Satisfaction Guaranteed(18)

When the game ends, we head out of the park, chatting about work as we go, catching up on the TV shows Nick helms. The man is a wildly successful cartoonist who’s created several successful late-night animated TV shows.

Nick smacks his forehead. “I almost forgot. I posted that video of you on my show’s Facebook page and Instagram feed.”

“One of me at Gin Joint?” I try to remember when Truly last shot a video.

“No. The one of you singing to the orange cat.”

“Oh yes, wasn’t that the dog’s bollocks? Your sister sent it to us so we could have a laugh,” Jason says.

“Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it. Be sure to tip the barkeep on the way out.”

“Anyway,” Nick interjects as we turn onto Fifth Avenue, “I called it The Singing Vet. And it did crazy well. Tons of views and shares.”

I furrow my brow. That was the last thing I expected him to say. “It’s odd sometimes, what people want to watch online.”

Jason strokes his stubbled jaw as if deep in thought. “It is bizarre, especially considering the obvious issue.”

“What’s that?” Nick asks.

Jason shrugs helplessly. “The fact that Malone’s so damn ugly.”

“Yeah, that’s true.” Nick sighs heavily. “I guess I can’t cast you in a new web series called The Singing Vet.”

“It’s okay. I understand how jealousy works. It’s hard for both of you to be around such a supreme specimen,” I say with a wink.

“And a humble one too,” Jason adds.

“Just like you.”

Nick pushes his glasses up the slope of his nose. “Seriously, though, the video did well. It doesn’t hurt that there’s a hot woman in it. The one who talks to you about the song.”

A Pavlovian reaction kicks in at the mention of Sloane. My senses heighten. My mouth waters. And my brain slides an image of her front and center. “That’s Sloane.”

Nick snaps his fingers. “Yeah, the camera loves her. I mentioned her rescue when I posted it. Who knows? Maybe it’ll raise some awareness for your practice and her rescue.”

When Sloane texts me later that evening, I learn it’s done more than raise awareness.





13





Sloane: HAVE YOU SEEN THIS?



Sloane: HOLY SOCIAL MEDIA!



Sloane: IS THIS POST EVEN REAL? AM I DREAMING? IF I AM, DON’T WAKE ME UP.



Sloane: THIS IS LIKE FINDING OUT I CAN RENT A ONE-BEDROOM IN THE CITY FOR $1000 A MONTH!



Malone: Don’t be silly. You know a one-bedroom in the city for 1K is nothing but a fairy tale. That’s like believing in Santa Claus.



Sloane: There’s no such thing as Santa?



Malone: Hate to break it to you.



Sloane: Next thing I know you’ll be telling me the sun doesn’t rotate around Earth.



Malone: I’m a regular dream-crusher.



Sloane: You’re actually a dream-maker. My rescue snagged nearly $5000 in donations tonight alone. From that video!!! I am over the moon!



Malone: That’s amazing. You deserve it.



Sloane: I’m so happy, I could kiss your friend for sharing this.



Malone: Sorry, I must have heard you wrong. You said you could kiss Nick, but I think you meant to say you could kiss me.



Sloane: I CAN TOTALLY KISS YOU.



Malone: I’m heading to a gig in a few minutes. If you want to show up in the front row and then lay one on me, I’ll be the guy holding the mic, wearing a tailored suit, singing love songs in my delicious crooner’s tenor. (Hey, that’s how the reviewer at The City Observer described me, just saying.)



Sloane: Don’t tempt me.



Malone: Are you tempted?



Sloane: It’s like you’ve dangled Peanut Butter Dream ice cream in front of me.



Malone: Take a lick. Hell, lick the whole damn cone.



Sloane: How did we get back to flirting so quickly? We were talking about the donations! The big, huge, awesome donations that I will put to excellent use.



Malone: We returned to flirting because you said you wanted to lick me. I can’t help it if that’s where your mind goes. Evidently, I’m lickable.



Sloane: So I should come listen and then lick you?



Malone: Brilliant idea!



Sloane: But seriously.



Malone: Why would you think I wasn’t serious? I take you licking my cone incredibly seriously.



Sloane: Has anyone ever told you that you can turn anything into a dirty comment?



Malone: This from the woman who used two size-centric adjectives to describe a donation.



Sloane: I was talking about a monetary contribution!



Malone: Or maybe your mind is on all things big and huge.



Sloane: Like I said, you can turn everything naughty.



Malone: It’s one of my great skills.



Sloane: You have many great skills.