41. No Plan, Just Vibes

forty-one

Violet

The words ring through the air for so long, that for a second, I don't even think I said them at all. But from the downward curve of Angela's lips, the valley formed between her brows, I know that she heard me.

And I know that she is about to lose her fucking mind.

"You should think about that carefully, Violet. Because if you say it again, I might just take you seriously."

The thing is, I want Angela to take me seriously. I don't have a backup plan. I have no idea what the next steps are. But I know that I'm miserable, and I know that, without doing what she loves, Cam will be too.

I think of her, of how happy she is every day in the salon. Cam, who smiles while giant balls of fluff cling to her hair and clothes. Cam, who gives free nail trims to dogs who need it because it pains her to see them neglected. Cam, who fought her way out of a terrible workplace, and ended up here, where she told me felt like "home." I might not love Furry Friends, but to Cam, it's everything. I want to give her the world.

I look Angela in the eye, squaring my shoulders this time as I say it.

"I quit." Angela opens her mouth, but I cut her off. "I quit, and if you fire Cam, I swear to God I will take every employee in this place with me." I watch her cheeks suck in and her nostrils flare as she listens to me. "Don't believe me? Try it. The only reason they're still here is because of me."

Angela's fists clench into a tight ball, her acrylics pressing into her palms with rage. Her tongue clicks against the inside of her mouth, and she looks over at Cam, then back at me.

"And what exactly do you think you're going to do, Violet? Go be a line cook in the back of Zabinski's? Or maybe a bartender at Monsey's?" She laughs. "I hope you don't think you have what it takes to run a business, Violet. Because if that's where you're headed." She shakes her head. "Well, you're in for a real disappointment."

I let a smile creep across my face as her eyes lock onto mine.

"Oh, Angela. Don't you know I already do?"

Angela swallows hard, and I lift my chin up.

"So I'll say it one more time," I say firmly. "And then I'm getting the hell out of this place. If you fire Cam, every employee in this facility will walk out with me. I might not have a plan, and I might not have the money to take a different cruise every week but pretty soon, neither will you."

Angela swallows hard, then looks over at Cam, who waves awkwardly. She stares at me, waiting for a sign that I'm lying. But that sign is never going to come, and after a moment, Angela realizes it.

"Fine," she says harshly. "Get your things and get out of my parking lot."

I beam, bringing a flat hand to my brow bone and giving her a salute.

When I said to Angela I might not have a plan, that was a very true statement. I have no plan. Not even an ounce of a plan. Not even a speck.

"Well," Hayden says as he walks into my living room. "You sure did go out with a bang, I'll give you that."

I chuckle, shaking my head.

"She told you that, did she?"

Hayden smiles widely, then pulls me into a hug.

"Thank you," he whispers. "For protecting her."

I squeeze him back tightly.

"Thank you," I say. "For trusting me to."

He smiles down at me, then steps to the side to let me see Major. My fingers glide through the soft white fluff on his head.

"So, what are you thinking?"

Hayden takes off the bag strapped to his side and sets it on the table with a very heavy thud.

"I think you just decided to open a training business."

We sit down at the table as Hayden spreads out various papers, flyers and lists and price sheets. I frown at them.

"Hayden, I don't think I can do this. I mean, I hated dealing with all of the management things at Furry Friends. I just want to train dogs, I don't want to have to deal with all the paperwork and the—"

He waves a hand in the air.

"You're just here for the initial planning. I already got you a receptionist. They'll deal with all the appointments and the communications. All you have to do is show up and train."

I frown.

"Hayden, I don't have money to pay someone right now. Maybe later down the road, but I—"

He puts his palms down on the table, looking up at me.

"Violet, it's me. I'm the receptionist."

He says it like it was such an obvious answer. I shake my head.

"No, Hay. I am not letting you just work for free," I scoff. Hayden rolls his eyes.

"First of all, it's temporary. Just until you can afford someone officially. Secondly." He presses his finger to the tip of my nose. I scrunch it. "It isn't for free. It will be a trade. You help me keep this asshole in line," he points to Major. "And I'll help you with getting all of this started."

I look at him earnestly.

"Hayden, that's too much. I can't ask you to—"

"Ah-ah-ah," he says, putting his hand out. "Apologies for interrupting a woman, I will repent for my sins later, but no. You aren't asking me. And no, I'm not going to let you tell me ‘no.' We're friends. This is what friends do."

I smile at him.

"Do you really mean that, or are you just saying that because you pay me to hang out with you?"

Hayden raises his brows, his lips tugging into a teasing smile.

"Because I pay you, obviously."