Every time I think about tonight—about walking into that arena with thousands of eyes on me, about sitting in whatever VIP section Sophia has undoubtedly arranged, about being publicly linked to Ryder in a way that makes thisreal—my stomach does acrobatic routines that would impress an Olympic gymnast.
"You're right. I should probably stay here tonight," I say, the words tumbling out before I can stop them. "Make sure the puppies are okay. Monitor their feeding schedule."
Zoe stares at me like I've announced my intention to become a professional yodeler.
"Mia Harper. Are you seriously trying to skip your own charity event?"
"I'm not skipping it. I'm being responsible. These puppies need—"
"These puppies need someone who knows what she's doing to take care of them." Zoe stands up, hands on her hips in a pose that's remarkably intimidating for someone who weighs ninety pounds soaking wet. "Which is me. The person who's been helping you every day for the past month. The person who handled things just fine the other night when you were..." She makes exaggerated smooching sounds that make my face catch fire.
"We didn't—that's not—"
"When you were having 'adult' sleepovers with hockey players," she finishes with a grin that's way too sassy to be cute.
"Oh my God. You're fifteen. You shouldn't even know what adult sleepovers are."
"I'm not six years old, Mia. And I'm also not blind." She points at my neck again. "That's some quality adult sleepover evidence right there."
Before I can do anything, the front door crashes open with enough force to rattle the mismatched picture frames hanging on the peeling paint of the wall.
The sudden noise sets off a chain reaction of barking from the kennel area. Twenty-six dogs are now expressing their opinions about unexpected visitors in a cacophony that makes the four tiny puppies beneath me startle and whimper in their makeshift nest.
"KIDNAPPING TIME!"
Sophia storms through the entrance like a well-dressed tornado. Behind her, Natalie and Lucy follow with the kind of determined expressions that spell trouble for anyone in their path.
"Oh good," I mutter. "The cavalry has arrived."
"Mia Harper," Sophia announces, pulling off leather gloves and shoving them in her coat pocket. "You have exactly three hours to transform from crazy animal lady into knockout charity event co-host."
Lucy pops up beside her. "And lucky for you, we're here to make it happen!"
"I don't need transforming. I need to check on—"
"The puppies are fine," Natalie interrupts, already scanning the kennel area behind us. "They're gaining weight, breathing normally, and clearly thriving under your care. They'll be even more fine for the four hours you'll be away tonight."
"Four hours? The game's only three periods!"
"Plus pre-game reception, intermission photos, post-game celebration if they win," Lucy lists off on her fingers. "Trust me, I've planned the timeline down to the minute."
Zoe, the little traitor, is practically vibrating with excitement as she bounces Princess in her arms.
"Go," she says, shooing me toward my would-be kidnappers. "I've got everything under control here. You've trained me well. Besides, I want to hear all the gossip tomorrow, and I can't do that if you hide in the shelter all night like some kind of hockey hermit."
"I'm not a hockey hermit. I just don't—"
"NOPE!" Sophia claps her hands twice, the sound echoing through the shelter like a starter pistol that starts up the barking mayhem again. "No more excuses. You're coming with us right now, or we're carrying you out of here."
"You wouldn't dare."
The three of them exchange looks, and suddenly I'm surrounded. Lucy grabs my left arm, Natalie takes my right, and Sophia steps behind me like she's prepared to physically lift me if necessary.
"We absolutely would dare," Sophia warns. "Ask Blake how I feel about people who don't follow my carefully planned schedules."
Zoe waves from behind the front desk, still cradling Princess. "Have fun! Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"
"You're fifteen! You wouldn't do anything!"
