Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 62620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 313(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 313(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
I swear, that’s exactly what I’m thinking when I hear a sharp gasp of surprise from the women at the lane next to ours and look up to see Starling flying toward me, her arms outstretched and a manic expression on her face.
On instinct, I drop my cell and reach out, catching her mid-air.
I stagger back a few steps but manage to stay on my feet as I wrap my arms around her waist and haul her upright.
Once I do, the first thing I notice is that she isn’t wearing a bra—I can feel it when her chest briefly brushes against mine, and it’s enough to inspire an Insta-Hard-On the likes of which I haven’t been guilty of since my teens. The second thing I notice is that she’s soaking wet, dressed in what looks like pajamas, and not wearing makeup, a fact that makes her look even younger than she usually does.
Clearly, something isn’t right, lending an urgency to my voice as I ask, “What’s wrong? Are you okay? Is something up at the shelter?”
She gulps, swallowing before she nods her head swiftly up and down. “Yes. There’s a…thing. A weird thing.”
I frown. “What kind of weird thing?”
She drags a hand through her damp hair and blinks faster. “Well, I was at Barrett’s place, watching Keanu while Barrett and Wren are in Niagara Falls eloping. You knew they were eloping, right?”
“Yeah. They sent pictures. What does that have to do with the shelter?”
Starling exhales a wheezing laugh. “Nothing. Just wondering. So, anyway, I’m watching Keanu for them. At Barrett’s. With Kyle, obviously, since he’d be super jealous if I went to visit Keanu without him.”
“Uh-huh,” I say, wondering what has her so scattered. Starling’s a talker, but not usually a rambler.
“And they were both playing so well together out in the yard,” she continues, “that I thought I’d pop in and check the shelter cameras, just to make sure all the animals were okay. Some of them were acting nervous you know, after Stinkerbelle got there this afternoon.”
My frown becomes a dubiously arched brow. “Stinkerbelle? Don’t tell me that’s what you named the skunk.”
“Why not?” She wraps her jacket tighter across her chest, shivering a little. “I mean, I know she was raised as a pet and doesn’t have her scent glands, but it’s still cute. And whoever adopts her can always call her Belle or Bella for short. Anyway, I thought I’d check on her and the rest of the shelter animals, but the camera feed wasn’t working, and I got nervous. I tried to call you to see if the feed was working on your app, but I got sent straight to voicemail.” Her face splits in a too-wide smile. “But at that point I was heading out for more dog food for Keanu anyway and realized I was driving right by the bowling alley, so I thought I’d pop in and ask you. So…here I am!”
She waves a shaking hand toward my phone as I bend and pick it up off the floor. “If you could just check the app for me really quickly, that would be great. If everything’s all good, you can delete the message without listening to it, and I’ll head out and leave you to your night of fun. You’re having fun, right? I mean, how could you not be having fun. Bowling is always a great time. I loved bowling as a kid, even though I was really bad at it.” She laughs, the sound strained as she motions toward my cell again. “So…is the app working for you? Are you going to check?”
I nod slowly, weighing my options as the wise voice inside insists that something is up here. Something’s fishy and I’d be willing to bet a year’s supply of Keanu Pale Ale, my favorite new beer, that Starling’s lying to me. I don’t know what about or have any idea why, but the inner voice has never led me astray.
So, without saying a word, I pull up my voicemail, put it on speaker, and let my finger hover over the green button.
Before I can tap it, Starling locks both her hands around my wrist and begs, “Please, don’t. Please. If we’re really friends, even a little bit, you’ll delete that message and pretend tonight never happened.”
“Why?” I ask, my eyes narrowing on hers.
She pulls in a bracing breath and her lips part, but before she can speak, my cell vibrates.
I glance down to see a text from Kane, chairman of the board for the Furry Friends Society. He’s also a friend of mine, but not the kind of friend who texts on a Friday night, so I’m not surprised when I skim the message and realize he’s reaching out about the glitchy camera situation.
“The cameras are out at the shelter?” Starling says, sounding shocked.