Page 6 of The Air He Breathes (Elements 1)

“Harper Avenue will be faster,” I disagreed.

He grunted, his annoyance shining through. “You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, take Cobbler!”

I took a breath. “I know how to drive.”

“Do you? Because I think your driving is the reason we’re sitting here.”

I was five seconds from kicking the rude jerk out of my car, but his whimpering dog was the only reason I didn’t. “I already apologized.”

“That doesn’t help my dog.”

Asshole.

“Cobbler is the next right,” he said.

“Harper is the next, next right.”

“Don’t take Harper.”

Oh, I’m taking Harper just to annoy the living shit out of this guy. Who does he think he is?

I turned right onto Harper.

“I can’t believe you just fucking took Harper,” he groaned. His infuriation made me smile a little, until I hit the construction zone and ‘closed street’ signs. “Are you always so ignorant?”

“Are you always…always…always...” I started stuttering, because unlike some, I wasn’t great at arguing with people. I actually sucked at it and normally ended up crying like a child because words didn’t form in my head at the speed that fights normally functioned. I was the awkward person who thought of the best comebacks three days after the argument took place. “Are you always…always…”

“Always what? Spit it out! Use words!” he ordered.

I swung my steering wheel around, making a U-turn, and headed for Cobbler Street. “Are you always a…”

“Come on, Sherlock, you can do it,” he said, mockingly.

“A DICK!” I screamed, turning on Cobbler.

The car went silent. My cheeks heated up, and my fingers gripped tightly around the wheel.

When I pulled into the driveway, he opened the door and, without any words my way, lifted his dog and rushed into the emergency room. I debated if that was where we should part ways, but I knew my mind wouldn’t be able to calm down until I knew the dog was okay.

“Mommy?” Emma asked.

“Yes, baby?”

“What’s a dick?”

Parenting fail number five-hundred-and-eighty-two of today. “Nothing, babe. I said tick. A tick is a bug.”

“So you called that person a bug?”

“Yup. A big bug.”

“Is his puppy going to die?” she asked next.

I really hope not.

After unbuckling Emma, we headed into the emergency hospital. Stranger was slamming his hands against the receptionist’s desk. His lips were moving, but I couldn’t hear anything he was saying.

The receptionist grew more and more uncomfortable. “Sir, I’m just saying I need you to fill out the forms and provide us with a reliable credit card, or we cannot proceed with looking into your pet’s injuries. Furthermore, you cannot just walk in here with no shoes. Also, your attitude isn’t needed.”