The phone rang again, but I didn't have time to deal with Broadrick at that moment. I had a loose dog to catch.

I ran through the parking lot after the errant dog, yelling his name. "NB, bad dog."

He stopped splashing long enough to catch a glimpse of me. But rather than return for a proper scolding, he took off in the opposite direction, running under trees and through a pile of winter slogged leaves. It's like he wanted to recreate our first meeting when I had to chase him through town.

Leaves flew off his back as he crested the other side of the trees. Great. Mud, sawdust, and now old crunchy leaves.

I chased after NB, and he slowed at another puddle, allowing me to catch up with him. I stomped on his leash to shop him from going further and, as I huffed for breath, I wrapped it twice around my wrist. This had to stop. "I am so over this, NB."

He didn't even pretend to be upset about his behavior. I pulled him back to the car and watched as he left muddy paw prints over my front seat as he settled in to get comfortable. The dog had no respect for my possessions.

At least in the car, the rain was no longer ruining my hair and turning it into a frizzy mess. "We have to stay positive."

Okay, NB was a mess. I had a principal to interrogate and really needed an iced coffee. Problem number one. Hide this mess from Broadrick, so he'd continue to believe I had my shit together as a respectable adult.

I had limited options since I couldn't take NB home and give him a bath myself. In order to get this done without being caught, I had to resort to drastic measures.

"Hey, Sidney, how's it going?" I asked when the pink-haired dog sitter answered.

She laughed. See what I meant about weird? Who laughed when answering the phone? "Is there a problem with NB?"

"No." Why would she think I'd call her if there was a problem with NB? Oh... wait. Right. "You've got a dog wash in your van. Right?"

If she didn't, then writing "Mobile Dog Groomer" on the truck was totally false advertising.

"Yes, but I'm all booked up for today. I told Broadrick I'd be unavailable until later."

"How late is later? Like twenty minutes later?" A girl had to take her shot.

Sidney paused, and I imagined she tucked her hair somewhere. "Not really."

"It's an emergency. Like a serious emergency. I have money." Not a lot of money, but I'd totally pay her for saving the day. And keeping her mouth shut.

"How much?"

Now we were getting somewhere. NB circled a few times and then laid his disgusting, smelly body on my car seat. Running through the streets must have tired him out.

"I'll pay double your normal rate," I promised. She never told me her normal rate, and I crossed my fingers hoping it wasn't outrageous. How much could a dog bath cost?

"Sure!" she said, perking up.

I laid my head on the steering wheel. Super. She answered way too quickly. It was probably outrageous. No one was that happy over an extra twenty dollars.

"Great." It was too late now. I just had to go with it. "Can you come and get him?"

I crossed my fingers harder.

"No can do," she said, "but I can meet you. I'm in Clearwater right now."

Okay, doable.

"How about half way?" That would give me enough time to get back to the high school and catch Principal Rafferty before he ducked out for the day. He gave me double congratulations on my graduation day, so I was certain he'd be happy to see me again.

Hopefully, that happiness meant answering all my questions. Sidney agreed to a meeting spot, and I started the car, not wanting to waste a second.

I followed behind a garbage truck on the way out of town. The truck noises covered up NB's snores. With the way he rolled around on the seat, I'd also have to get the car detailed. Until then, I'd tell Broadrick I drove through a puddle with the window open.

With more cases coming in, money wasn't as tight. I'd even made rent without crying in April and bought name-brand cereal. Basically, I was winning at life, but it was a balance, and I couldn't balance a double doggie spa day and a car detail. Not unless I went back to ramen. A lot of ramen.

I was so over Ramen.

I'd tasted Chinese. There was no going back for me now.

Sidney had her pink van parked on the side of the road on the main street leading out of town. I pulled over and grabbed NB. The last thing I needed was him making another run for it. Who knew how much other crap might get caught in his coat?

She met me at the hood of my car. "Wow, what happened to him?"

I plucked a leaf from NB's coat and handed him to her. Now she'd touched him last. She couldn't give him back until she'd cleaned him. "He had adventures."

"This is going to take a while," Sidney said as she took a sniff of NB and crinkled her nose.

I wasn't that brave. "Take all the time you need."

Honestly, the longer the better. It gave me more time to get things done on my list.

"Two hours?" she said, not sounding super confident.

I nodded and handed her my credit card. "Sounds good."

My life was always on a timeline, but two hours gave me enough time.

Either way, the dirty dog was her problem now.

"I'll see you then," I said as Sidney placed NB on the ground and grabbed his leash before he took off.

I made it back to the school, parked, and closed the car door right as the lunch bell rang. Students filed into the building slowly with heavy glances back at the dark sky but fresh air. The rain had petered out on the drive back, but the air was still heavy with it. We'd definitely have more sprinkles later in the day.

The last student left the door open a second too long, and I slipped in before it closed behind him. I'd spent four long years at the school, so I was able to make my way through the halls easily. Nothing had changed since I graduated.

"Hi, Mrs. Peterson," I said as I walked into the office.

She glanced up from her computer, her short bob haircut without a single piece of hair out of place. "Ms. Vines. Are you here for your sister?"

"No, I came to see Principal Rafferty." I tapped my fingers on the counter separating my space from hers. "Is he in?"

She glanced back toward his office. He had to be in there. Where else did a principal go during the day? Especially if they wanted to hide out from students, which was exactly what I'd do if I had to be the principal of a high school.

I'd also probably cry. Daily.

"He's in a meeting right now, but if you have a seat, I'll send you in next."

"Great." I checked my watch. I'd already wasted almost twenty-five minutes on the drive. Hopefully this meeting of his didn't cut too much more time from it. "I'll wait here."

I sat on the uncomfortable metal chair across from her desk-the same ones that had been in the school since the seventies. Mine had a crack on the right side, and it pinched the skin of my leg through my jeans. I adjusted, squirming to the side to get away from it. The chair creaked.

Tick Tock.

I tapped my foot against the tiled floor, counting down the seconds. Ugh.

"I'll be out in the hall when he's done," I said to Mrs. Peterson as I jumped out of the chair.