Page 13 of Sweet Love From Saturn

“Hey, you made it home yet?” I asked Saturn when she answered the phone.

“I did. I just got in like twenty minutes ago. Where are you? It sounds like you’re in the car.”

“I am. Is it okay if I stop by real quick? Just for a few minutes.”

“Yeah. Just let me know when you’re outside.”

“Come open the door. I’m actually pulling up right now,” I admitted.

It’d been over a week since I came over to install Saturn’s cameras. After I took her out for lunch the following day, it felt like we became stuck at the hip. I was always calling her to check in and she called me every morning while she got ready for work. The sound of her voice had become the one thing I had to look forward to. Before I came to a complete stop, Saturn was already halfway down the stairs with her phone in hand. I hit the button to unlock the back door when I noticed her sight set on Sparky.

“He’s so cute. When did you get him?” Saturn asked as I got out of the truck.

“Haven’t even had him a full hour yet. We just came from the pet store. His name is Sparky, but I don’t know if I’ll keep calling him that,” I admitted.

“Why not? I think it fits him.”

“I don’t know. It’s cool, just not a name I would’ve come up with.”

“I think we should keep it.”

“We?” I countered, just to fuck with her.

“I mean y?—”

“I’m just playin’, baby. I like that you’re thinking that way.”

When Sparky jumped down from the back seat, he sniffed Saturn and seemed to be taking to her just as well as he did to me. I walked off and took a seat on the porch when I saw the two of them had forgotten I was here. Having a dog couldn’t replace human interaction, but maybe now I wouldn’t feel as lonely. I was at peace, but sometimes too much silence got to me. Although I didn’t regret moving away from Gwendal, I often questioned if Pleasant Springs was truly where I shouldbe. When I snapped out of my thoughts, I realized Saturn and Sparky were playing with a green frisbee.

“Where the hell did you get a frisbee from?”

“You didn’t see me walk to the garage? You were looking right at me.”

“My mind was somewhere else because I didn’t see you walk off.”

“Everything okay?” she asked as she approached.

Taking a seat beside me, Saturn rested her head on my shoulder before hugging herself. I wrapped an arm around her and kissed the top of her forehead before answering.

“I’m fine. Just little shit I need to work through. You tired?”

“A little. The shop was crazy today. I really need a few days off, but there’s no way that’ll happen unless I close it while I’m out, and I can’t really afford that.”

“Is the shop in financial trouble?” I quizzed, my consultant skills coming to the forefront.

“Yes and no. Up until a few months ago, business has been slow. Like so slow that I got behind on the rent. Since I know the bank lender personally, she’s been working with me. The shop may look nice, but it needs to be updated. Then inventory is a whole story on its own.”

“I’ll come down to the shop tomorrow and see what we’re working with. I just need you to know I won’t sugarcoat shit. When it comes to business, I don’t hold back on anything,” I informed her.

“Thank you. What time are you coming?”

“Around noon. I have to drive to some town tomorrow for a car part.”

“What’s the name of the city?”

“Loring or something like that,” I recalled.

“Oh, I know where that is. It’s like an hour drive. My dad and grandpa used to go out there all the time to go fishing. It’s like Pleasant Springs 2.0.”

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