Meeting The Unpredictable (5 page)

I almost gave up on her coming over when she barges in at three in the afternoon.

She’s wearing another pair of short shorts but today she has on a t-shirt. Her brown hair is braided down one side, and she’s wearing those funny glasses again—something I’ve noticed she doesn’t regularly do.

“Are you ready?”

I sigh. “Do I dare ask where the hell we’re going?”

She smiles, and I find it slightly frightening. I can’t believe I’m not protesting this, but again, I highly doubt it would change her plans. “You spend too much time worrying, Tyler.” My stomach drops from her comment. My brain feels like it’s permanently in overdrive. I calculate every move I make, which is one of the reasons I prefer to stay home and avoid the unknown.

“Let’s go.” The Lennie that’s here in front of me is not the same one I saw arguing with her dad and sister the other day in the parking lot. That Lennie seemed mad at the world, but this is the Lennie I’m used to seeing, the one who, no matter how rude I am, always has a smile on her face.

I find Lennie to be odd, but I secretly envy her carefree attitude and her ability to not give a damn about what anyone else thinks, especially her family.

***

AFTER THIRTY MINUTES IN HER OLD
, beat up car—with the windows down and the music up, no less—we arrive at the Lakewood Animal Shelter. “Is this where you...work?”

“Yep,” she answers, already halfway out of the car.

“Why are we here?” I’m practically jogging to keep up with her fast pace.

“To walk dogs,” she answers a second before she breezes inside.

“Lennie.” The little old woman behind the counter lights up when she spots Lennie.

“Carla, how’s it hanging?”

“Saggy like always.” The woman starts chuckling. “Tina started walking the dogs in order. Why don’t you start at the back and work your way up until you meet her?”

Carla looks over at me and smirks. “And who is the delicious looking beefcake you brought?”

Beefcake?

“This is my neighbor, Tyler. He volunteered to help.”

“Oh, thank you, young man. Volunteers are few and far between these days.” I glance over at Lennie, suddenly thankful that she didn’t throw me under the bus and tell Carla how I’m not here of my own free will.

“No problem.”

Out of nowhere, Lennie grabs my hand and leads us to the back. She picks up two leashes, and we walk down a long hall where I witness dog after dog begging for attention. “We’ll both take one at the same time.” Lennie unlocks the last kennel, and a ratty fur ball darts out. Instead of taking off, he starts jumping on Lennie. “Hang on, little guy.” Lennie latches the leash around its neck and hands the dog to me. Without a word, she opens the next kennel and repeats the same process.

I follow her past all the dogs barking at us and outside. “Now what?”

“We walk.” Her answer is as simple as they come, and we do exactly what she said. For over ten minutes, we walk the dogs around the lawn out back. “Okay, little guy, I’m going to have to take you back in now.” Lennie squats down in front of the dog she walked, rubbing its face and allowing it to lick the shit out of her. I glance down at my dog but...no way. I’m not going to let that thing anywhere near my face.

After three rounds of dogs, I finally ask her the question that’s been on my mind since we arrived. “Why do you do this?”

“Do what?”

I roll my eyes and gesture to the dog she’s walking.

She looks down at the dog then back at me. “How could I not is the better question. Being locked up in the same small space day in and day out...I know that seems like a normal day to you, but to most people, it’s enough to drive them crazy.”

My step falters when I hear her answer. No one outside of Chad calls me out on how little I leave our apartment. Even Chad is starting to give up.

“These dogs are more than likely going to die, anyway.” Lennie turns a sharp stare my direction. “The reason these dogs won’t get adopted is because everyone wants the cute, shiny puppy. Most people won’t stop to notice that these dogs have a lot to offer the world. People just need to open their eyes and take a chance.”

I’ve apparently ignited a fire.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you. My parents aren’t animal lovers so we never had a pet.”

Lennie tilts her head to the side. “Tyler, have you ever felt unconditional love?”

Her question causes my head to spin. I was in love once, only life didn’t work out how I pictured. The only thing I know for a fact is she didn’t unconditionally love me.

“Sure, my parents love me unconditionally,” I finally answer.

“What if you disagreed with them? If you told them you were gay or that you robbed a bank? That you killed someone? Would their love still be unconditional?”

I look her in the eyes, and I can tell she’s seriously questioning my answer. “I don’t know. I’d like to think they would.”

Her face softens. “Humans come with strings. They always have and they always will, but the love you get from an animal is truly unconditional.” There was a hint of sadness in her voice. Someone—and after the way I saw her talk to her father, I would say it includes her parents—let her down.

I start to open my mouth to tell her I’m sorry, for what exactly I don’t know, when I notice her smiling at me.

“Do you want to go out tomorrow night? Maybe I could convince my sister to tag along, and you can get your roommate to go.” She pauses to laugh. “I’m not sure what type my sister goes for these days, but I know she could use a man in her life. Someone to dust off the cobwebs, if you know what I mean.”

“Are you trying to recruit me in setting up Chad and Jodi?”

“Recruiting would imply I’m asking, and I’m not. We’re a team, and teammates stick together.”

My eyes narrow. “We’re a...team?”

“Yep, and you can’t get rid of me, so stop thinking about trying.”

My entire thinking process shuts down when her unrelenting stare burns into mine. I haven’t belonged on a team since I graduated high school, but the sudden urge to be on Lennie’s is stronger than I could have imagined.

WHEN I WAS A LITTLE
girl, I remember having a never-ending list of things I needed. I don’t ever recall wondering if I’d get everything I asked for. No one taught me that no matter how good you are, no matter how much you beg, no matter how much you pray, some things can’t be purchased. Sometimes in life, what you want doesn’t really matter.

***

“I DON’T HAVE TIME TO
go out to a bar, Lennie.”

