Page 9 of Training my Human

“So what did you get then?”

I gave the truth minus some details. “Lizard.”

Leo’s brows shot up. “Interesting choice. From that place down the street?”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t blame you,” Kalypso interjected, showing she’d been listening. “The owner is a hunk. If I wasn’t scared of scaly critters, I’d get one, too, just to have an excuse to visit him in his store.”

“Maddox owns it?” I asked.

“Ooh, first name basis,” Kalypso teased.

“It’s on his name tag,” I muttered.

“And you noticed. Even better, now you have an excuse to keep going back.” The smirk on her face annoyed because I’d actually thought of that.

“I doubt I’ll have to return. My Little Fella ain’t into the bugs and stuff he sells.”

“Veggie eater? Boring. I’ve always preferred the carnivorous type,” Leo stated.

Thankfully the conversation ended as the shop bell dinged announcing someone had entered.

During my next lull, despite having planned to visit the pet store—ahem, Maddox—I didn’t, mostly because I didn’t need Kalypso teasing me. Instead, I spent my break smoking a cigarette and thinking of questions to ask Little Fella when I got home. To soften the interrogation, I snared two large extra pepperoni pizzas as a bribe.

Pulling into my place, it took only a moment to unstrap them from the small rack over my rear fender.

“I’m home,” I chirped as I entered my trailer, only to immediately frown. Little Fella wasn’t there to greet me. For a second, I felt disappointment. Either he’d left, or I’d indeed imagined him.

I dropped the pizza on the counter and decided to change before eating. My bedroom stank and the culprit lay in my bed. Little Fella had curled up on my pillow and didn’t look good. His scales were paler than that morning and he appeared to be sweating.

“Hey, are you okay?” I asked.

No reply. I poked him and almost hissed at the heat of him. Running a fever and unconscious.

I panicked. What to do? Take him to a vet? Did they even see lizards?

Before I could think twice, I dialed the only person I knew who might know how to help.

“Leaping Lizards, how can I help you?” asked Maddox in that sexy, deep voice.

“Help! I think my lizard is dying.”

ChapterFour

Maddox,to his credit, didn’t hang up on me. He remained calm as he asked questions.

“What’s wrong?”

“He’s lying in bed and won’t wake up.”

“Could be he’s simply tired.”

I almost snapped,Tired from doing what? But I kept my cool. This guy did know more about reptiles than me. “I don’t think he’s sleeping. Not to mention, he always wants to eat when I get home. He’s also paler than before and his skin looks weird.”

“Sounds like he might be shedding.”

“Shedding what?” I screeched.

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