Page 25 of Wrench
pound German Shepherd who was acting like a dead weight into the crate proved to be
way harder. After thirty minutes of pushing, pulling, begging, and bargaining, he¡¯d
voluntarily walked into it when my back was turned and was now snoring. Apparently, he
found a sudden comfort in the crate.
I shook my head at my best friend whose shit and barf I had been cleaning up for
twelve hours and said, ¡°Just that like that, huh?¡±
While I let my beat-up 1990 blue Ford compact pickup attempt to cool down with the
cheap swamp box I installed, I ran back inside to change my clothes. The Arizona sun was
already scorching, and it wasn¡¯t even noon. I didn¡¯t want to make Buddy queasier from
the heat. Digging through my laundry, I tried to search for a shirt that made me blend in.
I hated going places like clinics or dentists wearing my leather get-up, they always acted
frightened of me when I just wanted the service that I was paying them for. Finally, I
settled on a plain dark green t-shirt that girls always said brought out my eyes.
Driving to the vet, I wished I was on my bike. People thought we were crazy, riding
around in leather in the hundred-and-six-degree heat, but the breeze you got from your
speed cooled you right down. Even if it didn¡¯t, I¡¯d be having too much fun to care. If only
it didn¡¯t look so stupid having a side cart on a bike¡ªI¡¯d take Buddy with me everywhere.
When I arrived at the vet, I double-checked my phone to make sure I was at the same
place I called to make the appointment. Yep, nine o¡¯clock with Doctor Parks at the East
Mascid Veterinary Clinic, I confirmed to myself. I must have been the first appointment
of the day because the place was still closed until nine, and it was only eight-fifty.
To kill time, I pulled out my phone and scrolled absentmindedly, until I saw someone
walk by my truck and I looked up.
My mouth dropped.
A woman walked past my truck with a set of keys and a coffee cup in her hands and
cell phone wedged between her shoulder and ear. My gaze followed her to unlock the
veterinarian office¡¯s door and I determined this wasn¡¯t just any woman. This woman was
the woman that even my filthiest dreams couldn¡¯t put a face to.
Tall, but still a few inches shorter than me. She was short enough that I could pick her
up without it being awkward but tall enough that I wouldn¡¯t have to crouch to kiss her.
