‘Lee’
I’m trying to wrap my mind around what it is exactly that he’s asking me here. Does he want me to permanently move back home? Have some part of this operation? “What would I do?” I ask that last question out loud unintentionally. As it slips from my mouth, I feel a slight blush coat my body and predominantly my cheeks.
“You could always work with the men and women who come in that are dealing with the trauma and after-effects of their service,” Seth excitedly advises, it’s as if his world has stabilized, has a meaning, a purpose if you will. It sounds almost like he is just pulling something out of the thin air in hopes that it will start the fire burning for either one of us women. He’s laid the groundwork and we can build it from the studs up and secure the structure of this impending, important operation.
“I have an idea,” Serenity quickly interjects, interrupting my internal musings. “This is a government-funded project, you guys. If you are both hired on as civilian contractors, then you get paid through the donations and funds I receive. Not only that, but we do charge a non-refundable fee for adoption that’s a bit higher than normal simply because of the talents these dogs possess. There’s enough room for us each to have our own office so if you have to do any private sessions, Lee, then you’d have that space available.”
I turn and look at Seth, then softly, almost hesitantly ask him, “You’d want to work alongside me?”
“Absolutely,” Seth instantaneously replies, reaching out to take my hand in his. “What kind of idiot wouldn’t want to be with the person who is his best friend in the world?”
“Well, you’re definitely not an idiot,” I sass, turning back to what emotion I display best when it comes to my best friend. “Okay, I’m in, Serenity. Is there paperwork I need to fill out?”
“You both have paperwork that needs to be filled out which I’ll get for you. However, the good news is that the background checks, your fingerprints and other bureaucracy bullshit stuff is already on file with the government thanks to your work, Lee, and your military service, Cruz. So other than the normal shit like your address, bank account information, email, we should be good.”
“Well, hell, I don’t really have a home address since I have been somewhat nomadic,” I reply, chewing on my bottom lip as I contemplate this new issue.
“You could always use your parents’ address,” Seth nonchalantly states with a tilt of his head. I mean, that’s what he’ll have to do, use his own parents address since that’s where he’s been staying upon his discharge from the rehab facility. Sounds like a sound plan and I understand the importance of having a home address, but the thought of staying with my parents on a permanent basis causes bile to rise up in my esophagus. I wrinkle my nose at that thought, causing him to smirk in response.
“I’ve got another idea,” Serenity smirkingly advises, and the snarkiness in her words has me cringing to hear what she has to offer the two of us. “Above the barn is a two-bedroom apartment that’s empty. The two of you are welcome to use that as long as you need for your residence. You’d be on the property which would make me feel better about leaving at night. Even though I think someone would have to be a crazy fucker to try and break in with the caliber of dogs that are here.”
“Show us the apartment,” Seth unabashedly commands. God, I love when he uses that alpha tone of voice. I’d pretty much do anything if he were to use it on me.
Serenity grabs a set of keys from her desk drawer and quickly stands. “Follow me, you two. I need to give you the tour anyhow, but first, let’s see if this will work for you both.”
I follow behind the two of them, thinking about how life has changed so quickly since I arrived. I watch both Seth and Savior as they catalog our surroundings, each on high alert and I realize once again that Seth still has demons to work through.
Once we walk up the stairs and into the apartment, I’m immediately enchanted with its cottage-like appearance. It takes up the whole upper part of the barn and has been well-reinforced with insulation as well as soundproofing because the kennels with the dogs below cannot be heard. Serenity opens the door and we walk into a small foyer that opens into a great room. It’s an opened floor plan allowing you to see directly into the kitchen area, which has an island resting in the middle. Off to each side are doors and I gravitate to the one on the right. “It’s a master bedroom?” I ask Serenity, peering inside and seeing the bedroom set.
“Actually, each bedroom is considered a master bedroom since they have their own ensuite bathroom. There’s also a half-bath off the kitchen next to the laundry room,” she replies.
“It’s perfect,” Seth advises.
“That it is, we both would have our own areas to escape and rest from the day’s proclivities. Please tell me there’s a jacuzzi tub in that bathroom?” I all but beg Serenity and toss out my best impression of a pleading puppy. The only thing I’m missing is a tail to wag to enhance my cuteness.
“What type of person do you think I am? Of course there’s a deep tub in there, and it may contain a jet or two,” Serenity chuckles out as she tosses her head back.
“Wench,” I toss out, glaring at her.
“That’s Queen Wench to you, lowly maiden,” she tosses back as our banter is in the process of becoming a verbal smack-down before Seth intervenes.
“Ladies,” Seth cackles as he reaches out and pulls me into his chest. “Be good,” he admonishes as he tries hard to keep his laughter at bay. But I’m no fool, I can feel his shoulders shaking with hilarity behind me. He then physically escorts me all the way into the bedroom off the kitchen, the one I was looking inside of earlier.
