The daycare was only a few blocks from the gym, but rush hour traffic and an insistent downpour stretched a fifteen minute drive into a half hour from hell. By the time Matt pulled into the parking lot, tires squealing, he was sure they would’ve closed already, trapping his dog inside for the night. They’d threatened as much to other clients before; Matt had heard them. But the young girl behind the counter thought him cute and had Sadie leashed and waiting in the lobby when he arrived. “God,” Matt gushed as he knelt in front of Sadie, who tackled him in joy. “Thank you so much for waiting. The day I’ve had…”
The girl giggled. She wasn’t even out of high school, and Matt could never remember her name. Unfortunately she had already taken off her nametag, so he couldn’t sneak a peek and fak
