Page 86 of Tapped By My Roommate
Their words were reassuring. I shot them a nervous smile. “Here goes nothing…”
I retrieved the animal carrier I’d brought along so I could safely transport Zilla and headed toward the front porch. Technically, everything I needed would be in Tess’s house, but I didn’t want to leave anything to chance.
The door opened just as I reached the top step. Tess’s boyfriend, Dan, held a finger to his lips before stepping outside and closing the door quietly behind him.
“Tess is here,” he said in a quiet voice. “She didn’t feel well and canceled lunch with her mom at the last minute.”
“Crap. Okay, uh…” I glanced back at the car. “What now?”
“Well, either we sneak past her or try another day. I’m game for either. I just want the damn thing gone.”
“Today,” I said decisively. “I’ve already left it too long.”
After Tess had made it clear she’d never give up Zilla, I’d begun making other plans.
I hadn’t been sure how to go about rescuing Zilla though. I was hardly a criminal mastermind. First, I’d called Tess’s landlord in the hopes he might help since I was still technically on the lease. He’d sympathized but hadn’t wanted to get involved—and I couldn’t blame him. Next, I’d considered calling a locksmith to change her locks—a bit of poetic justice in the making. But I hadn’t trusted myself to bluff my way through a lie.
In the end, the answer had come to me almost as if it were meant to be.
At a loss for my next move, I’d stalked Tess’s social media to see if any of our former mutual friends might be willing to help me. But I’d stumbled across something even better: her boyfriend, Dan, making a remark on one of Tess’s posts about their weekend plans.
Sure would be nice if I didn’t have to take care of your ex’s creepy lizard. When can we get rid of that thing?
I’d taken a chance and messaged him—and here we were. Apparently, he found Zilla “creepy AF” and was tired of taking care of her when Tess didn’t want to be bothered.
I’d been right about Tess not wanting the responsibility long-term. It had alleviated my small dose of guilt for taking such drastic measures. But it also made my stomach churn at the thought of what might have happened to Zilla without Dan to share the burden. How terribly would she have been neglected by now?
Dan looked out toward the street. “Maybe have your friends move that car. It kind of stands out. Then meet me at the back door. Tess is on the living room sofa, and unfortunately any path to the bedroom will cross close by. But she’s less likely to notice you coming in the back way.”
I nodded. “Got it.”
Dan stepped back inside, and I heard Tess call out. “Were you outside?”
“Just checking the mail, babe.”
“It’s Sunday.”
“Oh, duh.” He laughed rather unconvincingly.
I took off down the steps to the car. Rhett opened the back door and was halfway out. I pointed at him. “No swooping.”
“I’m not! I waited till you came this way.”
I was sure he’d been ready to charge to my rescue, but I couldn’t be too hard on him. Rhett’s protective nature was half the reason I’d fallen in love with him.
It felt too soon to think that way—we hadn’t even dated properly—and yet it was undeniable. It was no longer a possibility. Iwasin love with Rhett Hayes, and if I didn’t want everything to end again, I had to find a way to confront that truth and fight for him, just like I was fighting for Zilla.
But I couldn’t think about that now.
“I need you guys to pull around back, okay? You’re a bit conspicuous.”
“Okay. And you?”
“I’m meeting Dan at the back door. He’ll help me get Zilla.”
Rhett looked concerned. “Your plan hinges on that guy?”
I shrugged, feeling self-conscious. “Better than breaking in and stealing my iguana. At least this way, I’m not committing a crime.”Sort of.