“Serenity, the quilt on the bed, is it handmade?” I question. “Because if so, as beautiful as I think it is, I’m going to have to order something else. I refuse to ruin it.”
“Yes it is and it was made to be used, Lee,” she replies, shaking her head at me as if I said something so extraordinary she can’t wrap her brain around my reasoning.
“By someone in your family I presume.” I lift my eyes to where they're boring into hers, letting her know under no uncertain terms that I will not be responsible if something were to happen to it.
“Uh, just saying, you’re one of my best friends so that makes us family, dumbass. By extension, since he’s your best friend, again… family.” I roll my eyes at her trying to use back assward logic on me. I don’t like to be psychoanalyzed by anyone, that’s my damn job, not hers.
I simply point my finger at her and narrow my eyes, “Don’t.”
‘Cruz’
It’s been a long, tiring and antagonizing month. We’ve jumped through all the hoops demanded of us from the military and have worked hard to turn this business into a successfully sought-after program. We have been approached about training dogs that weren’t sent to us initially. They were ‘officially’ thought to be dogs who needed to be terminated. Instead of going down that road, the head honchos have decided to give them to us to see if we could possibly rehabilitate them. Savior fell in love with a pure black German Shepherd that has glued herself to Lee.
I swear when Savior sees Gladiator walk into a room, his tongue lolls out to the side and drool forms on his lips. He’s as smitten with her as I am with Lee. We’re both miserable bastards only taking the small chunk of change the women we long for offer us. The problem being, Savior and I are selfish bastards and want one hundred percent of their hearts, bodies and souls.
Savior and I are currently sitting on the couch. My feet are up on the coffee table as he sits protectively at my side. We are both more interested in what’s going on in the kitchen with Lee and Gladiator than we are with what’s on the television set. The smells permeating out of there have Savior’s nose up in the air sniffing as my stomach furiously rumbles. I had such a busy day today that lunch didn’t cross my mind.
“Soup’s on,” Lee calls out, causing the two of us to scramble off our asses and into the kitchen. Savior trots over to his bowl and sits, while Gladiator waits next to hers.
“Soup?” I scrunch my eyes up at her, “that doesn’t smell like any soup I’ve ever had,” I tease her mercilessly with my commentary.
“Chow’s done,” she snarkily says as she shoves her tightly fisted hands into her hips and continuously glares over her shoulder at me.
“Why can’t you just say dinner?” I quirkily question, ruffling her feathers.
“Someone’s hangry,” she relentlessly teases, carrying the pot roast over to the island. The smell overwhelms the small apartment and has my stomach clenching and growling out loud with intense hunger.
“Missed lunch today,” I explain my rumbling belly as I begin carving the meat into thin slices.
“Do I need to start packing you a lunch?” she teasingly asks. Typically, she’s in the office handling paperwork or meeting with either individuals who need her help, or families looking to adopt one of our dogs. We’re so fucking selective that we’ve turned more people away than we’ve allowed to permanently adopt.
“That might not be a bad idea since I have my hands full most days. Not only am I working with the dogs we’ve got, but I also have a new batch that we got sent that were deemed ‘unadoptable’ and ‘unsalvageable’ that are taking a lot of my time. I think they’ll be okay, but the extra work means no stopping for me.”
“Then that’s what I’ll do, Seth. You’re far more important than these dogs in the scheme of things and I won’t have you undoing all the progress that you’ve made physically because you’re not taking care of yourself.”
Her words have me seeing red. For the first time in my life, I want to yell at her. “Lee?” My tone is quiet, my anger barely checked as I try to gather my thoughts.
“Yes, Seth?” she asks just as quietly as I did… she knows that by matching my tone, I will respond.
I take a minute and breathe in through my nose and exhale out my mouth as I’ve been instructed when trying to compose myself and contain my temper. “As far as I’m concerned, these dogs are just as important as I am. You of all people should know this about me, correct?”
“I don’t think there’s anything I don’t know about you by now.” As she says this, she averts her eyes away from mine.
“Then why the fuck would you say something like you just did?” I burst out and bellow. “That dog right there,” I shout, pointing at Savior, “is the fucking reason I’m still walking, talking and breathing for fuck’s sake and you know this!”
Savior and Gladiator both stand, their hair standing on end and growls escaping their throats in response to the way I’m shouting my words out, but I’m unable to help myself. This is a topic that is close to my heart and for anyone, including Lee, to insinuate that they aren’t as important as I am, has me irked and I am having a difficult time calming my fuel-filled testosterone.
The shattered look on her face warns me that I’ve gone too far, but I can’t stop. She stands and I watch as both dogs follow her into her room where she quietly closes her door. I hear the snick of the lock and realize that I fucked up.