Page 126 of Bodybuilders for the BBW

“We’ll find a way, boy,” I told the dog when we got back into my car. “We have to.” When my voice started to waver, he moved closer, snuffling at my neck. “I won’t let you go through that again.”

Easy enough to say, hard to put into practise, but where there’s a will, there’s a way, right? I clung to that aphorism as I drove back to my place.

Chapter63

Katie

“Hey…”

I was really hoping Mandie wouldn’t be here when I got home, and yet there she was, and with company to boot. Natasha hung back and gave me a little wave as I walked in.

“Don’t want to talk,” I said, and then Bronson and I walked into my room.

I paced back and forth, trying to put it all together. I knew his medical background, because I’d been filled in by the staff at the shelter. Antidepressants, sedatives, pheromone sprays, we’d tried the lot and with little effect. It was why the writing was on the wall for him, because if he didn’t respond to treatment… his cage would be better served by housing a more adoptable dog.

Maybe Marg was incorrect. Maybe there was someone outside the city that would take him. Maybe?—

“Katie, we need to talk,” Mandie said, appearing at my door. I frowned as her hands wrapped around the frame, as if making clear she wouldn’t be dislodged. The same rage that burned in me when accosted by the guys’ neighbour roared back to life.

“Talk?” I snorted at that, my smile pure bitterness. “You mean where you lecture me and I listen? Where you tell me what to do with my life and I scurry to obey?”

“That’s not?—”

“You said enough last night.” It felt like my whole body was quivering right then, and when I heard Bronson’s whine, I was the one standing, face pressed into the corner of the shower, not him. “Too much, really, but…” I swallowed hard. “All true. I do give up everything when I like someone, because that’s who I am. It makes me happy to do things for others, to help them.” I looked down at Bronson who wagged his tail in response. “But yeah, people take advantage of that.” I shook my head. “You take advantage of that.”

My phone was in my hand, and when I unlocked it, I dismissed all the notifications. None of them were from people I wanted to hear from right now. Instead, I tapped through to my contact list and onto the one lot of people that could help.

My grandparents still had a farm outside the city. They’d scaled back things in a big way due to their age, but they were determined to remain on the land for as long as possible. Quiet, just outside a tiny little town in the hills, it was the perfect place to take Bronson, at least for now.

“You were right,” I told Mandie before I put through the call. “I do need to prioritise what’s important to me, and it’s not the gym, it’s not work, and it’s not keeping my family happy.” Bronson stared into my eyes and I don’t know what he saw, but there was something beyond doggy comprehension, I was sure of it. “I need to make myself happy, and right now that involves making sure Bronson has somewhere he can feel safe.”

The phone buzzed as the phone rang.

“Hello?” I heard my grandmother’s voice down the line.

“Nanna? It’s Katie.”

“Katie, love! How are you? How’s working at the vets?”

“Um… about that.” I glanced down at the dog. “I need to get away for a bit and I was wondering if I could come and stay on the farm for a week?”

“Come and stay?” I heard her pull the phone away from her mouth. “Larry! Larry, Katie’s coming to stay!”

“Is that my Katie?” I let out a little laugh as I heard my grandpa come on the line. “You’re coming down for a visit? We’ll get your room sorted out for you, love. What time do you think you’ll get here?”

“As soon as I can.”

Mandie’s lips thinned down as we made the arrangements, but that didn’t affect me like it normally did. I got off the phone to my grandparents, then went to work, packing my bags.

“I don’t know how long we’ll be there, boy.” Bronson jumped to his feet and started to whirl around. “But I do know it’ll be amazing. No dogs barking. No city shit. I think…” I swallowed hard. “I think you’ll love it.”

“So you’re just leaving to go and stay at Nanna’s and Pa’s?” Mandie asked as I wheeled my suitcase out.

“Yep. Rent’s paid and my half of the utilities as well. I’ve done a bank transfer for the lot. I’ll…” I looked around the apartment, seeing, feeling, all the memories we’d created here and felt like somehow I was saying goodbye to them all. That didn’t make sense. I could walk away from my life for a week, but not forever. “I’ll see you around.”

At that, Bronson and I swept out of the apartment and down the stairs, getting into my car. I started the engine and then eased the car out onto the road. Getting on the freeway, being able to put my foot down, speed away from the city, I felt something lift.

“Everything will work out, Bronson, just you wait.”

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