Say You'll Remember Me(70)

The dog twitched. Then he sat up.

I let out a relieved breath and the crowd began to cheer.

I gave the dog a little water while he came back around.

The man was shouting at the cops. “This fucking asshole just broke my window!”

Samantha was already on it. “Uh, excuse me? You’re welcome?”

“I saw the whole thing,” someone else said. “The dog was overheating. That guy saved him.”

The pug was sitting up on his own now. I pulled the bottom of my shirt up to wipe sweat off my brow. “I’m a veterinarian,” I said. “This dog was suffering from a heatstroke. It’s animal cruelty, it’s a crime, and it’s legally enforced.”

I didn’t know what the laws were in California for breaking windows to save animals, but I didn’t give a shit.

Apparently I was within my rights because twenty minutes later the officers were writing him a ticket and letting me go.

I was still crouched, monitoring the patient, when the police finished up with the man.

“You need to take him to an emergency vet for fluids,” I said to him as the police got back in their cruiser.

He balled his ticket up and threw it. “Fuck you. I’m not spending a dime on him. I got a broken window and a ticket for a five-dollar dog? He can die again for all I care.” He looked like he was going to hit me.

I stood slowly to face him. I was a full six inches taller than him and twenty years younger too. I hadn’t been in a fight since Dad, but if I was going to break the streak, I didn’t mind doing it today.

Samantha stepped in front of me. “You’re not gonna take him to the vet?” she said to the man. She pulled her phone out. “Say that again. Tell me how you locked your dog in a hot car on a ninety-degree day, we had to break your window to save him, the cops gave you a citation for animal cruelty, and now you’re refusing to take him to the vet for treatment. Tell me again.”

The man’s face went ruddy.

“Go ahead,” she said. “Let’s see what your employer thinks of this. I’m about to make you famous. Just to recap, you’re a dog abuser. Alllllll these people filmed the whole thing. Your dog basically died and my boyfriend just happens to be a veterinarian who saved him for you and now you won’t get your dog treatment.”

He looked at her and he looked at me. Then he glanced at the camera and the onlookers still hovering and recording. He decided it wasn’t worth it.

“Fuck you.” Then he stalked off to his car and left without getting his animal.

When he was out of sight, Samantha put her phone down and turned to me, letting out a breath. “Is this how dogs end up in the witness protection program?”

“This is exactly how dogs end up in the witness protection program,” I muttered.

“I’ve always wanted a pug.”

“Well, today’s your lucky day.”





32





SAMANTHA


WE WENT TO the vet after the smash-and-pug-grab, and then home.

I was in the kitchen telling Jeneva the story while Xavier monitored the dog in my apartment. Mom’s birthday dinner was in less than an hour.

Since I was doing the apps, I had less time than everyone to get my food ready. Jeneva, who managed to land salad, had taken pity on me and was helping. I was making baked jalape?os. They had a cream cheese peanut butter filling and then you topped them with golden raisins and feta. It didn’t feel ambitious at the time, but I was still flustered from earlier.

“So he just saved this dog? Right there in the parking lot?” she asked.

“Yup. When he stood up and looked at that guy after he said he wouldn’t take him to the vet? Chills,” I said, slicing a pepper in half. “The look he gave him? Total Dark Lord.”

“He was so good with Mom that one time. And the boys love him,” my sister said, deseeding the jalape?os I was cutting. “I wish he lived here.”

I scoffed. “Same.”

I finished filling the poppers and I put them in the oven.

“Where is everyone?” I asked, wiping the counter down.

“Mom’s in the sunroom with Grandma. She’s got pozole in the slow cooker. I think Dad just got home. He had sides and made them before work. Not sure where Tristan is. He had dessert.”

“What did he make?”

“I don’t know, he won’t tell anyone.” She set her knife down. “Hey, Dad left again last night,” she said quietly.

I froze with a rag in my hand. “Whaaaat?”

“Yeah,” she whispered. “At midnight. I saw him get in the car.”

“You think it’s his tooth again?” I asked.

“I don’t think so. What is going on?”

“Dad’s fucking around, that’s what’s going on,” Tristan said from the doorway.

I turned and pinned him with a look. “What?”

Jeneva put a hand on her hip. “Dad would never.”

My brother crossed his arms. “Oh no? Sorry, but I know what booty call hours are. And he’s acting shady as fuck.”

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t even start rumors like that, Tristan. I get that you enjoy the intrigue, but Dad is not a cheater.”