He started again hesitantly.
“And Jaxen …”
“Nope. I’m good.” I cut him off, already turning.
No way was I standing here listening to him badmouth the top two on my s**t list.
Gary was number three for a reason.
Adults knew better than to fall for obvious bait.
I didn’t bother with goodbye.
Just walked.
Thankfully, he didn’t follow.
The rest of the day blurred by in a haze of paperwork and deadlines.
By the time I wrapped up the last file Allen needed, the sky outside had gone full dark.
My stomach growled, hollow and insistent.
I grabbed my bag, mind already on takeout options for the walk home.
Stepping out the front door, I stopped cold.
Gary was there. Waiting.
Not far down the path, under the glow of a streetlight.
Tank spun circles around his legs like a fluffy
