#Hater (Hashtag #2) (21 page)

Romeo

“I thought we were going to the gym,” Braeden said from the passenger seat as I slowed the Hellcat and parked it across the street from the Omega House.

“Yeah, we are,” I said, cutting the engine and staring at the house.

“He still not been served?” Braeden surmised.

“Fuck no. Little bastard’s laying low. Meanwhile, Rim’s out walking around with a goddamned target on her back.”

“Or maybe this time he’s coming for you.”

I glanced at Braeden. “Good. Let him. He needs to stop taking shots at my girl.” I blew out a breath. “What kind of punk bitch goes after a woman?”

Braeden shook his head. “Wanna go find him?”

That thought hadn’t really occurred to me. I’d been too busy thinking about Rimmel and making sure she was safe and busy with me. But I could only find so many ways to keep her at my side until we both had to get back to life.

It’s the reason she was at the shelter right now and I was supposed to be working out.

“Yeah,” I said. “Let’s see if we can find him.”

“Hide and seek college style.” Braeden grinned and rubbed his hands together. “This is gonna be fun.”

I grinned. “I wanna talk to Trent first, see what the word is around the house.”

“Let’s do it.” Braeden threw open the door of the car, and I did the same.

Just as I was about to get out, a car drove up to the frat and parked along the side in the members’ lot. It was a silver BMW. Zach.

“Hey,” I said and slipped back in the car and shut the door. “He’s here.”

“Aw, man,” Braeden complained and got back in the car. “I was looking forward to hunting him down.”

I smiled. I kind of was too, but I was glad I knew where he was.

I grabbed my cell to call my dad and tell him Zach was here and to get the messenger over pronto, but Braeden slapped me on the shoulder.

“Check it out,” he said in hushed tones.

I glanced up to see an unmarked sedan appear at the curb. A man in dress pants and a button-down shirt got out immediately. He was carrying a yellow envelope.

“That’s gotta be the court guy or whatever,” he said.

Zach was walking toward the front of the house from the parking lot. He looked like he didn’t have a care in the world. God, his ego was the size of a freaking small country. Anger still swirled within me. I wondered if I would ever be able to look at him and see anything other than the bruises on Rimmel’s arm or the way he must have looked lurking when she was showering.

“Ah, shit.” Braeden laughed. “Karma is coming, asshole.”

His running commentary came courtesy of the fact Zach finally noticed the man headed for him on the sidewalk. Zach paused and gave the man a hateful stare. It proved he knew people were looking for him.

The man with the envelope called out to Zach, and he stiffened. Then he drew himself up tall and stepped up closer.

The man said something short. Zach nodded and then he was given the envelope. The man turned and walked away. Zach stared after him with anger in his face.

Once the official was gone, Zach glanced at the envelope. He tore off the seal and pulled out a stack of papers. Papers I knew had Rimmel’s signature on the bottom.

Zach flipped through them once. Then twice.

A look of pure hatred crossed his features, and he bunched the papers up in his fist before holding them at his side and stalking toward the front door of Omega.

“That dude is a class-A douche nozzle,” Braeden said.

I had to agree.

As Zach was pulling out his keys for the front door, it swung open. He looked up and so did Braeden and I. No one stepped out, but there was movement in the doorway. A large suitcase and an equally large duffle were tossed out onto the concrete porch.

I reached over and turned the key in the ignition just enough so I could hit the button and roll down my window a bit. We were pretty far away, but if he started yelling, we would be able to hear.

“From hide and seek to college-style stake out.” Braeden laughed and held out his fist in the center of the seats.

I couldn’t leave him hanging, so I pounded it out.

“What the fuck is this!” Zach yelled. His voice was low, but I still heard him.

Trent appeared on the steps, firmly closing the door to the house behind him. He was a big guy, tall with wide shoulders. He worked out hard just like the rest of the team, and I knew he could wipe the pavement with Zach.

