23. Mabel

Mabel

I ’d finally stopped crying when Elaine stuck her head in.

“Cops are here, boss. They want to get statements from you both.”

“Let them in,” Joshua told them.

We both gave our statements to the police, then Joshua took me back to the recovery section where Esmerelda was resting. She was in a kennel at the far end, sleeping on a blanket, hooked up to an IV, with a cast on her leg. She looked so small and helpless.

“Can I go in?” I asked.

Joshua nodded. “Just don’t jostle her leg. She’s drugged up right now and might not realize that she’s impaired.”

I slipped inside the kennel, closing the door behind me, and slid to the floor, hugging my knees to my chest while I watched Esmerelda.

“I’m going to check on a few things,” Joshua told me. “If she wakes up, have someone come get me right away, okay?”

“Okay.”

I could barely process what had happened. One minute I was having a nice walk with my dog and my boyfriend, then my bastard ex was hurting Esmerelda. I couldn’t believe my mother had brought him to my house.

Remembering that my phone had beeped a few times with my mother’s ring tone since I’d gotten here, I pulled out my phone. There were several messages from her, the first one asking where I went, as if she hadn’t seen me and Joshua put her on the backboard and take her to the car. The next couple defended Stephen and suggested that I was overreacting.

When my phone rang in my hand, I answered it.

“Maybelline. There you are, I’ve been trying to reach you.” My mother sounded annoyed.

“I’m at the animal hospital thanks to you and Stephen,” I said, my voice dripping with venom. “How could you do that to me, Mom?”

“How was I to know your mutt would attack poor Stephen?” Mom asked. “I know he didn’t mean to hurt your dog.”

“Just so we’re clear Mom, you and I are done. You made your choice, and it’s not me. Don’t contact me again. Don’t come to my house. I don’t want to ever see you or talk to you again.”

I breathed out a huge sigh. It was a painful decision, but I knew it was the right one for me.

My mother sputtered in my ear. “You’re being overemotional, Maybelline.”

“I’m hanging up now, Mom, and blocking your number. I hope you and Stephen will be very happy together.”

I pressed ‘end’ and immediately blocked her number, then for good measure, I blocked Stephen’s too. I didn’t want to hear from either of them ever again.

“Are you okay?”

I looked up to see Joshua watching me. I could tell by his face that he’d heard everything. “Yeah.”

There was a little whine, then Esmerelda started moving.

“Esmerelda!”

Joshua came into the kennel, squeezing in next to me while we both looked at Esmerelda. I could tell she was high on pain meds by the look in her eyes. She did a belly crawl to move closer, and I petted her head.

“You’re going to be okay, baby. Joshua fixed you up and that mean man will never come near us again, I promise.”

The cops told me that Stephen had posted bail and hightailed it out of town, but he’d be back for his court date in a few weeks. I was pressing charges and with the crime witnessed by the town’s most respected veterinarian, it was unlikely that he’d be able to buy his way out of this trouble.

I wanted him punished for sure, but I also didn’t want to give Stephen any more brain space. My focus was on Esmerelda.

We hung out with my pup for a little while until Elaine and one of the vet techs came in with a folding table and two chairs, setting them up near the wall that ran alongside Esmerelda’s kennel on the side of the treatment room. Right behind them Erica walked in, setting two large brown shopping bags on the folding table.

“What’s up?” I asked Joshua.

He took my hand and helped me out of the kennel. “You never got your birthday barbecue, so we ordered dinner from Big Bob’s Barbecue.”

I stopped dead, looking between Joshua and the bags on the table.

“You ordered me barbecue?” I asked.

He looked confused. “Yeah. I figured you’d want to stay with Esmerelda tonight and Big Bob makes the best ribs in the state. He even sent over chocolate cake when I told him it was your birthday.”

I flung my arms around him, pressing my face to his shoulder. “Oh my God, I love you so much.”

I pulled back to meet his gaze. “I’m sorry, I know I said I wanted to keep things casual. I didn’t fall in love with you on purpose, I promise. It’s just that, you are so incredible and I’ve never felt this way and --.”

He cut my words off with a kiss that took my breath away. When he pulled back he said, “I love you too.”

“You do?” I asked. “Are you sure?”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life,” he said, his voice serious.

“What happens now?” I asked.

“We have a birthday barbecue.”

After eating the most delicious food ever, Joshua and I hung out in the treatment room, playing cards and keeping an eye on Esmerelda. When it grew late, we set up an air mattress that one of the other vets brought in for us and slept right there on the floor outside of Esmerelda’s cage. I could tell that Joshua’s staff thought it was weird we were sleeping over, but no one said a word about it, for which I was grateful. Joshua knowing I couldn’t leave my dog meant everything to me.

When morning came Esmerelda was clearly feeling much better. She was hopping on three legs and moving gingerly, but much more alert, good enough that Joshua deemed her well enough to go home.

After a quick stop at Joshua’s apartment for some clothes, we headed over to my house. Since it was a cold, dreary day, we set Esmerelda up in her bed in front of the fireplace. Joshua and I took turns taking a shower while the other stayed to make sure Esmerelda stayed still.

“She looks so peaceful right now,” I said, looking over at my dog.

“I guess that last pain pill kicked in,” Joshua said, looking up from the book he was reading on the couch.

“Well, since she’s sleeping…” I dropped to my knees in front of his legs. “Let me thank you for taking such good care of my baby.”

“Don’t worry, Elaine will send you a bill,” he joked, even though Stephen’s father had already called and put everything on his credit card, likely hoping that it would make me less likely to testify against his son.

I pushed my way between Joshua’s legs, then grabbed his neck, pulling him down for a kiss. The kiss immediately turned hot, our tongues dueling for control while I used my hand to stroke him through the track pants he was wearing.

When he’d grown hard, I pulled back, sliding his pants and briefs down his hips. Joshua lifted his hips, and I slid them down to his ankles before taking his length in my hands. I stroked him up and down with rough movements, just the way he liked it, until the tip was glistening with a drop of pre-cum. That’s when I lowered my head and took him into my mouth.

At first I just focused on the tip, tracing the mushroom head with my tongue until Joshua made an impatient sounding groan. Then, and only then, I took as much of him as I could into my mouth and added suction, hollowing out my cheeks.

Bracing my hands on his thighs, I moved my head back and forth, curling my tongue around the bottom of his shaft. I knew Joshua was getting close when he dug his fingers into my hair and started moving me faster, taking control.

I didn’t mind him taking control when I knew he was about to lose it again.

I slid one hand underneath, cupping his balls in my palm and giving him a gentle squeeze. Joshua’s hips jerked up like he’d been shocked.

“Fuck! Mabel!”

Then he was coming down my throat. I swallowed furiously, determined to take it all down, continuing to stroke him with my mouth even as he sagged back on the couch. When he’d emptied himself I pulled off slowly, wiping my mouth while looking directly into Joshua’s eyes.

“Holy fuck.”

He sighed deeply, tossing his head back against the couch. “Holy fuck.”

I came back up on the couch, and he immediately pulled me onto his lap. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed quick kisses along his jaw until our lips met.

“Mabel.” Joshua’s voice was serious when he pulled away.

“Yeah?”

“I love you.” His voice was sure.

“I love you too,” I said quickly.

“I just need to warn you, someday soon, we’re going to need to move in together,” Joshua continued. “And someday in the future, I’m going to ask you to marry me. I’m just giving you a heads up so you have time to get used to the idea.”

“Thanks for the warning,” I teased.

Then I grew serious again and I added, “Someday in the future, I’ll give your offer serious consideration.”

“That’s all I can ask.”