As the early morning light streamed through the sheer curtains of her cozy Beverly Shores house, Helen yawned and stretched, her Havanese, Pumpkin, nestled comfortably against her. With a quick scratch behind his ears, she couldn’t help but smile. “Good morning, my fluffy alarm clock,” she teased, giving him a gentle nudge. “Ready to go, buddy?”
After a few indulgent moments of puppy cuddling, Helen slipped out of bed, her bare feet meeting the cool tiled floor. She made her way to the kitchen, her mind already buzzing with the day’s agenda. “Okay, Pumpkin,” she said, filling his bowl with kibble. “We have a lot to do before we even think about the set for ‘Food Trucks and Fiasco.’”
While the tea kettle boiled, she wandered to the bathroom and washed her face, brushing her teeth while glancing at her reflection. Her hair, usually a perfect cascade of glossy waves, looked more like a tangled bird’s nest this morning. “Ugh, I really should’ve been nicer last night,” she muttered, recalling the Friendsgiving dinner, where Dave had practically ditched her the moment they arrived.
“But did you see how he just wandered off with his buddy?” she exclaimed to Pumpkin, who tilted his head curiously. “I mean, what kind of ‘boyfriend’ leaves his ‘girlfriend’ to fend for herself like that? Like hello, I’m right here!” She huffed as she styled her hair into a sleek ponytail, swishing it back and forth a couple times.
Dressed in her favorite oversized sweater and leggings, she grabbed her phone to check the time—Tommy would be here soon. Just as she was about to apply her makeup, her phone buzzed with a message. It was from Tommy, confirming he was on his way. “Great,” she whispered to Pumpkin, “Can’t wait to hear his thoughts on this whole mess. I guess the impromptu speech on Dave’s end was good.”
After an icy shower, Helen took a moment to appreciate how refreshing it felt. “You know, Pumpkin, maybe I’m overreacting about Dave. I mean, it’s just one dinner, right? It’s not like it’s real.” She pursed her lips as she smoothed foundation over her skin. As she carefully applied eyeliner, Pumpkin danced around her feet, eager for attention. “Alright, alright, you little attention-seeker,” she laughed, kneeling down to give him a quick belly rub. “How about a quick walk before we kick off the day? Just you, me, and the beach—we have about fifteen minutes.”
After a final spritz of perfume, Helen grabbed her bag, threw in a few treats for Pumpkin, and scooped him up into her arms. “Let’s go, maybe Tommy will let you come once he sees you’re literally an angel in a tiny furry body.” She said, barely seven minutes to spare for a walk. She’d make it quick, hopefully get home before Tommy arrived.
@ChayChay05 | Tommy
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