Page 52 of Sinful Little Lies

When I step outside, I’m surprised to see a blacked out Escalade instead of his usual ride, the McLaren. “New ride?”

His smile spreads and the sight of his dimples, or should I say craters, set that ball of butterflies on fire. “We may need the extra space,” he says with a wink.

Yes, please. A thousand times yes.How have I resisted him for so long?

He loads our bags into the trunk, sets up Flame in the backseat, and I get comfortable in the passenger seat. Whenhe’s settled in the driver’s seat, he turns the music up and tells me to relax. “Nap, draw, snack, smoke, do whatever you want. We’ve got a little bit of a drive ahead of us. We’ll stop at rest stops whenever you need a bathroom, but other than that we’re driving straight through so I’ll do my best to keep you entertained.” he says with a chuckle.

I spend the next few hours controlling the aux, sparking up, and drawing. After my initial burst of energy was depleted, we recharged with burgers, fries, and milkshakes, then continued on our journey to the mystery location.

Hours go by before I see that we’re crossing state lines and there’s signs welcoming us to California.

What in the hell could Grimm have planned in California?

GRIMM

Verena has no idea where we’re going and more importantly, who we’re bringing home. I’m surprising her with a trip to her hometown, Fremont, and we’re getting her dog back.

I’m reuniting Verena with Mística and I can’t wait to see her face. She never specified the shelter she was being held at, so I called every single one in the Fremont area, hoping to get lucky. Once I found what I thought was the correct place, I verified all of Verena’s information and even asked them to send a picture. Verena’s home screen is a collage consisting of Ronnie, Mística, and an older woman whom I assume is her grandmother. The dog looks identical to the one in her phone, and once everything was verified, I told them Mística would have a comfy new home back in Devil’s Lake, with Verena and I.

We’re currently at a rest stop. The girls had to piss and I needed something to eat. I’m chomping on a meatball sub as my mind fills with anxious thoughts of Verena not liking the gesture of bringing Mística home.

What if she doesn’t want another dog in her house, dumbass?

What if she preferred you to talk to her about it first?

What if she appreciates the gesture but decides to leave her at the shelter?

What if it’s the greatest thing someone could do for her and she’ll love me forever because of it?

What if?

The girls enter the car as I’m finishing up my sub and V holds up a bag of snacks. “Flame befriended this adorable little girl and it turns out, her parents own a snack shop in there and gave me all of this for half off! All because she wagged her tail and handed out a few licks.” She does a little dance before digging out a preroll and sparking it up. She inhales and hands it to me, then digs in the bag. Pulling out a bag of doggie snacks, her verbal enthusiasm continues, “Look! She even weaseled her own free treats out of them! That’s what I’m talking about, girl. Gimme paw!”

Verena holds her hand out towards the backseat and Flame follows the command. Verena lifts her up to her lips and kisses her before murmuring a string of good girl’s to Flame.

The ticker in my chest is ready to explode, the detonator pin feels like it’s hanging on by a thread. Seeing my two girls together, knowing we’re on our way to get a third and they don’t even know it, gives me the most heartwarming feeling.

Maybe I'm a little bit anxious to know that I'll have three ladies hanging up against me from now on.

I drivethroughout the night and into the morning. V moved to the backseat and snuggled up with Flame a few hours ago. She wakes up any time I spark up a joint and we pass it back and forth for a few minutes before she drifts back into sleep again.

Sometime around noon we enter Fremont. Verena eyes me suspiciously and wastes no time interrogating me. “Why are we going to Fremont?”

“Heard it had some nice sights. What do you think?” I answer, without making eye contact. I hate not being transparent with her, but she’ll find out the truth soon enough.

She shakes her head, “You know I live here, right?” I open my mouth in an exaggerated gasp and look at her in disbelief.

“I’m with a Fremont local?” I answer sarcastically and continue. “You can show me all the best spots. Just have to stop by a couple places first.”

We pull up to a white brick building that has a metal plate on the left side of the front wall in the shape of a paw print. To the right, in shiny metallic lettering reads, Pitbull Paradise. Verena’s eyes widen and she looks at me in complete shock. “You did not.”

I smile and turn off the engine, then grab her hand and give it a squeeze. I bring my other hand up to her chin and softly stroke her skin. “There’s not a thing in this world I wouldn’t do to see you smile. Anything you wish for is yours. Anything at all, Verena.”

Her eyes water and a small tear slides out of her tear duct and slips down the bridge of her nose. Placing a soft kiss on her lips, I wipe the tear with my thumb and pull back to look at her fully.“Let’s go get our girl.” Her smile brightens and I swear I’ve been blinded by the brightest light ever to be shone.

Flame hops out of the car and walks alongside us into Pitbull Paradise. The front desk lady smiles brightly when she notices my little monster. “Verena! How nice to see you! It’s been a long time. How’s school?”

Verena swallows and nods slightly, “Hey, Liz. Good. I’ve been good. How has everything been here? How’s Mística?”

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