He was dressed in a navy T-shirt with the Omega symbol stretched out across his chest. He didn’t say anything at first, just crossed his arms and stared Zach down as he gaped incredulously at what I assumed was his shit on the steps.

Trent’s lips moved, but I couldn’t hear him. It didn’t matter. I knew what he was doing.

He was giving Zachy boy the boot.

Zach lunged forward and shoved his face up in Trent’s. To his credit, Trent didn’t move. His eyes only followed an angry Zach.

“You can’t kick me out of here!” he yelled.

Trent said something again, low and calm enough that I couldn’t hear. Then he gestured to the crumpled restraining order still clutched in Zach’s fist.

“This is a fucking joke!” Zach said and threw the papers on the ground.

Braeden shook his head and sighed dramatically. “No respect for the law.”

I grunted and kept my eyes trained on Zach.

Trent said something else. His face held a note of warning and a note of finality.

“That bitch is just being dramatic!” he yelled.

I stiffened and Braeden laid a hand on my arm.

Trent stepped forward and lowered his face until it was right up in Zach’s. I saw his lips moving but heard nothing. Zach’s face grew red with anger, but Trent ignored it. Then without another word, he turned and went back in the house.

Zach was left staring at the closed door with his belongings and the papers of the restraining order littering the ground around him.

It was done. He was out of Omega and he wasn’t getting back in. And if he even stepped close to Rimmel, I would make sure he was hauled off to jail.

“You feel better now?” Braeden asked.

At the same time, Zach spun and his eyes found my car. Even with the distance, I knew he knew I was watching. Through the windshield, our eyes met.

There was unspoken animosity seething into the winter air around him.

I didn’t look away.

I wasn’t going to back down.

Braeden didn’t bother asking his question again. He knew the answer.

No.

I didn’t feel better.

If anything, I was afraid things were going to get worse.

Rimmel

The shelter was still one of my most favorite places. A lot of people thought of these places as depressing and sad. A place where lonely animals sat in cages all day, forgotten and unloved.

And yes, some days it was sad.

I wished every animal had a loving home, but wishing something didn’t make it true.

But there were more good days at the shelter than sad ones. The animals here were not forgotten and unloved.

I loved them.

And so did everyone else who worked here.

Everyone here gave their time and care to these animals. We were a no-kill shelter and that meant we were overcrowded. But even still, we didn’t turn away an animal in need.

Michelle, the woman who was in charge around here, worked closely with several local pet rescue and fostering places to help keep the crowding down and to find loving homes.

Today was a happy day at the shelter. One of the animals, a long-haired four-year-old Chihuahua was being adopted. He’d been here for several months, sometimes looked over for some of the larger more popular breeds. I called him Sailor, for reasons I didn’t know other than I liked the name.

He was a brown dog with brown eyes and a pink nose. I knew he was going to make a great companion and the people who adopted him were going to give him a great home.

Since his new family was coming to pick him up at any moment, I finished getting him ready. I brushed through his soft hair and folded the blanket he’d taken a liking to. I wanted him to have it. It was familiar to him.

I reached into my bag and pulled out a little blue sweater with an anchor on it and smiled. “It’s cold out there, Sailor,” I told him and ripped off the tags. “I got you a little going away present.”

He was patient as I pulled it on over his head and his furry brown ears popped out. Once he was dressed, I stood back and admired how cute he looked.

“Good boy,” I told him, and his tail wagged back and forth.

Michelle came into the back and looked at us and shook her head with a smile on her face. “You bought him a sweater?”

“I couldn’t resist,” I said sheepishly.

“Well, I can see why.” She smiled and scooped up the dog to love him. “Good luck at your new home, boy,” she said and scratched him behind the ears.

After she put him down, she looked at me. “Can you make sure he gets off okay? I have to run and get some food for the dogs. We’re low. Again.”

I frowned. “We’re low already?”

Michelle nodded. “With all the cold weather, we have more animals than usual. It’s really draining our supplies.”

“Next time I’m out I’ll pick up some too.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I know,” I said. “But I want to.”

