Page 111 of Saved By My Buyers

“Thanks,” I breathe. “I knew I’d feel better after talking to you. I’m impatient.”

Saying our goodbyes, I work through the day and take care of some errands until I need to pick Dolly up from work. She’s taking classes during her lunch break and during the last classes of the day. Sullivan decided that he’d have a student work the desk while she’s in class during her lunch break.

It’s not perfect, but she’s already better than the previous people who have worked the desk before her. It’s stressful, and the students aren’t always pleasant. As far as I’ve heard, Ivan hasn’t been a problem.

Dolly is talking excitedly to a teacher when I walk into the lobby. The guard knows me by sight, as I’m his boss, which means it’s easy for me to pop in to visit her and pick her up.

She’s learning music theory, and will be starting guitar lessons next week. Her classes are filled with younger students, but she was just excited to be in class at all.

“This is a beginning theory book, but it’s a good basis for what you want to be able to do,” the professor explains.

Dolly doesn’t have an issue with hard work, and nods eagerly. “Thank you, I feel like I’m behind, so this definitely will help,” she says. “Is there anything you can suggest?”

“Voice lessons can really help you when writing your songs, so you’re able to hear how you’d like them to be sung,” he says. “There’s someone who works with students, and I’ll have you added to her roster. It may be after hours, but I think it’ll help.”

“Thank you,” she says again, eyes shining with the drive to succeed. I will never blow smoke up her ass. I think Dolly has an incredible gift for words. College may not be the best option, unless it’s to continue to learn music.

Sullivan’s school is the best I know though, so I still think she’s in the right place.

“Absolutely,” he says with a nod. He walks away toward the exit, and I smirk at her.

“Good day?” I ask before she’s launching herself at me.

“The best!” she squeals. “I just want to go home and work on the skills I’m learning.”

“Good, but first you need to eat,” I tease her, holding her tightly to me. I’ll never get tired of being able to do this. “Anything else happen?”

“Not really,” she says with a shrug. “I am starving though. I manage to eat on the run since I’m in classes during lunch, but it’s totally worth it. The fourteen-year-olds also haven’t managed to enter their asshole villain era either.”

“You’re adorable,” I say, kissing her forehead. “Bee went home early, I think she may have had a rough call. Her boss is really careful about balancing her counselor’s mental health.”

“Shit,” she whispers. “So, we need lemon cake, ice cream, and garlic butter chicken.”

“You just named all her favorites,” I say, grabbing her sweater. It’s almost eight at night, and Detroit’s weather is being finicky.

While it was eighty degrees during the day, it’s now down to fifty. Gotta love the Midwest.

“Best girlfriend ever. Lucky for you, all of that is currently waiting for us to take it to her in the truck. We should go before the ice cream melts.”

Her eyes widen as she nods, pulling on her sweater. Running around to the desk, she pulls up the cameras on her computer to see who is left in the building. I watch as she finds only one professor is here, and she calls her extension.

“Hi, Professor Vernon. It’s Dee. I’m getting ready to leave, can you make sure to hit the lights on your way out, please? You’re the last one here,” she says.

Dolly chats for another minute before hanging up, and scurries back to me.

“Now, I’m good,” she says. “Can I just say your team is incredible? It’s so easy for me to find people, check to see who is here, or drop a message for them to return a call.”

Barking out a laugh as I start walking toward the exit, I incline my head at the guard still inside of the building.

“You mean I made it easy for you to stalk people,” I tease her as we leave. “This place is so large that it’s a pain to locate everyone, so this was also done for Sullivan.”

“Well I appreciate it,” Dolly says airily with a shrug. “Okay, let’s get home. I want cuddles.”

The drive home is easy since it’s late enough that the rush hour is over, and Dolly races through the door to the apartment as soon as I open it.

Bee is napping on the couch, eyelashes wet from tears. My heart clenches as I pass by, my fingers ghosting over her cheek. She has such a big heart, but not everyone can be saved or wants to be.

Sometimes, the pain is so great that the person calls the hotline so they can say goodbye to someone, even if it’s a stranger.

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