“Yes, you do. You’re choosing not to.” Jodi huffs before turning back to her computer screen.

“I’m not saying your job isn’t important, but if you don’t stop and look around every once in a while, you’re going to wake up one day as an old woman with no life.” Jodi slowly turns her face back towards mine. “You know how quickly life can change. Don’t let your life disappear right in front of you.” I’m laying it on thick, but that doesn’t change the fact that I believe every word I’ve said.

“The real world sucks. We both know that, but unlike you, I get up every day and give it my best.”

“And I don’t?” I snap.

“I wouldn’t know. I hardly ever see you, and when I do, you’re usually throwing things in either my face or Dad’s.” Her words sting. Once upon a time, life felt like it was Jodi and me against the world. If I did something to get in trouble, she’d stick up for me in a heartbeat, but that’s no longer the case.

“You know what, never mind. I asked you to go out to a stupid bar for a drink. I didn’t realize that would turn into a lecture.” I turn to leave her kitchen when she calls out my name.

“I’m sorry...”

I pause, knowing Jodi well enough that a huge but is coming.

“You have seven weeks left. I love you. I’d invite you to live with me if I thought there was a chance in hell you’d take me up on my offer, but life goes on, and that includes the moments you usually deem not worth sticking around for.” No one takes me serious. Then again, I’ve given them years of reasons not to. “I can’t...no, I won’t get behind on my workload because you’ve dragged me out to a bar looking to get drunk.”

I force a smile and pretend her words didn’t cut me. I’ve lived one lie and told another, but the ugly truth is, I don’t stay in one place long enough to form a solid foundation with anyone.

“One hour. If you’re ready to go home after an hour, I’ll personally drive you.”

The corner of Jodi’s mouth turns up. “Deal.”

“Now let’s get you in something less stuffy and something a little more...sexy.”

“Lennie.” She laughs. “Don’t push it.”

I won’t push Jodi because I know if I do, she’ll push back, and I’m positive I won’t like what happens if she does.

***

“I THINK IT’S TIME WE
exchanged phone numbers, since we’re a team and all.”

Tyler pauses with his beer half way to his mouth. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Why?”

“Why?” he repeats. “I have to remind myself to keep our apartment door locked so you don’t barge right in. I can only imagine how many boundaries you’d push if you started calling me all the time.”

I lean closer and try my best to appear serious. “That hurts my feelings, Tyler. Friends don’t hold out on each other, and besides, I’d text you not call.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Again with the friends crap. I only met you last week.”

“And I just delivered you the best week of your life.” Tyler opens his mouth to say something, but nothing comes out.

“Let’s go sit down at a table,” Jodi says behind us after returning from the restroom.

“A table it is.” I grab my beer and follow Jodi.

Earlier, when I stopped by Tyler’s to tell him that I finally got Jodi to agree, he told me that Chad wasn’t home. Jodi, however, was raring to go and had no idea of the matchmaking skills I’m currently attempting, so I couldn’t suddenly postpone leaving.

Tyler was nice enough to call Chad and tell him how he was personally having drinks with the Jacobs sisters by himself, and he should hurry the hell up with whatever he was doing and meet us at the bar Jodi chose.

Jodi waits until Tyler sits down then she immediately starts in. “Tyler, after talking to Lennie, I’m a little confused about what exactly you do for a living.”

Tyler looks over at me and smirks. “I investigate fraud within a company as a neutral third party. I’m usually hired by owners or CEOs who already have an idea of what they’re looking for, but more times than not, I still manage to surprise them with what I’m able to uncover.”

Jodi grins. She loves the corporate life and always will. “I should give you my business card. You bust them breaking the law then they can hire me to defend them.”

Tyler chuckles. “I would, but I rarely take local clients. There’s a sense of safety being thousands of miles away from the person I just pulled the rug out from under.”

The longer I watch Tyler talk, the sexier he becomes. I knew he was gorgeous from the second he opened his door, but the more I’m around him, the more I’m noticing the little things. Like the way his eyes darken when I say something that pushes him out of his comfort zone, or the way he rubs his finger over his top lip when he’s thinking.

“Oh, look who’s here.” I glance at Jodi and smile when Chad appears next to the table. “Have a seat. We’re doing a little neighborly bonding.”

Chad sits down, never once taking his eyes off my sister.

“Nice to see you again, Chad.” I force myself not to groan at Jodi’s overly professional way of greeting a man who’s dying to rid her of her panties.

“You look great.” Jodi forces a fake smile but otherwise doesn’t acknowledge his comment.

“Sis, your drink is a little low. Are you ready for another one?” Jodi opens her mouth to answer, but I hop up before she has the chance. “Perfect. Tyler and I will go get it for you.”

Tyler laughs as I pull on his arm, but he gives in and follows me to the bar. “You were real discreet back there. I’m sure your sister doesn’t have any idea what you’re up to.”

“Who cares? Those two are perfect for each other. They just need a good hard shove in the right direction.”

“How do you know they’re good for each other? You barely know me, and you know even less about Chad.” He shakes his head, clearly irritated by my comment.

“You can learn a lot about someone without ever asking a question.”

Tyler’s eyes darken in that sexy, brooding way that’s beginning to turn me on. “What do you know about Chad?” he challenges.

I order a round of drinks from the bartender and turn back to Tyler.

“I know he has a good job and that he’s head over heels in lust with my sister. Hopefully, once he gets to know her, he still feels the same way because my sister needs a man in her life, whether she’s willing to admit it or not. The way I see it, they’re perfect for each other. After a long day, all they have to do is walk across the hall and bam. They can have sex.”

Tyler chokes on his beer, causing me to laugh.

“Bam, they can have sex?”

“Hell yes. Sex is the foundation of a good relationship.”