Page 50 of Before It Was Love

“Considering I don’t know what the hell a zonkey is, I’m pretty sure I don’t have any hiding in the bed of my truck.”

“Your truck?” She screeches. “How dare you treat an animal this way. Poor things. Good thing you’re giving them away to a good home now.”

“Are you not hearing me? I don’t know what a zonkey is and I don’t have any animals.”

“You’re serious. You don’t have two zonkeys to give to a good home? You’re not trying to jack up the price?”

“I do not have any zonkeys to give away.”

“I don’t know why you placed an advertisement in theSmuggler’s Gazetteif you don’t have a zonkey to give away.” She hangs up.

I throw my phone onto the desk. “What the hell is a zonkey?”

“It’s a cross between a zebra and a donkey,” Hudson says.

“And they’re real?”

He nods.

I shake my head. “What the hell will they think of next?”

“Why are you asking?”

“The lady on the phone asked if she could have mine.”

He chuckles. “Have your zonkeys?”

“TheSmuggler’s Gazettemust have messed up and put the wrong telephone number in the ad. I’ll contact them now.”

“Go ahead. We’re done here anyway.” He waves as he exits the trailer, and I dial the newspaper.

“TheSmuggler’s Gazette.”

“Hey, Alaia. I’ve got a problem.”

“I hope it’s a juicy one. Can I quote you?”

I chuckle. Alaia is the reporter slash salesperson slash proofreader slash receptionist at the local newspaper. The gazette doesn’t actually report news but she’s always hopeful.

“My problem is you made a mistake in today’s edition.”

“Say it ain’t so, Flynn.”

“You put my phone number down for an ad about giving away zonkeys, but I didn’t place any ad.”

The gazette is mostly ads and coupons with some local feelgood stories thrown in from time to time.

“I’ve got the ad request here. It has your name and phone number on it.”

“But I didn’t place an ad. I didn’t even know what the hell a zonkey was until five minutes ago when some woman yelled at me for treating mine poorly.”

“Animals should be handled properly.”

“Except I don’t have any animals.”

“Are you sure?”

“Am I sure if I don’t have any animals? I think I’d remember if I had an animal. Especially some mythical creature referred to as a zonkey.”

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