieved?” I sounded less interested than I should have. Guilt pushed me to add, “Why?”

Donna sent me a sly sideways look. “She doesn’t have Anxious Annie on the other end of her leash like she did last night.”

“Donna, that’s not fair,” Clara defended me. “Sheila’s a great owner.”

“She’s determined to be a great owner, with a great dog. That’s the problem. Putting too much pressure on Gracie. Herself, too,” she added grudgingly.

“Lassie Syndrome.” I’d muttered that before I caught myself.

I didn’t think they heard me.

Clara continued her defense. “Sheila is hard on herself and that’s why we’re going to the café later. She needs a treat. The one who should be hard on himself is Damon Swindell. What?”

Donna had snorted.

“Nothing.” She didn’t bother to make it believable.

“Did you see the—” I pulled back from a reference to the Gang of Four. “—him and the others after training last night?”