Page 7 of Lucky Mother Pucker

She walks off. I take Wally back to his kennel. I dig a few treats from the pocket of my jacket and feed them to him.

I was going to sit with him for a little longer, but I can’t. I need to leave to find a job so I can get the money for a new place ASAP.

I sniffle and wipe my eyes. Then I hold his floppy, droopy face.

“I’ll be back for you soon, I promise,” I whisper.

When I walk out of the kennel, he tries to follow me. He whines as I close the door, and my heart breaks.

“I’m sorry, Wally. I love you,” I say through the gate, struggling to hold it together.

I ignore his sad cries and force myself to walk away. A sob catches in my throat. Every cell in my body aches to run back to Wally and take him with me…

But I can’t.

I climb into my car and take a breath. My mind is racing because I’m so stressed and panicked…But I need to calm down.

Think, Lucy. Where can I go to find a job?

A second later, it hits me. I turn on my car and drive toward Hollis U. Every time I drive by the campus, I always see “help wanted” signs. I’ll apply for all of them. At least one of them will hire me.

I stop at the first one I see. A diner on the edge of campus called the Mile High Diner.

Once I’m inside, I run up to the hostess stand. “I saw your sign out front. You’re hiring?”

Chapter 4

Leo

“Thanks again for the jump. I owe you one.”

I put away the jumper cables in the back of my SUV. “It’s fine. Don’t worry about it,” I say to Zoey.

I shut the door, then turn back to my sister. She keeps checking her phone.

“You okay?” I ask.

She flashes a smile, but it’s strained. That protective feeling inside of me sharpens.

“Is that Jeff?” I ask, unable to hide the hardness in my tone.

“Yeah. But it’s okay, Leo. I’ve got it under control.”

I scoff. “Really? You finally gonna break up with him?”

She lets out a heavy sigh. “Leo.”

“I’m serious, Zoey. He’s a jerk. He doesn’t deserve you.”

She crosses her arms and purses her lips. She doesn’t say anything.

“Don’t you get sick of this? Arguing with him all the time? Dealing with him walking out on you and then coming back only when it’s convenient for him?”

She shakes her head and glances off to the side.

“Don’t you get tired of him mooching off of you? Does he even have a job yet?”

She whips her head to me. “Stop it, Leo.” Her voice breaks when she says my name.