Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 108721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
The abandoned groundskeeper’s cottage. It’s where I house all my “pets,” as Sebastian calls them. The mere reminder of his name sends me into a tizzy. He’s so patronizing and dismissive. Why does he care if rescuing little animals and nursing them back to health makes me feel better?
It’s not my fault he doesn’t have the ability to show compassion, at least outside his own needs. I’m glad no one told him about the dog I’ve been caring for.
I found him wandering the property a couple of nights ago. He was limping, so I assume he has a sprained paw or something. I’ve been trying to get out to the cottage to check on him more than once a day, but that’s proven to be difficult.
I’ll just have to try harder.
I rush down the slope of the lawn toward the old groundskeeper’s cottage. I’m focused on the task of getting there inside, so much so that I miss the man dressed in all black popping up out of nowhere.
He cuts into my path, forcing me to stop or run directly into him. I dig my feet into the ground, stopping at the last second. I’m a bubble of fear that’s ready to pop. I only manage to pull myself together when I realize it’s just one of the security guards and not some masked stalker who’s coming to kidnap me. One glance at the guard's face and recognition blooms.
He’s the usual guard on patrol when I sneak out here. His blue eyes fill with concern as they roam my face. Robin…I think is his name.
“You okay?” He greets me.
I straighten my shoulders and stand a little taller, trying to look less exhausted and afraid. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just checking on Cobalt.”
“I heard him barking earlier, but I didn’t know if you had told the boss about him yet, so I led the other guard away just in case. Hopefully, he's feeling better soon.”
I beam up at him. “Thank you. It looks like it’s just a sprain. I’m hoping he’ll be all healed up in a couple of days. I’m sure it helps that he doesn’t have to go scavenge for food.”
He tucks his hands into his protective vest and nods. “Of course. Just try to keep him from barking.”
I nod once and head to the cottage.
It's a rustic place but serviceable. There are two rooms, one a big open space where I spot Cobalt sitting on a worn rug. A sleeping bag is rolled up on the hearth, and I tug on it and lay it out flat.
“Come here, boy. Lie down. You need to rest.”
Cobalt lets out a loud yipping bark, and I clamp my hand over his muzzle.
“Shhhh, Buddy. Be quiet. If Mr. Grumpypants finds out I’ve rescued another animal, he’s going to lose his mind.” I check his brace, which looks good. “There. Good boy. I’ll lie down with you for a while. I could use the company.”
I run my hand up his long muzzle to the top of his head and then to his left ear and give him some scratches. He leans into my touch, and that makes me smile as well as eases some of the tension in my muscles. Why are animals so much easier to deal with than humans? At least with animals, I know what they want from me. Food. Care. Attention. Easy enough.
People are the hard ones.
I use both hands to scratch his ears, and then I place a kiss on the top of his muzzle. It's a little dusty, so I bet he was sniffing around this place while I was gone.
Once I take a seat on the bag, he turns, scruffs his feet into the fabric to bunch it up, turns again, and then lies down right over my ankles.
All I can do is laugh. “You dork. Those are my feet. They will fall asleep if you lie on them.”
He regards me with steady brown eyes, and I imagine him telling me he doesn't give a shit. I snuggle into the sleeping bag, exhaustion pressing down on me.
If I lie here for a bit, I’ll feel better.
I can always go back into the house in a couple of hours. It’s not like I can sneak into the closet to sleep until everyone else is in bed, anyway, or at least retreating to their rooms for the night.
I tug Cobalt closer so I can nuzzle him. He obliges, curling his body against mine, and I stroke his back gently. With each stroke, my eyes grow heavier. It doesn’t take long for my exhaustion to overpower the caffeine roaring in my veins.
Okay, maybe I lied. I’ll just take a tiny nap.
20
Sebastian
Apologizing sucks dick, and not just any dick, but dick that’s been wrapped in razor wire. To apologize is to take accountability for your actions and admit you were wrong. If you ask me, I have no issue doing either, mainly because I’m usually never wrong.