Page 6 of Save Me

Do I feel good about lying? No. It makes the back of my neck prickle like someone’s watching me. But the messages keep coming in.

CUPCAKELOVER: COOL. So cool!

CUPCAKELOVER: Would you be able to start soon?

Me: Sure.

CUPCAKELOVER: Amazing!!!

CUCPAKELOVER: Tonight?

Tonight?? Jesus. I blow out a breath. Before I can think, my phone buzzes again.

CUPCAKELOVER: You can meet Princess.

CUPCAKELOVER: Can show you the ropes.

CUPCAKELOVER: Of course I’ll compensate you for your time.

I glance down at my melting microwave meal with its now-wet cardboard.

Fuck it. Fine.

Before I can talk myself out of it, I grab my keys and start my car. It makes a high-pitched whining sound, but still starts, and I head to the address ‘CUPCAKELOVER’ provided. It’s in a rich area of town. Which both makes me relieved and wary at the same time. Rich people are bored. Bored enough to mess with you just to get their rocks off.

I better not be about to get murdered and made into a lamp or some shit.

No, no scary thoughts. This isn’t real. None of it is real, I’m just…just…

Fuck. On the off chance that CUPCAKELOVER isn’t trying to turn me into a cupcake meat suit, I suppose I should Google skunks.

What the fuck am I even doing?

CHAPTER FOUR

What are the freaking odds? Someone who knows skunks. I mean, I might just be the luckiest guy right now. Princess might not have to be alone!

I’m buzzing, little fireflies lighting up under my skin, spinning inside my stomach, and turning it into a disco of nerves and excitement. A rave in my gut, if you will.

At least one of us won’t be alone.

I take the plastic wrap off a small I’m-sorry-for-abandoning-you snack. Just a bit of salmon and rice tonight. The salmon makes it easy to hide the seizure supplements.

Maddox might be able to help! Freaking amazing! I bet Princess will love him. I mean, he has to, right? He’s had skunks before.

What if they become besties? Awwww. My chest swells, and I smile.

Princess makes impatient stamps at my feet. That brings me back to the present, and I put the food at his level.

A tiny hint of fear pushes into my warm chest. What if Maddox isn’t real? What if he’s some sort of scam?

Right. Reality is, if Maddox isn’t good, then I’ll kick him out faster than he can blink. Kinda like I did to the codswallop who let Princess get tangled in my curtains.

The hum of an engine sounds outside. I dart to the window cut into the front door, and peek outside. A black RAV4 is pulling into my driveway, and I duck back.

It’s happening! My heart flutters like a ribbon in the wind. This is good. This is amazing! I’m maturing. I’m not bringing in shit boyfriend after shit boyfriend. Princess is finally getting what he’s owed. And that is, after all, Princess treatment.

There’s a knock at the door, and Princess senses potential escape. Like a bolt, he’s up and running to the front door.