her chest.
I still wasn't tracking. “Are you coming to look for a cat?” I asked. I didn't add that she had enough cattiness to go around. She didn't need any added to her house.
“No,” Merritt said, pushing up her designer flannel sleeves. “I’m here for my first day of my internship.”
“Internship?” I croaked.
“Yes,” Lorelei said. “My niece needed a summer job that would look great on her resume, and we definitely need the help. It’ll be great to take some of the pressure off you and the part-time volunteers.”
“Niece?” I asked, still stuck on that word. How did Lorelei and Merritt even live on the same planet, much less share the same blood?
“Yep. On her father's side. Aka my little bro.” Lorelei went and put her arm around Merritt’s shoulder.
Merritt laughed but gave a disgusted look when Lorelei wasn't looking. “So, Auntie, what's on the agenda today?”
Lorelei had a plotting grin. “A little team bonding the old-fashioned way. Nothing makes fast friends like holding down an eighty-pound dog for a shave.”
My eyes widened. “A full shave?” We never did that unless the fur was matted beyond repair, but the animals always hated it. Sometimes we even had to sedate them.
Lorelei nodded. “We got a dog in this weekend, and I've tried bathing him and even conditioner, but it's just not happening. We need to shave his coat.”
Merritt looked revolted, but I was honestly sad. That poor animal must have been really neglected and scared.
“Well,” Carson said, “it looks like you guys have plenty on your plate.” He bent and kissed me on the cheek, then whispered, “Call me when you're done.” His breath tickled the spot where his lips had been, and I felt a shiver go down my spine. Would I ever get used to Carson kissing me? Even on the cheek?
“I'll see you later,” I managed, and he gave a short wave before walking out the door. And then it was just Lorelei, Merritt, and me. I hadn't stood this close to Merritt in a long time. Not since junior high when she started calling me The Thing.
My scalp itched just thinking about it.
Lorelei grinned between us. “I am so excited to have you two working together. My dynamic duo. Merritt, if you don't already, you are going to absolutely love Callie. She is so good with the animals. Callie, I really think Merritt can help us get some of these animals into homes. What did you say, Mer? That you had like a thousand friends on Twitter?”
Merritt closed her eyes like what Lorelei had said had physically pained her. “I have a hundred and fifty thousand followers on Instagram.”
“Even better,” Lorelei said. “Cal, why don't you show her around the shelter while I finish getting the grooming room ready?”
“Merritt hasn't been here before?” I asked. I mean, I kind of knew the answer, since I'd been here a ton over the last couple years, but I had to know why she’d gone from having nothing to do with the shelter to working here full-time.
Merritt put on a disappointed face. “I've always been too busy with cheerleading to be able to volunteer, but now that I don't start cheer practice at college until July, I have some free time.” She didn't add that the last place she wanted to be was here. I might not have known her the best anymore, but I knew she hated places like this. Too many opportunities to break a nail and no one around to inflate her ego.
Lorelei give us a wave before walking away, and I started toward the kennels without another word. I couldn’t believe I was working with Merritt. The whole reason I loved this job was because I didn’t have to work with people like her. Or people at all, really. The animals couldn't talk back, couldn't say anything mean, and if they were acting badly, it was because they didn't know better.
Part of me wondered if I could find an internship somewhere else. I hated the thought of being around Merritt’s torment, especially since I knew Lorelei wouldn’t be able to supervise every moment.
I fought to keep my voice level as we reached the back of the shelter. “This is the storage room where we keep all of the food for the animals. Some of them have special diets where they can only eat soft food, and you'll find that in the fridge here.” I knocked on the old white refrigerator.
Merritt leaned against the door frame, observing