Page 41 of Wynter

“This is new.” I grin. “Since when are you doing deliveries?”

“I felt like taking a ride around town.” Riley plops onto my couch and pulls off her winter hat. It’s black and white with little bear ears on the top. “Oooh, look, you got a new pet.”

“Snowball? I’ve always had him.”

“Snowball?” Riley perks up. “I actually meant the Montgomery girl. I thought she had skipped town.”

“First of all, I’m right here. And second, you can’t get rid of me this easy.” Mini plops down on the couch next to Riley. “I’m just here for the pasta. And you need to talk to Zoe. She’s going through some stuff.”

“I thought you said I was hangry?” I glare at her and grab Snowball’s steaks out of the insulated bag. “Snowball, breakfast’s here.”

“It’s past noon,” Mini says.

“What kind of pet is Snowball?” Riley asks.

“Fuzzy. She’s pretty vicious, so I wouldn’t—”

I’m about to say ‘go near her’ but Riley’s already jumping around the couch and rushing to pick up my pet.

“Riley, stop,” I cry, remembering Sapphire’s snarling match, Amber’s panicked shifting, and Violet’s surprised shrieks. And the one time I brought back a one-night stand, and she nearly chewed off his privates. Still weird to think of my pet as a she, by the way, but I’m starting to get used to it.

“But she’s so cute! Look at that fuzzy fuzz face! And those teeth! Who has mean little teeth? You do.”

Snowball begins to purr.

“Who wants a yummy din-din in her tum-tum?” Riley carries Snowball to the kitchen where I set out the steaks. My pet devours them in three snarling bites, but instead of being horrified, Riley continues to fawn over her.

“So, what’s got your panties shoved up your asshole?” Riley brings Snowball over to the couch, grabs her burger, and plops between Mini and me.

“Two days ago, she destroyed Jewels Cafe,” Mini answers for me. “And then she was out all night, so I’m pretty sure she was getting some.”

“I was not getting some,” I snap. Okay, I was, but it was not with Xavi. “And spending the night with that asshole was a huge mistake.”

Riley jumps to her feet. “What did he do?” she roars. “I’ll punch him in the mouth so hard that my hand will come out his ass.”

I picture sweet, innocent Xavi trying to fend off the raptor shifter and shake my head before I remember it was probably all an act. Maybe he was hoping I’d confess. Or recording everything I said for that stupid article of his.

I hit the back of my head against the couch cushion a few times and groan. Riley and Mini quietly watch me until I finally give in and start to talk. It’s like a dam breaks and an avalanche tumbles out of my mouth. Followed by tears. A lot of stupid, embarrassing tears.

I barely stop for breath as I talk. Tell them every morbid detail about my failed love life. And work. Basically, just my entire life. Turned from amazing to this shitshow in a matter of days.

“Aaaahhhh,” Riley roars like a battle cry. “First, let’s find Ghost and beat him until he transfers all his money to Amber for cafe repairs. Then, we break into Xavi’s and take a baseball bat to his computer. Write a fucking article now, dick canoe! That last guy sounds like a lousy fuck, anyway. You dodged a bullet by losing him. That or he needs Viagra before doing anything… Should we find a middle-aged man to rob for boner pills?”

“I like her,” Mini says when Riley is done with her tirade.

“Yeah. Me too.” I smile through the tears and reach inside the takeout bag for some tissues. “But I don’t want to beat anyone up. Got any other ideas?” Like a tub of cream, without the word that shall not be named, that I have in my freezer. Or the new Snowflake Sprinkles flavor from Flying Horse that I’ve been meaning to try.

“Want to go to Vee? We can call Eirwen and Ember. Amber too. Hey, Ember and Amber! Do you think they’d like to hook up?”

“With each other?” I ask.

“Yeah, with each other! Because their names match. Ember and Amber has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”

“Don’t tell Amber’s mates that.” I snort.

“See? You’re laughing. A night out is just what you need. And it’d be good to get Ember off the ice. Then, we’ll go beat up those men!”

“I don’t think I’m in the mood. Even for the beating up part.” I sigh. “I kind of just want to stay in bed all day…” I trail off when I realize Mini has occupied my bed, soaked it with water, covered it with crumbs, and dirtied up my sheets. “On second thought, I need to get out of here. Or maybe I should just get out of town.”