Page 43 of The Other Guy

SIERRA

“I know, boy, I don’t want to leave you, either.” I kiss and hug and cuddle with Toby, feeling like my heart is breaking in two. Fat tears drip from my eyes as Toby guards the door to the garage so I can’t leave without him. He’s not stupid, he saw me packing all my belongings last night and knows what that means. Angry at Jeff that I have to leave. Not that I’ll miss Jeff. But Toby? Toby’s my baby.

“You know what? Fuck it. You’re coming with me.” My rash decision to steal Jeff’s dog doesn’t bother me in the least. I quickly gather all of Toby’s things: his doggy bed that he rarely uses, his toy box, his food and water dish and the large bag of kibble, and shove it into my car. I lay a towel on my front seat and before I can think twice, Toby and I make a break for it.

This is what my life has become.

Living with the Toolbag.

Stealing pets.

On the run.

And I don’t even care.

As I drive away, I laugh hysterically, knowing how pissed Jeff is going to be when he gets home later to discover not only are all my things missing, but so is his dog. Will he even be mad that I left without a goodbye? Will he even care that I took his dog? Probably only because his pride will be wounded. Otherwise? I doubt it will faze him. In fact, he’ll likely be grateful that I am no longer a burden for him to worry over. He can now have one-night stand after one-night stand without a second thought.

No concerns over if his live-in girlfriend will discover his lies.

He can screw anything he wants.

Good for him.

Getting all the sex while I’m like a dried up sack of beans.

I’m glad I purchased that new vibrator a few months ago. Maybe being away from Jeff will let me relax enough to actually have an orgasm. Lord knows I could use one. The last time Jeff and I had sex, it was done and over with in ninety-two seconds. That’s right. I counted. Because it was so lack luster that I could lay there and count the seconds he was jackhammering into me before he collapsed on my chest, breathing heavily like he’d just finished running a marathon rather than a ninety second romp in the sack.

I’ll ask one more time then I’m done, over the wallowing. Done. How was that my life? How? Okay, I guess it was twice but seriously… how did I allow myself to live that way?

I glance over at Toby who’s sleeping peacefully curled up on my front seat. His back paws sticking out over the edge. I reach over and scratch behind his ear and he lets out a contented sigh.

If nothing else, I got Toby out of the relationship. Albeit by way of thievery, but still. He’s mine and I’ll train him to bark and growl at Jeff if he ever tries to steal him back.

Soon enough I’m pulling into Kyle’s driveway. He comes out of the front door and marches over to me as soon as I’m out of my car. “Good to have you back.”

“Good to be back.”

I let Toby out of the car after putting on his leash and look up at Kyle sheepishly. “I couldn’t leave him. I’m sorry, I know you’re not a dog person but he’s mine.”

“Thought he was Jeff’s,” he says with a single eyebrow raised.

I shrug and give him my best puppy dog eyes. “But…”

“Don’t give me that look. You stole this dog. Are we going to have trouble?”

“No.” I shake my head adamantly because I truly doubt Jeff will come looking for him. He might text or call me, but I can’t see him getting angry enough to come here for him.

“Okay then. You can keep him.”

I really wasn’t going to give him a choice but I show him my gratitude anyway, as does Toby, like he understood what we were saying. Toby licks his hand and I laugh at the grossed out expression on Uncle Kyle’s face.

“I promise I’ll clean up after him and do all the work.”

“You sound like an eight-year-old begging for a pet. I trust you. Now come on, let’s get your stuff inside.”

It takes us several trips to get my car unloaded and my stuff placed into the spare bedroom I only vacated yesterday morning. I don’t have the energy to put it all away right now so I’ll take care of it later. Right now I just want to curl up on the couch with a large fountain soda, an extra cheesy pizza, and a good movie. Or a good book. I really don’t care as long as it takes me away from my current life situation.

Twenty-seven.

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