Carpe DiEmily (A Romantic Comedy Adventure)

twelve

Emily yanked up her pants and turned around to face Bill and the apartment manager, her face flaming with embarrassment.

“Miss Keane, my word. I’m shocked,” the older woman said, her eyes roving over Emily’s attire with a stunned expression.

Ignoring her tone, Emily tried to gather herself and internally calm her shaking nerves. She took a deep breath and said, “What can I help you with, Mrs. Greely?”

“I need to speak with you,” she said. “About the terms of your lease.”

“Oh?” Emily turned her eyes to Bill, who smirked.

“Yes.” Mrs. Greely paused, still staring at Emily’s attire. “Goodness, look how you’re dressed. I’ve heard from Mrs. Koster that you’ve been up to some wild . . . antics lately, but I had no idea . . .” Her voice trailed off and she glanced at Simone, who was popping her gum loudly with her arms crossed as she assessed the situation. Emily could see Mrs. Greely taking in Simone’s paper-thin tank top with the faint outline of nipples showing through. Bill’s hooded eyes roved over Simone’s chest as well, and he licked his lips appreciatively.

Simone smirked at them, tapping her foot. “Is this going to take long? We have somewhere to go.”

Mrs. Greely put her finger up warningly. “Just a minute, young lady. I need to speak to Miss Keane about an important matter.” She turned to Emily, her lower jaw jutting out. With her short gray hair and small gray eyes, she looked like an old bulldog. “Mr. Davis here has kindly brought it to my attention that there is a large beast living in your apartment. Is that true?”

Emily gasped. Bill, leaning against the wall, grinned smugly at her with a wicked expression that said I told ya’ I was going to screw you.

Simone quickly jumped to Emily’s defense. “There’s no dog here. What a weird accusation to make.” She glanced at Bill disdainfully, dismissing him with a roll of her eyes as a total loser.

“No dog,” said Emily vigorously, taking Simone’s cue. “You can see for yourself.”

Bill jerked his neck forward. “Hey, they’re lying! The dog’s at the trainer’s. But it’s living there, I swear. It’s a huge white shepherd.” He waved his hand thigh-high to show how big.

Emily shook her head emphatically. “Nope, not true. No dog here.”

Mrs. Greely looked from Bill to Simone to Emily, narrowing her eyes. “I’d like to see the inside of the apartment, please.”

Emily turned and put her key into the lock. She shoved the door open, her heart rattling in her chest. What if Mrs. Greely asked to inspect all areas of the apartment? She’d see AW’s bowls and the dog-joke apron, and then she’d know. Emily’s fingers were clammy as she flipped on the light.

Mrs. Greely glanced around the apartment shrewdly, taking it all in. Her eyes flicked here and there, roving over the new hair-free furniture. “Doesn’t appear to be an animal living here.”

Emily almost fell over from relief, hoping the woman wouldn’t venture further in.

“There’s a dog!” Bill’s face was beginning to swell and redden. “It’s a crazy one, too. Wiped its butt on me . . . like this.” He imitated AW’s swiveling haunches, his jean-clad bottom circling round and round as Mrs. Greely looked on with an appalled expression. Simone snickered loudly.

Mrs. Greely peered back into the apartment, squinting her eyes. She turned to Emily. “If I find out you’re not telling the truth, young lady, I will be forced to evict you. We have a strict rule on animals, you understand. It’s in your lease.”