The Marine's Pet Read Online Free Page A

through tears. “I just got carried away. I had a drink and then another drink and then one more and then all of a sudden I was just…” She trailed off into tears as Austin took the showerhead from her hand and held it over her hunched shoulders, working the washcloth over her skin with more tender care than she really felt she deserved. Her head was pounding and her mouth was dry and her skin felt as though it was someone else’s. Only Austin’s touch kept her connected to the reality of the situation.
    She began sobbing so profusely, her tears fell like rain into the bathwater, creating ripples of misery. “I’m so awful,” she wailed. “I’m the worst owner there ever was, I don’t deserve anything good ever.”
    “Pull yourself together,” Austin said as he washed out the cloth. “There’s no point feeling sorry for yourself now.”
    His words were harsh but deserved. She had known better than to indulge so recklessly. The activities of the previous night were the sort of things she would have done when she was first out on her own and completely irresponsible.
    Austin was still cleaning her up, smoothing the cloth over her back and shoulders and subsequently over her breasts and stomach. He was not saying much, and Sarah was mostly occupied with trying not to snivel into the tub.
    “Let’s dry you off,” he said when every inch of her was washed clean. “And then we’ll go out and see if we can find that dog of yours.”
    Sarah was far too scared to look him in the eye, but she did as she was told and found her legs. All she could do now was try not to be too pathetic. All she could do now was find Nunu. She went and got dressed, not really expecting Austin to still be there when she was done putting her clothes on.
    She emerged from her bedroom in jeans and a slouch sweater, her normally riotous hair tied back behind her head. It was all she could do to look decent.
    “Hey,” she said as she found him in the lounge. “I’m sorry about this, I really am…”
    Austin looked at her with a blank expression that was more heart-wrenching than any she’d ever seen on his face. “I’ll help you find Nunu,” he said. “That’s it.”
    “What do you mean that’s it?”
    “We’ll talk about it later,” he said. “We have to find the dog first.”
    She could sense what he meant. He was done with her. Men like Austin didn’t hang around dealing with other people’s shit.
    It was difficult to look for Nunu with her eyes fogged with tears. The world was smeary and messy and when she called his name it sounded like the high-pitched mournful wail of a cat. Austin had gone off in a different direction, leaving Sarah to her own devices in the search.
    Unfortunately, it all proved pointless. She traipsed around the neighborhood for what felt like hours calling the little dog’s name to no avail. When she returned home she found a missed call from her friend Matilda on her phone, which had been hidden under an empty wine bottle and a discarded pair of underwear that were not hers.
    She returned the call immediately, hoping against hope that it had something to do with Nunu, and not more bad news.
    “Sarah,” Matilda said as soon as she picked up. “I have your dog.”
    “You have Nunu!?”
    “Sorry,” Matilda said in space cadet tones. “I thought he was my handbag.”
    “How do you confuse a dog for a handbag?”
    “It wouldn’t be the first time my handbag moved around all mysterious,” Matilda said. “Last night was pretty out of this world. Anyway, you can come get him if you like. He’s trying to eat my couch. And I think he bit Stanley. Or maybe I did. It’s a bit of a blur. Best party ever, Sarah!”
    “I’ll be there right away,” Sarah said. “Don’t let him out, whatever you do. I’ll be right over.”
    “Was that news?” Austin had just come in after his own fruitless search. He still looked thoroughly pissed off. Sarah hadn’t known that his jaw was capable of being