Page 81 of Bake the Town Red

Of course I found out. All it took was one lunch break and a little bit of stalking and I saw them.

Cheating is wrong, no one’s denying that. Leaving a helpless dog chained with a lock even I couldn’t pick? Fucking ruthless, woman.

So I fed him. Gave him water. Put a small tent to protect him.

Waited until October came around to give him a better life once and for all.

Yolanda was a bad person. She had to go.

“What do you think, SL?” I jerk my chin toward a building where two of my nicest customers live.

Apollo and Peter from three blocks down Sweet DeNights own two dogs and have the sweetest baby. The baby loves the dogs. The men love the baby and the dogs.

The perfect candidates. I’ve been eyeing this couple for the last few weeks just to make sure. Following them closer for SL’s sake. Everything about them screamed good people.

They’ll make the best fathers to my canine friend. Or they’ll give him to someone who cares.

Unlike Yolanda.

“Well?” I won’t move before he’ll give me the green light. No one’s cared about SL’s opinion for too long. I’m here to break the cycle.

The dog looks up at me, wagging his tail. Barking once as if to say,I approve.

“I’m glad we see eye to eye on this. I promise you, these two will never leave you outside for hours.”

It’s around midnight when I sneak up to their apartment, kiss the top of SL’s fluffy head, and leave the adorable dog in their living room.

Now, to the main event.

Tyler.

Not a single yawn slips past my lips on my walk over to him. Running low on sleep is the price I pay for my October shenanigans, but I’m used to it. I’ll sleep when I’m dead.

Besides, I’m pumped with adrenaline and longing. So much longing.

Ty and I are getting our happy ending. Finally.

My blonde hair billows around me as I climb his fire escape, getting into my eyes. I tuck it behind my ears as I crouch outside his window and watch.

His bedroom door is open. He doesn’t always do that. Tonight, he has. Tonight, he’s been expecting me. I guarantee he did.

I’m here to grant him his wish.

The hinges I oil every few months don’t make a sound when I slide the window up. The soles of my shoes land soundlessly on the floor. After a glance in his direction, I see I haven’t woken him up.

Perfect. I can snoop for a couple of minutes. Check if he took new pictures of me. If he wasn’t able to resist himself and stalk me while he’s been in timeout.

Over the years, he’s been stocking on those. Photos of me in my shop, on the way home. Never of my October shenanigans. He loves me too much to document anything that could be used as evidence against me.

His laptop rests on a desk near one of the windows, and that’s where I’m headed. Staying very quiet, I remove my sneakers and tiptoe over there.

The password for the Little Savage folder was an easy one to crack. He hasn’t bothered changing it for the past four years, either.

Mine2A. My apartment number.

Not too many things are as sexy as Tyler’s obsession.

Let’s see, then. Oh, there they are. New ones.

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