Page 43 of Little Etheldreda Riding Hood

Soojin doesn’t look convinced.

“I’ll talk to my uncle about it.” I tell her. “He’s an alpha back home. Maybe he can have a talk with him…get him to back off.”

Soojin nods. Thankfully, the bell above the door chimes and the evening rush begins. I forget all about Morgan as the night blurs on by.

Chapter Seventeen

In Which There Are Surprises and Ground Beef Assistant

Porshetta, Frigg, and Chad become a regular part of my days at the Wild Hare, probably because I always remember the snacks. Ginger isn’t a fan of them being inside, but there really is no way to get rid of a 300-pound pig if she doesn’t want to leave. The little pig family watches me sleepily from their pork pile by the back door as I begin the work of framing out the new stage. It’s exhausting work, but I always turn around to find one of the Lamar Pack asking how they can help when Zach’s not there to get in the way.

I’m feeling really good about my progress by Friday afternoon. I won’t work the weekend–one because I’m exhausted and two the afternoon crowds have gotten larger and larger,despite the lack of dancers, as the week has progressed.

At five p.m., I start putting the tools away. I have to squeeze past the pigs who have stationed themselves near the back door. Randy appears from his office with a small folded piece of paper in his hand and holds it out to me.

“Here, Red, for this past week.”

I take it from him. It’s a check for $1500. That’s enough to cover two-thirds of my tuition bill for the semester.

“I know we haven’t discussed your rate yet, but hopefully that will be enough to cover things for the past few days.”

“But I’ve worked three days.”

He doesn’t flinch. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. We should have had a talk before this.”

“No, I mean, I’ve only worked three days.”

He pauses and laughs. “How much do you think the Dwarves would have charged me?”

I shrug. “I don’t know, you just said they weren’t fond of wolves—“

Just then, Porshetta begins to grunt in a way I’m coming to understand as a warning. Her version of “stranger danger”, if you will.

“Hey, Red, there’s a lady here asking for you!” Ginger hollers from the bar.

The lady Ginger’s referring to is holding a giant heart-shaped balloon and dressed in a full-body baby costume with only her head peeking out. She rushes over to me. “Are you Red?”

“Yes.” I look at Randy and try to fight back a smirk. “What did Zach do?”

He shakes his head, looking as mystified as I feel.

The woman hands me the balloon and begins to sing and dance. She has a little tambourine that doesn’t quite go with the song, but I have to hand it to her. She’s really doing a pretty good job belting out an old Ronettes song all by herself.

Her voice carries over the noise in the club and everyone in the bar turns and watches as she dances and sings. I stand there holding the balloon, temporarily mesmerized, wondering where the heck Zach found someone to do a singing telegram that would come out all this way. It had to have cost a fortune.

The woman finishes her song with jazz hands and a shake of the tambourine. The guys at the bar begin to hoot and holler, and even Randy and I clap for her.

She smiles and curtsies and then turns to me. “Morgan sends all of his love and says he hopes you’ll consider being his girl again.”

“Morgan? You’re joking, right?” There must be something in my voice or maybe my face is telling on me because Randy quickly pulls some cash out of his pocket to tip her, thanks her, and motions one of the boys to escort the woman out.

“You okay, Red?” Randy asks. “Who’s Morgan?”

Something Zach’s working on in the kitchen smells amazing. I kick off my boots, pick up Dolly, and go to look for him. I find him standing at the stove, stirring ground beef and noodles in a large pan. He grins as our eyes meet.

“How was your day?” he asks.

I should tell him about the singing telegram, but the idea of ruining dinner and post-dinner sex…maybe it can wait a little bit.

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