Free Must Love Wieners by Casey Griffin Page A

they weren’t merely any butterflies. They were rare ones, like morpho butterflies.
    She wasn’t imagining the chemistry between them. It was as obvious to her as a Western chorus frog singing for his mate or a male peacock shaking his tail feathers for a hen. She just wasn’t sure that’s what she wanted. Well, okay, she wanted it all right, but let’s face it, she also wanted chocolate for breakfast, but that didn’t mean it was good for you. Mmmmm, chocolate.
    “Slut!” someone screamed.
    Piper jumped and spun toward the voice, as did Aiden, as did the whole park. The protesters’ chant broke off. A girl from within their ranks stepped forward. And her accusing finger was pointed straight at Piper.
    “Whore!”

 
    8
    Dogfight
    “Tramp!” the protester yelled.
    Piper froze to the spot. All the eyes in the park followed the angry protester’s pointing finger. The twentysomething girl was dressed in a green bohemian maxi-dress, her wild, curly hair snaking from her head like a furious Mother Nature incarnate. And Piper was her target.
    But it wasn’t Mother Nature. Just an old pain in the ass of Piper’s. The one person she dreaded running into. “Oh, good,” she muttered under her breath. “Laura.”
    “Liar!” Laura screamed again.
    Not exactly the glowing recommendation one hopes for during an interview. Piper tugged Aiden’s sleeve. “Let’s go.”
    Colin stood his ground, ready to defend his lady’s honor. Hoping to avoid a confrontation, Piper tugged on his leash and headed for the way out. But who was she kidding? There was always a confrontation.
    For the last few years, Laura’s hobby had been to harass Piper whenever possible—“stalk” was more like it. And every time Laura confronted her in public, Piper tried to extract herself from the situation with her head high and her mouth clamped shut. But no matter how many times she tried to take the high road, she always found herself getting sucked in.
    Aiden hurried to keep up with Piper. “Do you know that girl?”
    She opened her mouth to answer, but Laura had caught up to them. “Hey.” She gripped Piper’s arm, her fingernails digging into her flesh. “I’m talking to you.”
    “Laura,” Piper said. “So good to see you. It’s been too long.”
    “How dare you show your face here,” she growled at Piper.
    Piper took a deep breath and tried to remain calm, knowing it would piss Laura off more. But Piper also knew that it wouldn’t last long. Be cool, she told herself. Be cool.
    “At a dog park? With my dog? Yeah, I’m pure evil.”
    “What, are you stalking me?” Laura eyed her up like she was Satan’s spawn and Colin her hellhound—which, admittedly, he was at times.
    Piper laughed incredulously. “ I’m stalking you ?”
    “How many times do I have to tell you?” she spat. “You’ve already won. Why won’t you just leave me alone?”
    She loomed close enough that Piper could read her I heart my dog earrings, but she spoke loud enough for the entire park to hear. Everyone had stopped playing with their pets or reading their books to listen.
    Getting the attention she wanted, Laura spun dramatically toward her captive audience. “You already lied and got me kicked out of the veterinary program. Are you trying to kick me out of my favorite park too?”
    Piper’s cool turned to lukewarm. Her fists clenched at her sides. “That is not what happened and you know it.” Besides, that was her favorite park, and Laura knew it too.
    “Are you denying that you got me expelled?”
    “Your own actions got you expelled!” Okay, hot, boiling hot.
    Colin and Sophie began to growl at Laura in support. We got your back.
    Laura gasped in hurt shock, a hand on her chest. “Me? What did I do? Worked hard, did the best I could? I guess you just couldn’t suppress your jealousy. You couldn’t stand that I was at the head of the class and you couldn’t even pass a pop quiz.”
    Piper rubbed her temples. She could have