Page 19 of Absinthe Dreams
I glance down at him with a laugh to see him looking up at us like he's trying to figure out what we're doing and why he wasn't invited.
"Sure," Trystan grumbles. "Now, you want attention."
"He's just a big baby," I coo, sinking my hand into his thick, rough coat.
Thanos chuffs in response, his tail smacking Trystan's leg with enthusiasm.
Trystan just shakes his head, unable to hide the affection in his gaze. He loves the dog as much as I do. Honestly, it's hard not to love Thanos. He's a big ball of anxiety, easily overwhelmed and stressed, especially by loud noises and small animals, but he's so gentle and loving.
"Has he been on a walk this morning?" I ask.
"Fuck no," Trystan says. "Tom was standing guard in the window, just waiting to fuck with us when I let him out at seven. I was not risking a repeat of yesterday."
"It couldn't have been that bad. Tom doesn't even weigh five pounds."
"Tom is a demon forged in the pits of hell, Coco. And that shady ass cat at the park sits on a throne beside him."
"Coward," I say, laughing. "I'll take him since you're too chicken."
"There's a difference between cowardice and caution, baby. I'm a wise motherfucker for knowing which is which."
"Right," I say, drawing the word out as I reach for the leash. "I bet that's what you say every time you get bullied by a Chihuahua and run from a little ole cat."
"You're still pronouncing demon wrong," he says, moving to the cabinet to grab pans. "But think what you will. Just don't say I didn't warn you when you come home demoralized and defeated. I'll have breakfast and an 'I told you so' waiting."
"My hero," I mutter, deadpan.
He shoots me a smirk over his shoulder as I clip the leash onto Thanos and then lead him out the kitchen door. The sun is out in full force, blinding me. I place my hand over my eyes, shielding them as I glance toward Ms. Lena's house.
Tom is sunbathing in the window, not paying us any attention.
"Trystan is so overdramatic," I mumble to Thanos, jogging down the steps.
Tom barks once as we pass by, but that's the only reaction we get from him. And Thanos is on his best behavior, like usual, trotting along at my side with his tail wagging.
Halfway to the park at the end of the block, my phone dings with an incoming text.
I pull it from my pocket, my mood immediately taking a swan dive when I read it.
Unknown: We need to talk.
I don't even have to ask to know who it is.Donny.I blocked his number right after I sent his texts to his wife, Madeline.Why I thought he'd leave me alone, I don't know. Clearly, I was mistaken.
I wait until we make it to the park to respond. While Thanos sniffs around a tree, looking for the perfect spot to do his business, I type out a message, my fingers flying across the screen.
Me: No, we don't. I blocked your number for a reason, you creep.
Unknown: Tell my wife that you made it all up, and I'll give you back your job. No hard feelings.
Oh, he is delusional!
I wouldn't go back to work for him if my life literally depended on it. I'd rather die than work for someone who spends his days looking at me like I was put on earth solely to fulfill his disgusting fantasies, thank you very much.
Me: Hell no. Shove the job up your ass.
Once upon a time, I was nice and polite to him. That ship sailed as soon as he told me what he wanted to do to me. While I was making his company millions, he was looking at me like an object. There is no coming back from that.
Unknown: You owe me, Chloe. I did you a favor by hiring you in the first place.