“Most college students go shopping or buy beer with their money.”

I rolled my eyes. I’d rather help the animals here. Besides, most of us here at the shelter donated supplies whenever possible because the truth was there was never enough.

“Becky will be in later,” Michelle said, grabbing her coat and bag. “You won’t be here long by yourself.”

“I’ll be fine,” I said.

When she was gone, I finished getting Sailor’s paperwork ready, then took him and his things out front to wait for his family.

I sat at the front desk and put him on the surface. He sat expectantly and waited like a little gentleman. I laughed and scratched his ears.

The front door opened and I made an excited face at Sailor. “Here they are!”

I glanced up and did a double take.

It wasn’t Sailor’s new family.

It was Valerie Anderson.

“Mrs. Anderson,” I said, shocked, standing up. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

“Please, call me Valerie.”

I nodded even though I probably wasn’t going to.

“Romeo isn’t here,” I said. “He’s with Braeden.” I figured the only reason she would be here would be to see her son.

“I wasn’t looking for Roman. I came to see you.”

“Me?” I couldn’t hide the shock in my tone.

She smiled slightly. “Yes. I wanted to see where you volunteered.”

“Oh,” I replied.

She gave me a knowing smile. “I know you’re surprised. But you’re my son’s girlfriend and I’d like to get to know you better.”

Did this mean she approved of her son and me?

“And I have to admit I’m impressed you spend so much of your time volunteering.” She glanced around the room, and I tried to see it through her eyes.

She probably just saw a no-nonsense building without much style. Oh, and it smelled like animal in here too.

“Well, I do get credit for all the hours I spend here. It counts as clinical hours. I need to have between five and six hundred when I apply to veterinarian school. The more I have, the better I’ll look.”

“Something tells me that isn’t the only reason you come here.”

“No.” I shrugged. “I like it here.”

Sailor pushed against my hand, and I smiled. “I know you’re there.” I giggled and picked him up.

“Who is this?” Valerie asked.

I walked around the desk so she could see him better. “Sailor. He’s being adopted today.”

“Well, that’s an awfully cute sweater,” she said, eyeing the dog. It was clear she had little to no experience with animals.

“I couldn’t resist.” I grinned.

“You bought it for him?”

“Yes. Kind of a going away present.”

She glanced around, her eyes taking in the room. “Where is everyone else?”

“I’m the only one here right now. Michelle went out to buy some food. We’re running low.”

“Does the shelter pay for that?” she asked.

“Well, usually. But sometimes we run out so we all pitch in.”

“Do you get paid for your work here?”

“Oh, no. It’s volunteer. But I have a little leftover every semester from my scholarship. And also my dad sends me money.” I frowned.

“Is something wrong?” she asked.

“Uh, no.” I smiled. I just realized my father hadn’t sent me a check since I’d been back from break. “So do you want me to show you around?” I asked, not really sure what else to do.

“That would be lovely,” she said.

I smiled. Our relationship (if you could call it that) was so new, but it really touched me that she was making an effort to try and get to know me better.

Just as I was about to start the tour, the family adopting Sailor came bounding in the door. They were led by a boy who looked to be about eight or nine.

“There he is!” the boy said and skidded to a stop in front of me. Sailor began wiggling in my arms, and I felt his tail beating against my side.

I laughed. “He’s been waiting for you!” I exclaimed.

The little boy reached out for the dog, and I handed over Sailor.

“We would have been here sooner,” his mother said, “but we stopped off at the pet store to get some supplies.”

“No problem at all.” I smiled. I glanced at Valerie. “I’ll be right with you.”

She nodded, and I walked around the desk so Sailor’s new family could sign the paperwork and make it official. As we were going over the details, the boy set Sailor down and produced a toy out of his coat pocket.

The boy and dog began to play, and I was momentarily distracted watching them. My heart swelled. I was so grateful that these people were going to be taking care of Sailor.

