Page 87 of Tickled Pink

Max nods. “Might be important.”

I find my robe on the floor and rush downstairs to answer it.

It’s Jackie.

“Hey, boss lady!” She pulls her sunglasses down her nose as she looks me up and down. “Well, you look like you got fucked hard last night.”

“Uh…” I clear my throat as I pull my robe even tighter around me. “Yeah, pretty much.”

“So the guys are doing it now, too?” She sneers at me. “Fuckin’ figures...”

“What are you doing here?” I ask her.

“Came to take the dog.”

“You’re taking my dog?”

“For the weekend, while your two love studs whisk you off to who-knows-where. They — annoyingly — wouldn’t tell me where.”

“That’s because you’d probably spoil the surprise,” Thad says as he comes down the stairs behind me, fully dressed in a white shirt and slacks with a bright red tie around his neck.

“Meh.” Jackie shrugs. “You’re probably right.” She whistles loudly, the sound echoing through the foyer. “Stinky! Let’s go!”

“She’s coming,” Max says, dressed to match Thad at the top of the stairs.

Before he starts down, Stinky rushes out of the bedroom and he darts to the side to keep from getting knocked over as she plows down the stairs.

Jackie kneels. “Hey, Stinky!” She gives her a few scratches behind the ears. “You ready to hang out with Aunt Jackie while your daddies take mommy to… London?”

“No,” Thad says.

“Paris?”

“Nope.”

“Miami?” she tries again. “Vegas?”

“Nope, and nope.”

She kisses her teeth. “Whatever.”

Max passes her Stinky’s leash and harness. “Walks twice a day, if you can manage.”

“Yeah, yeah. I know.” She clips the leash on Stinky’s collar and stands, taking a moment to admire the three of us.

I don’t even want to know what’s going through her sinister mind right now.

“Okay, bye, Jackie!” Thad says.

“Bye!” Max and I say.

She sighs and slides her sunglasses back onto her nose. “Bye-bye!” she says as she leaves, happily taking the dog with her.

Max closes the door behind her. “You should go get dressed,” he says.

“No hints as to where you’re taking me?” I ask.

“Nope.”

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