Page 41 of Worst in Show

The woman raises her hand to stop me. “Unfortunately, we have zero tolerance for that sort of thing here. It’s for everyone’s safety. My hands are tied.”

Her words leave a burning, stinging sensation across my skin as if she’s slapped me. We’re dismissed.

“But I…” My arms fall limply to my side.

The finality in her statement gives me no choice but to walk out of there. Leo is behind me, and halfway to the cars, I do a one-eighty on him. “Thanks a lot,” I say. “Without this place, I can’t train them, and we can’t be in the show. Not only have you ruined my best chance of saving the store, but I’m also out fifty bucks for the registration fee.”

“What do you mean ‘saving the store’? Are you in trouble?”

Me and my big mouth. “That’s none of your business.”

“So we’ll find a different place,” he says, voice placating.

“I’ve called all of them. And while I’m sure you can afford to join any one of those fancy clubs, I can’t.” My voice cracks. Fuck.

His hand flutters across his hair, clearly uncomfortable. “I’m sorry, okay? I should have had a better hold on Tilly.”

“That’s right.” I wipe my nose with the back of my hand. “And it wasn’t Cholula’s fault.”

“Well, technically, if Cholula hadn’t been there…”

I give him the iciest glare I can muster.

“Sure,” he says. “It wasn’t Cholula’s fault.”

Another infraction of his comes to mind. “And there’s nothing wrong with her.”

“If you’re referring to our run-in in the park, I still think that was a justified question. She looked completely bananas with that ice cream cone in her mouth.”

I hate that he’s right, but I don’t have the energy for this anymore. All I want is to go home and pull a blanket over me. I turn back toward my car.

“Are you going to be okay driving home?” Leo calls after me.

“Does it matter?” I ask.

To that he says nothing. Like I thought.

Living History Illinois Flockify DM, Saturday 08:08 PM

SingerQueen: What’s your go-to pick-me-up song?

AlCaponesGhost25: Promise not to laugh

SingerQueen: No can do. Tell me anyway?

AlCaponesGhost25: I’m too sexy by Right Said Fred

SingerQueen: OMG LOL Please tell me you dance to it too.

AlCaponesGhost25: My lips are sealed.

SingerQueen: I’m putting it on now. Thank you!

AlCaponesGhost25: Much obliged.

It’s a beautiful fall Sunday, cool but sunny, and the trees lining the street down to the park sport their prettiest colors. My first day off since Harvey’s accident. I called the agility place back this morning, but they would not be persuaded to take us back. Thankfully, Right Said Fred has taken the edge off my disappointment. Al was right—it’s a great mood booster. I’m determined to come up with a different solution because, if I’m certain of one thing, it’s that I’ll compete in that dog show no matter what. I will do whatever it takes to get Cho ready.

The dogs prance along unburdened by my conundrum, and for a while I try to be more like them—smell all the scents of fall, listen to the birds getting ready to migrate, breathe in the crisp air. I’m momentarily mesmerized by the way the water skips and sprays over the rocks in the Fox River when the calm is interrupted by rhythmic footfalls coming up behind us.

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