Preston’s face pales as he listens to his phone. I wonder if his dad left him a nasty voicemail or something.

Before I ask, I take a moment to marvel at how incredible our sex was. It was completely amazing. I’m blown away. I came so fucking hard. His cock is so huge, and more importantly, he knows how to use it.

All that virile man prowess aside, other moments were even more special. The way he looked at me while we had sex. The way he connected with me on a deeper level. It felt emotional, intimate. He was completely tuned into my wants, my needs. I never once felt he was just trying to get himself off. 

It’s as if he completely cares for me.

Don’t be silly, Yessi. You’ve known this dude for less than a week. He’s going to be just like every other man you’ve met in your life. He’s going to use and abandon you.

I shake these self-deprecating thoughts off. No. Maybe it will be different this time. Maybe after all these years of being discarded by everyone I’ve ever cared about, I’ve finally met someone who will be there for me. 

Preston paces and starts frantically dialing numbers. 

“You okay?”

He blows out a breath. “No. Don’t freak out, but I just got a call from a shelter back home. They have Gidget.”

A heaviness settles deep in my stomach. No, this can’t be happening.

“What? Are you sure? How did she get there? She’s supposed to be in your store. How did they get your number?”

“I had her microchipped the day after I got her. Supposedly she was left in the night drop.”

Adrenaline rushes through my body, and it takes every inch of self-control I have not to fly into a rage. “The fucking night drop? Who dumped her in the night drop?”

“I don’t know. I’m going to find out.” He tries to put his arms around my shoulders, but I push him off. “It’s going to be okay, Yessi. Don’t worry. I’ll just call Hugh—”

I point my finger at him. “Don’t you dare fucking call Hugh. I saw the way he looked at her, not to mention what he said about her. He’s the one who probably dumped her.” At my accusation, Preston’s eyes go dark.

I run over and grab my own phone from my purse. “I’ll call Eden now to send in a pull and have Avril pick her up. Which shelter?”

Preston hovers near me, his arms folded across his broad chest.

“There has to be an explanation.”

“I said I’ll handle it. Which fucking shelter?”

He tells me, and I call Eden. 

Eden answers on the first ring. She’s nothing if not dependable. “Hey! How’s Hawai’i?”

“Beautiful, but I’m coming home. I need you to do me a favor. Can you call in a pull for Gidget?”

“Gidget? The Chi Preston was fostering?” I can practically hear the confusion on her face.

“Yup. She was dumped in the night drop. I’ll figure it out. I mean, Preston’s with me now, so it’s not his fault, but clearly, our dogs aren’t safe at his store without him there. Can you and Avril get her and then go to the store to check on them? Like right now?”

“Yup. I’ll call her.” I can already hear Eden securing her own dogs and grabbing her car keys. Like I said, dependable. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I was having a great time, but now I’m stressed. I’ll make sure I’m on the next flight home. Oh, and I found a pit bull here.”

“Of course you did. First things first though. Text me your flight info. I’ll text you back when we get Gidget and the rest of the dogs. Once they’re safe, we can figure out how to get that pit bull back here, too.”

“Thanks, babe. Love you,” I say because I do. I love Eden and Avril. I trust them, and they’re the only people who love me back. I should have never trusted Preston, but I don’t have time to wallow in my regret. The dogs back home need me.

I hang up the phone and go into the bedroom to pack. I don’t have enough money for a last-minute ticket home, but hopefully, the change fee won’t be too expensive.

Preston appears in the doorway. “Hey, can we talk?”

I exhale.

Breathe, Yessi, breathe. Preston did not dump Gidget in the night drop. He was with you the entire time. Fucking you, as a matter of fact. You owe it to him to hear him out.

“Fine, talk. Have you gotten a hold of Hugh? What’s his pathetic ass excuse? Are all our other dogs dumped in night drops?”

“I can’t get a hold of Hugh, but when I do, I’ll figure out what happened. If he did anything shady, I’ll personally fuck him up. I called the kennel tech at the store. She said all the other dogs, including your rescue dogs, are fine. She said that Hugh took Gidget home with him last night and he didn’t come into work today, so she assumed that Gidget was with him. Maybe she got loose, and someone else dumped her?”

I shake my head in disbelief. “Are you that gullible? It’s obvious Hugh dumped her. It’s too much of a coincidence that she’s the only dog he took home and then she just happened to end up in the night drop. Good news is we can solve this riddle. I know Deb from the shelter. All she has to do is look at the video footage on the camera, and we can see who dumped her. If it’s Hugh, I’ll beat his ass myself.”

I grab the shirt I wore yesterday and toss it into my suitcase. I crumple up the fabric as my heart constricts in my chest. 

I picture sweet Gidget, only a few days after being dumped by the only family she’s ever known, being thrown away like yesterday’s trash. Shivering in that cold, dank cage, her eyes blinking back tears, with all the rest of the dumped pets. Only cowards drop their pets in the night drop. What does it say about Preston that this motherfucker is his best friend?

Thank god Preston had chipped her, or she would’ve most certainly died. I kick myself for not chipping her myself. For going on this trip. For trusting Preston. 

And I can’t help it. I begin to sob. 

Preston kneels by my side and holds me in his arms. “Hey, babe. Look at me.”

I look away because I have the maturity of a five-year-old. I’m emotionally stunted. Five. Five was the age my mom abandoned me. Five was the last time in my life that I had a home. That I had a family.

And I was never adopted. Because everyone wants a cute baby. Nobody wants to adopt the quiet girl who does nothing all day but sketch in her notepad and play with stray pets.

Kind of like how no one wants to adopt the old dog with a grey mug who just wants to sleep all day.

Ugh, I’m a mess.

“Yessi, look at me.” Preston’s voice is gentle, but with a strength that catches my attention immediately.

I look up at him, my cheeks damp from my tears.

“I’m taking complete responsibility for this. I don’t know what happened, but I’m going to get to the bottom of this. If Hugh dumped Gidget in the night drop, then I’m through with him. I mean it. Gidget is a great dog. I care about her life, and she doesn’t deserve that shit. In fact, I’ll adopt her when we get home. Whatever you need me to do, I’m on it. Please don’t shut me out. How can I help?”

I surrender. I need his help. For once, I can’t do this on my own. “Can we just get out of here? Can we fly back tonight?”

“Yup. I’ll call now. Yessi, I’m so sorry. What about Cuffs?”

Fuck, I need to take care of Cuffs. “I’ll call the vet now. I doubt he’s ready to fly and even if he were, he would need shots and a health certificate. Do you have any friends who can take him until we can arrange for transport?”

Preston thinks for a second, and then his face turns stern. “I don’t have any local friends who can take Cuffs, but I can ask my parents. My father hates me but loves dogs. Don’t worry. I’ll figure it out. Worst case scenario, Cuffs can stay at the vet or at boarding until we can bring him home.”

I exhale. As mad as I am at this situation, I’m not going to write Preston off yet. I recognize that he is trying. “Thanks. It means a lot to me.”

“Not as much as you mean to me. I’m going to fix this, Yessi. Just give me a chance to fix things. That’s all I’m asking.”

I nod. I hear Preston call the airline as I continue packing my things. 

After years of taking care of everyone else, it’s nice to have someone take care of me.