12. Lark

Chapter twelve

Lark

Friday, February 28, 2025

I was so looking forward to going home and getting some sleep after this shift. We’ve had so many emergency cases today that my heart just hurts, and my head aches.

But alas, I can’t. Because, of course, I can’t.

“No problem, Deb. I’ll cover your shift tonight. I hope you feel better soon,” I tell Debra over the phone.

“I’m so sorry, Lark. I know you’re probably exhausted, but I just can’t leave the house like this.” This is the third time in two minutes she’s apologized for something completely out of her control.

“It’s seriously okay. I own the place, so it’s my responsibility. Don’t give it a second thought,” I tell her, trying to calm some of her worry. She just started here last month, so I’m sure it’s anxiety-inducing to have to call out already. “I’ll run home and take a nap before shift change and be right as rain. Now go take care of yourself, and let me know if you need anything. ”

“You’re seriously a doll,” she says, blowing out an audible breath. “Have a good night, Lark.”

“You too, Deb.”

Shoving my phone in my pocket, I make my way to the front desk. “Hey Betty, Dr. Calloway won’t be able to make it tonight, so I’m gonna head home for a couple of hours to nap, and I’ll be back for shift change.”

Her bright-blue eyes peer up to meet mine. “You sure there isn’t someone else who could cover for you? You work so much, and I’m worried about you.” Her sincerity crushes me, but she knows I don’t pass off shifts to people unless they want the overtime.

My lips curve into a small, reassuring smile. “I promise I’ll be okay. I’m just gonna skip Rocket Dog tomorrow morning and get some sleep then. I’ve got the futon in my office, so I’ll take a few naps when it’s slow.”

She nods, knowing she’s not going to change my mind. Her short frame slumps forward, resting on an elbow as she immerses herself back into her work.

***

As I unlock the door, I check my watch. It’s just past four, so if I get in bed immediately, I’ll have an hour and a half to try to nap before I’ve got to take Tiny and Rex for a walk and head back into work.

Hopefully, Tyler’s still working in his office so he doesn’t say anything about me being home early. He gets really weird about that because he finds it difficult to concentrate when I’m home, apparently. He acts as if he pays any attention to me in the first place.

Tossing my keys on the entryway table, I’m greeted by loud music coming from the back of the apartment.

When Tiny and Rex don’t make their way over to me, my stomach starts to churn with unease. Something’s off here.

Marching over to the office, where I hope I’ll find Tyler so he can explain why the hell the dogs are locked in our room, I hear two distinct sounds hidden below the ridiculously loud electronic music.

Tiny’s distinct whine comes from behind the office door, and I hear moans from our bedroom. Female moans.

What the ever-loving fuck!

As I wrench the office door open, Rex barrels through the doorway, panting as he jumps up and down with excitement at mine and Tiny’s arrival. “Hi, buddy. It’s okay, Momma’s home,” I coo, trying to settle him down a bit and mentally prepare myself for what I know I’ll find behind the next door.

I take a deep breath, squeezing my eyes tightly shut before gripping the handle and pushing it open.

My spine stiffens, and my eyes widen the moment they land on Tyler.

I see red . My hands begin to shake, my nostrils flare, and adrenaline courses through my body.

My longtime boyfriend, who I’ve wasted the last six years of my life on, is buried balls deep inside a woman who looks like she’s in pain. Her face is contorted in distress despite the moans leaving her mouth. They’re clearly fake because I know for damn sure he’s never made me moan like that .

I slam the door behind me, not wanting to subject my poor dogs to this image.

Tyler finally notices me standing here, my fists balled up in anger. “What the fuck, Lark!” He has the audacity to yell at me !

I jab a finger at him, yelling, “I should be asking you the same fucking thing, Tyler !” My lips pull back in a snarl. “You fucking bastard!”

“It’s not what it looks like!” he shouts as he attempts to remove himself from the vice grip the woman has around his waist while she uses him as a shield, locking her ankles together behind his back.

I throw my hands up. “Oh, I’m sorry! So you don’t have your dick inside some other woman? I must be fucking hallucinating or something!”

“I mean, with your crazy fucking mother’s history, it’s totally possible!”

My eyes flare, and I gape at him. “What did you just say?” I ask, cocking my head to the side. I feel all the blood rushing in my ears as Tyler starts to stammer before regaining some of that audacity he had just moments ago.

“You fucking heard me, Lark. And is it really cheating if you won’t fuck your own boyfriend? I mean, come on! I’ve been trying to get you to have sex with me for months, and you won’t. I have needs, Lark! I’m a man. Okay? I was just making sure my needs were met.”

At that, the woman pushes him off her abruptly. “Meeting your needs?” she seethes. “We’ve been together for two years, Tyler! What the fuck do you mean?”

My stomach drops. Two years? How could I not have noticed ?

The tall blonde looks at me as she rushes to get dressed. She plucks her jeans off the ground, sliding them up her long legs as she peers up at me. “I’m so sorry, girl. I honestly had no idea.” She shakes her head, gathering the rest of her belongings and making a mad dash toward the front door.

If she’d have stopped to look around before jumping straight into his bed, she sure as shit would’ve noticed all of my belongings. But ignorance is bliss, I guess. For the ignorant one, anyway.

As soon as she opens the bedroom door, Tiny and Rex bolt inside. Tiny stands guard in front of me just as Rex flings his small body at Tyler.

I have no time to react as Rex bites down on Tyler’s balls, eliciting a blood-curdling screech from Tyler. He’s flapping his hands, his face turning beet red as he dances around the room screaming.

“Get him off! Get him off me!” he hollers, grabbing a pillow from the bed and smacking it at Rex. “You crazy fucking bitch and your crazy fucking demented-ass dog!” he yells as he spins around the room with Rex dangling between his legs, his jaw clamped shut.

I’m both horrified and elated .

A smile curves my lips before laughter bubbles over at the sheer absurdity. Tyler finally manages to unclamp Rex’s jaws before throwing him across the bed.

My smile disappears instantly, replaced by a scowl and narrowed eyes. “What the fuck!” I yell at him as I run to Rex, who looks up at me with a lazy smile, but the moment Tyler nears, Rex growls a long, low hum of warning.

“Get your crazy-ass dogs and leave !” he shouts at me as if I had any plans to stay here .

“Fucking hell,” he mutters, frantically gripping his bleeding testicles, applying pressure with a T-shirt he found on the floor—likely thrown there when he was so hurriedly fucking his other girlfriend while I was supposed to be at work. Debra did me a huge favor by getting sick and calling out today. If she hadn’t, I might have never known that he was living a double life.

“Have fun dealing with,” I wave at his bleeding scrotum, “that.”

I spin on my heel, making my way to the door. I leash up Tiny and Rex and head out the door. 1

1. I Will Not Bow — Breaking Benjamin