Page 36 of I Knew He Was Trouble
“What’s wrong with him?” Tyler asks.
“I think it’s his way of rebelling against the man who stole his best friend.”
He rolls his eyes. “Your dog is a drama queen.”
I cross my arms defensively. “You shouldn’t judge someone for expressing their emotions.”
“He’s a dog.”
I bend over and cover Winston’s ears. “He can hear you.”
“Like I said, he’s a dog.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I grit my teeth.
He presses his lips into a firm line. “I don’t know why you’re making this out to be a big deal. All I said is that he’s a drama queen. But he’s also a dog. He might have emotions, but it’s not like he understands everything we say. He’ll be fine.”
Tyler might think I have my dog-walking job as a quick way to earn cash. I couldn’t expect him to know about my dream of opening a dog rescue because I’ve never vocalized that, but I’m sure even if he knew, he’d still say the same thing because my neighbor hasn’t changed. He’s still the uncivil jerk I’ve always thought him to be. Now, he’s confirmed my thought was actually fact.
I’m quiet as we continue the loop back to the parking lot. Evie and Tyler talk in front of me while I grip Winston’s leash like it’s my last bit of willpower.
“Uncle Ty.” Evie’s sweet voice carries on the light breeze. “Since we drove Ms. Kelsey, does that mean she’s getting grilled cheese with us?”
Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit. In the time we were here, I forgot that we drove together.
Tyler glances over his shoulder at me, a steely look in his eyes that I can’t quite decipher. “If Ms. Kelsey wants to. Otherwise, we’ll drop her off, and you can get grilled cheese for dinner.”
Oh, thank the heavens. There’s the out I needed.
“I don’t want to leave Winston in the car, so I think we’ll take a raincheck this time.”
Evie sighs and wraps her arms around Winston’s neck.
Once in the car, I get on my phone and pull up a local Louisville newspaper. I follow the instructions necessary to take out an advertisement, letting all my frustration toward Tyler over the past years come out.
He’ll regret every day he blasted his hip-hop music at four in the morning. I’ll make sure of it.
I finish filling out the form, hit enter, and put my phone back in my bag. I’m not ashamed to admit that I feign sleep for the rest of the car ride home.
Sometimes, a girl just needs an hour of peace—and to pretend she’s not currently in the car with her jerk of a next-door neighbor.
Shaynawalksintotheactivity room at Sunrise Springs, carrying a large box filled with flowers. I push the final chair into the long row of tables and move toward her.
“Need help?”
“I’m good.” She grunts. “Just need to—” Shayna places the box on a table and sighs. “Set it down.”
“Do you need to get anything else from your car?”
She shakes her head. “That’s the last of it.”
“Thank you again for doing this. The residents will be so excited to make flower arrangements.”
She smiles. “I’ve always wanted to teach a flower arranging class, so you’re the one doing me a favor.”
On the long row of tablespace in front of us are clear vases in various shapes and sizes. Scattered around them are shears and floral tape ready for use.
We work together, staging the blooms Shayna brought from Shirley’s Florist on an end table for the residents to select from. We arrange the flowers by color and place the multiple types ofgreenery beside them. The area smells like a floral haven when the residents enter the activity room.
