Page 91 of Chubs

“Slang for hookers. On their backs a lot with heels up in the air. For their job, you know,” Craig clarifies while still filming.

“I don’t even want to know how you’d know such a thing,” I say firmly.

“Principal Jones’ pool thermometer isn’t going to work properly for a few days, I bet,” Craig states with an evil laugh, clearly enjoying himself.

“Pool… never mind. I get it,” I say hurriedly before he explains again.

“Hey, Jones!” Craig shouts, still aiming the camera at the beaten, hurting, disgraced principal. “Actions have consequences! Enjoy yours, fuckface!”

I grab Craig around the waist, jump off the chair, and make a run for the exit. I don’t slow until we’re at my car. I ignore Craig’s gleeful laughter as I put the school in my rear-view mirror. I drive straight to New Horizons and rush Craig inside with me. He’s still laughing from time to time and, without a care, takes a seat in Pippa’s office.

Tammy and Pippa both look from Craig to me then back to Craig. Tammy closes her eyes and audibly takes a deep breath. Pippa places her pen on her desk, eyes Craig, and says, “Just tell me if you have an arrest warrant coming your direction?”

“No, I’m pretty sure they don’t arrest kids my age for handing out lessons,” Craig answers immediately.

“How bad is it?” Pippa asks in a calm voice when her eyes meet mine.

I have no idea why, but I bust out laughing instead of answering. I make my way to the nearest chair and howl, which makes Craig join in, and Tammy to throw her hands in the air and stomp out of the room. On the way out, she shouts over her shoulder, “I don’t know any of you, and they can’t make me admit that I do!”

Tammy’s words and attitude cause another round of laughter. When I finally get control of myself, I wipe tears away and face a still-calm Pippa.

“It could be worse. No one that didn’t deserve it got hurt, but there’s no way Craig can go back to that school. Pretty sure that he doesn’t have arrest warrants, but there could be a hit taken out on him by now.”

The first sign of nervousness hits Pippa’s face when Craig hands her the phone. Holding it away from herself like it’s poisonous, she raises an eyebrow.

“Am I going to regret hitting play? Because I don’t mind living with my head in the sand if that’ll save my sanity,” she declares.

“Let Pooh listen to it while you enjoy a glass of wine. Or a bottle. Or two,” I advise.

“Who’s having wine?”

I hear the voice, but my brain locks instantly. I don’t move, look toward the door, or acknowledge that Chubs is standing less than five feet from me. All laughter is wiped from me as I stand, still facing Pippa.

“Call me later, and I can explain if you still need an explanation,” I murmur to Pippa. “See you later, Craig. Let Bella know that I’ll be there for her.”

Turning, I keep my eyes locked on the doorway and not the man standing next to it. I walk past and don’t slow my steps until I’m out the back door.

“Lucy. Can we talk for a minute?” asks the voice that belongs to the man I thought I’d marry.

“There’s nothing to talk about, Adriano. You had a tough choice to make, and I wasn’t on the winning side of it,” I respond with a rasp in my voice.

I don’t turn to face him, and I continue walking through the yard when he speaks again.

“I don’t regret doing what I could to save my family, but—” he starts, then stops when I speak over him.

“No buts, then. You did what you had to do for them, and I get that. Take care of yourself, Adriano,” I say as I slide into my car.

“Chubs. I’m still Chubs, Lucy. Adriano died years ago,” Chubs says before I shut my car door, start my car, and drive off.

I remain dry-eyed through sheer force of will and drive carefully until I pull to a stop in the FurEver Homes lot. Entering the building, I nod to Dale, then head for the dog barn. Candy’s head snaps up when she sees me, but she doesn’t speak. Stopping in front of the same kennel I did with James, I open the door, sit and hug the brown fur missile when he leaps into my lap.

Burying my face in his neck, I force my mind to go blank and simply enjoy being with someone who wants to be with me. I sit until my ass goes numb before standing, grabbing a leash, and heading out the back door.

“Let’s take a walk, Greer,” I murmur to my companion, not realizing I just gave him a name.

We walk for a long time, stopping several times so Greer can sniff new smells and mark his territory. When we return to the kennel, Candy is still in the barn and walks over to our side.

“He’s a good boy,” she says. “But he’s going to be a big boy when he grows up.”

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