Page 26 of Dear Pink

“For someone who prides herself on honesty, Giovanna sure didn’t bother to tell Tonya I wasn’t interested. Even Mom wanted her gone before dinner began. She was done as soon as Tonya announced her blue food restrictions. I’m telling you she’s cray-cray.”

“Blue diet?” Gloria asks, giggling, but I ignore her.

“The psycho also sedates her cat in order to carry him around in a backpack, dresses him in outfits to match her, and keeps him quiet in a drawer at work. She’s loco.”

Gloria jumps out of her seat so fast the chair rolls into the wall with a thud. “What? I’m going in there. How dare she drug a cat?”

I hold her back. “Wait, it’s okay she attacked me, but when it comes to the cat, you’re ready to take her down?”

Gloria smirks. “What? I love cats.”

I let go of her arm. “Don’t go in there. I need a plan to get rid of her for good. I told her I’d be back.”

“I’ll get rid of her.” Gloria’s eyes burn with rage. She’s a staunch protestor of animal cruelty.

“Let me think for a second.” I put my hands to my head and squeeze. Peaches comes over and wraps her tail around my leg. I pick her up. “What do you think I should do?” I ask her adorable face.

“Let’s sic Lolly on her.” Gloria points to Room 1 as if to direct an attack.

I lower her finger. “Lolly wouldn’t hurt a fly.” I glance around for my big dog and discover her missing from the bed. “Lolly,” I call out.

“Lolly’s the size of a horse.” Gloria walks around, searching too. “Where could she be? We can’t miss her.”

Now, I’m nervous. I almost grab my helmet to search for her outside when the door flies open. And there she is, both of them, in front of me like magic.

“Does this giant lady belong to you?” Pink says. She grips Lolly by the collar. I can’t believe she’s standing in front of me. I want to hug her but stop myself.

“Hi.” I give an idiotic wave.

Pink scrunches her face in question.

“Flag Pole Hill,” I say.

Her expression softens. My body floods with warmth and my arms tingle. A kinetic energy holds us in place. Does she detect it too?

“Ah, my knight in fancy bike gear.”

The heat becomes unbearable. My face must be beet red. Lead fills my shoes and my mouth keeps twitching. The scent of lavender floats around her. Oh, God, did I sniff her?

“Yep, that’s me.” Yep? Oh, man, I did sniff her. Great. I ruined the moment. What’s wrong with me?

“I guess I’m the one doing the saving this time. Is this giant girl yours? If not, I’m keeping her.” Pink teases me, and I love it.

As if sensing she plays second fiddle to Pink, Lolly leaps off the ground and puts her paws on my shoulders. “You’ll always be my girl,” I whisper to her.

Pink giggles and my heart skips a beat. “I love big dogs. I wanted one, but—”

“Doctor?” I feel a hand on my shoulder. “Naughty boy. You said you would return to service me.”

Oh, no. Not now. Please, someone, stop this from happening. Reading my mind, Lolly jumps down and prods Tonya in the ribs with her wet nose. Her cat paws at him through the plastic lining of his backpack.

Tonya jumps, her backpack swinging violently from her shoulder. “Mister Seymour Whiskers doesn’t get along with dogs.” Mister Whiskers, his sunglasses sideways on his face, seems to say, “I don’t give a shit about anything, much less dogs.”

“Meeeooowww,” Tonya screeches in the direction of Pink. “I have an appointment.”

I sag in relief when Gloria takes Tonya by the arm. She coos to the woman as she leads her outside. “Gabe already has a serious girlfriend. Giovanna didn’t mean to mislead you.”

Thank the heavens for Gloria. I’ll finally be rid of Tonya.

---