Editing videos while dog-sitting a dalmatian puppy meant I needed eyes in the back of my head. As Tiger got older, he became more active. He ran around his doggy playpen like a lunatic, and pounced on his toys like it was his job.

“You’re making sure I take lots of breaks, aren’t you?” I asked him, as we went outside to his spot for the umpteenth time. He wanted to run. I could tell. He looked up at me with pleading eyes.

“Okay, fine, I think you are good enough to come back,” I relented, and unclipped his leash. My fenced property combined with the treats in my pocket and Tiger’s history of obedience was good insurance against him going too far astray.I wanted to get back inside and keep working, but I probably needed some sunshine too.

Tiger stood, indecisive, for a moment, and the took off like a shot. He ran back and forth, across the lawn, going faster and faster, a crazy white blur zig zagging across my lawn.

“That’s one busy dog.” Sarah came in the back gate and picked her way toward me, watching the dog as she went.

“Yeah, he’s a little crazy,” I agreed. “Good thing he has somewhere to run, eh?”

She laughed. “Yeah. So how is your new tenant working out?”

I took a breath and tried to keep my voice neutral. “Oh, just fine.”

“Just fine? What does that mean?” Sarah pushed on my shoulder to turn me toward her.

“Nothing! It’s fine. I’m helping him with Tiger and he’s helping me with the bathroom.”

“Is he helping you with anything else?”

“I don’t know what you mean,” I turned back toward Tiger. He rolled in the grass, jumped up, and then rolled again. The side of his coat tinted green from the lawn. “Oh my god, he’s turning himself green.”

Sarah looked and laughed. “Stop trying to distract me.” She searched my face and I looked straight ahead. “Oh my god, there is something going on!”

“I’m in no state to get involved in anything, and he…doesn’t get involved in anything.”

Sarah snorted. “That’s for sure. Dude has a reputation.”

My heart dropped. I knew this, I did, but I still didn’t want to hear it. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

She waved her hand and folded one arm around herself. “Nothing! Just that…he’s known as kind of a player.” I must have reacted because she watched my face and then added, “But what do I know?”

“Obviously something,” I grumped. “Tell me what you know.”

“If something wasn’t going on, why would you care?” she teased.

“Shut up,” I said. “Just tell me before I…”

“Before you what?”

“Before I…out you as still single to your parents and you have to go on their arranged dates.”

Her eyes widened and she laughed. “Hey, don’t get nasty! I cannot believe those guys my parents keep trying to set me up with.” She shook her head.

“Right, so currently you are dating Beckett, the handsome veterinarian, and are definitely not available to entertain offers from any of the trust fund brats of their friends,” I recited.

“Exactly.” She nodded and rocked back and forth on her heels.

“Even though we are also trust fund brats,” I added.

“Speak for yourself. I’m not a brat and you don’t have a trust fund.”

“Oh, I do but it’s all locked up and I can’t touch it until I’m a million years old and married and god knows what other stipulations. It might as well not exist. And who cares? Up until a few months ago, I made all the money I needed, and I’m going to do it again.”

“I don’t want to date anyone who knows I even have a trust fund,” Sarah said. “Or maybe anyone whatsoever. I like my life where I can do whatever I want without obeying family wishes.”

“Mother said you were a bad influence on me,” I said.

“Maybe,” she put her arm around me. “But she also agreed you’d do best living near me, and not with them.”

I leaned against her, my head on top of her head. Sarah was my favorite cousin.

“Just be careful with Rhett,” she said. “I’ve never heard of him actually being in a relationship, or anything more than a one-night stand.”

Her words twisted in my heart. “Do you think I’m being stupid?”

She shook her head. “The heart isn’t the head. Sometimes you just have to follow your heart. I just don’t want to have to kill him on your behalf. He makes a nice Mr. June.”

I laughed out loud. “You’re such a good person, Sarah. I mean, what altruistic reasons you have! You’re practically a saint.”

She nodded. “I know, I know.”

We both watched Tiger meander his way toward us. He moved slower. Maybe his running around tired him a little? “He’s doing a good job with Tiger, though.”

Sarah squatted and held her hands out for Tiger. He walked right into her embrace, and she rewarded his velvet body and floppy ears with scratches and rubs all over. “Maybe all it took to tame him was a Tiger.” She rested her cheek against the side of Tiger’s face and he turned and licked her, his tail wagging like crazy.

After Sarah left, Tiger and I went back inside. This time Tiger stretched out in his bed and cuddled up with his blanket and toys. He slept half belly up, and the pink skin of his stomach shone through his white fur. I shook my head, laughing as he moved his legs in some imaginary dream scenario. His coat glistened in the sunlight. He was a beautiful dog.

I’d explain the green grass stain on his coat to Rhett later.

I worked on my edits until finally the first video was ready to go. My heart pounded as I teetered back on the brink of going back into the online world. My stomach churned and I felt sick. Do not want. Do not want.

Finally, I remembered all the time and excitement Rhett put into helping me make the video. I didn’t want to let him down. Before I could think about it any longer, I posted the video.

Rather than sit and refresh my computer, I got up from my desk, stretched out in the down dog yoga pose for the first time in months, and then walked to the kitchen for a drink.

My phone buzzed. I pulled it out and swiped for notifications. Maybe it was Rhett?

No such luck.

Rory wants to do a joint video — it would be good for ratings for both of you.

I rolled my eyes. I know Jeremy meant well, but it annoyed me that Rory was talking to him to get to me. Joint video. Sure. Right. That’s not awkward at all. It was all the rage. YouTube couples broke up but kept making videos together. Or they would make a few after the breakup.

It was the equivalent of mommy and daddy pretending that everything was just fine, even though they were getting divorced.

I turned off my phone and tossed it onto my desk. How long had it been? Five minutes? And the bullshit already started.