Once the papers were filled out, I tore my eyes away from the dog and made sure everything was in order. “I think that’s it!” I said. “Oh.” I grabbed up the blanket. “He really likes this blanket. It was his favorite while he was here. I thought he might like to have it.”

“That’s really sweet of you,” the woman said, taking the blanket. She had short, dark hair and blue eyes. “We’ll take good care of him.”

“I know, and I couldn’t be more thankful.”

The man with the woman and boy whistled, and the dog rushed toward the door. The boy went rushing after them and scooped him up. “Let’s go!”

Before they left, I gave Sailor one last ear scratch, and he licked me on the nose. I laughed. “Good boy.”

I watched the family walk down the sidewalk to their car, Sailor in tow. I knew he was going to have a great life.

I felt Valerie’s eyes on me, and I turned from the door and smiled. “It’s always a good day when one of our animals finds a home. Come on,” I said, leading her toward the back. “I’ll show you around.”

I showed her everything (even the animals). She was a lot more interested than I originally thought. She asked questions and seemed genuinely interested in not just what I did, but what the shelter was really about.

As we went through the rooms, I did things as I saw they needed done, refreshing water, giving out treats and scratches behind the ears.

“So that’s pretty much everything.” I led her out to the main room again. “It’s not very big, but it’s effective.”

“I’m very impressed with you,” Valerie said.

“Oh, well, this wasn’t me. I just volunteer here. A lot of the credit goes to Michelle. She runs the place.”

“I don’t mean the place, though it is impressive as well. I meant you.”

I was confused and slightly uncomfortable with the compliment. I wasn’t used to it.

“You’re clearly very dedicated to what you do. And you keep up your grades, work here, and tutor Roman to help him stay on the team.”

“Well, thank you.”

Michelle came in the front, carrying several bags of food. “There’s more in the car,” she called out and then noticed I wasn’t alone.

“Michelle, this is Valerie Anderson. She’s Romeo’s mother.”

Michelle smiled wide and dropped the bags on the floor. “Nice to meet you! Romeo is great. We all love him around here.”

“Does he spend much time here?” she asked.

“Sometimes,” I answered. “But he picks me up a lot and drives me back to campus. He doesn’t want me to walk,” I said with a grimace.

“That sounds like Roman,” she mused.

“Speaking of… Once we get this food brought in, you can go for the night if you want,” Michelle said.

I nodded. “Everything is done in the back. Sailor went home. The finalized paperwork is on the desk for your files.”

“Is Roman picking you up?” Valerie asked.

“I’m supposed to call him.”

“Well, I’d be happy to drive you over to campus if you want.”

I tried not to show on my face the shock I felt. Instead, I smiled and nodded. I couldn’t very well say no. I’d probably offend her.

Besides, I didn’t want Romeo to drop what he was doing to come here and get me.

“Thank you. I’ll just be a couple minutes. Let me help, Michelle.” I jogged out into the cold and over to the car parked nearby. I grabbed up a large bag of food and spun.

Valerie was standing there, and I jumped in surprise.

“What can I carry?”

“Oh, you don’t have—”

But Michelle cut me off by shoving a large bag filled with cans of cat food at her. “This please.”

Valerie took the bag and all three of us carried the rest of the supplies into the store.

Once it was all in the back (Valerie helped with that too), I gathered up my coat and bag.

“Michelle,” Valerie said as I moved around, “do you do any fundraising here for the shelter?”

“We do what we can. Most of the things we’ve tried in the past haven’t been very successful.”

“I’d like to help change that.”

My bag fell to the floor when I dropped it. Both women glanced at me, and I blushed furiously.

Why was she doing this?

“Well, that would be wonderful, but I have to warn you. Fundraising is a lot of work and it’s hard to get interest in the shelter.”

She smiled. “Yes, I’m well aware of the work of fundraising. I’m on several charities and boards. I do this kind of thing quite often.”

“Oh, well, I didn’t mean to offend you,” Michelle hurried to say. She glanced at me, and I smiled. At least I wasn’t the only one that found Romeo’s mother intimidating.