Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77874 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77874 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“Hey, Easton. I haven’t seen you in a while,” the guy at the counter says. I can’t remember his name, but I’ve seen him off and on when I come in to volunteer.
“Yep,” I reply, then tell him I’m here to see Bailey. That she has a dog for me.
They put me in a room where they take people to spend time with the dogs. Pretty Girl stays close to my side, and when I sit on the chair, she tries to jump into my lap.
“Hey…it’s okay. I’m not leaving you here. You don’t ever have to stay in this place again.” I nuzzle into her neck, pet her, make sure she knows she’s loved.
A few minutes later, Bailey, this really pretty woman with box braids, opens the door. “Can we come in?”
“Yeah, of course.” I slide onto the floor, hugging Pretty Girl close, watching as Bailey brings in a black dog with a white spot on his chest. He’s skinny, too fucking skinny. He looks like he has some Lab in him, but I’m not sure what else. He’s beat up, similarly to how Pretty Girl was, and one of his eyes is closed in a way that doesn’t look like it opens.
“He had some trauma to his left eye and lost it. It couldn’t be saved. Sometimes he has some equilibrium issues, still adjusting to seeing out of one eye, but he’s doing well, aren’t you?” She gives him loves.
He’s shaking, standing beside her on the leash like he’s not sure what to do.
“It’s okay…we’re friends.” I keep my voice low and soft so I don’t scare him. “We’re hoping to take you home with us.”
I hold my hand out, but he still doesn’t seem to know what to do. And then…then Pretty Girl takes slow, measured steps his way. Their noses touch tentatively before they start smelling each other. They do that for what feels like an eternity before I realize Pretty Girl is backing up, taking small steps until she’s beside me again and the pup is right in front of me.
She lays her head on my lap, and somehow, I know she’s telling him it’s okay. That I’m going to take care of them. My eyes begin to sting, and I want to wipe the tears before they fall, but I also don’t want to make any sharp movements and scare him.
“I won’t hurt you,” I tell him softly, and then…damned if he doesn’t lie down too, his head next to Pretty Girl’s on my lap. He’s still shaking, still scared, but he’s trusting her that it will be okay.
Slowly, I ease my hand out and pet him.
“I want him,” I tell Bailey, without looking up at her.
“I knew you would. And somehow, I knew he would want you too.”
I spend a good hour in the room with the dogs. Bailey leaves me alone with them, and I talk to them, pet them, and get the new dog used to us.
I fill out the paperwork, and now that they know he and Pretty Girl will be okay together, that means I can bring him home today.
Once everything is done, I’m walking down the hall with both dogs on leash, when I notice a guy at the counter. He has his back to me, but I know instantly who the long, lean man with black hair is. Archer Thorn. And beside him is Meadow Cassidy.
“There was a black dog here earlier,” Archer says. “I want to inquire about adopting him.”
I freeze, trying to make sense of what I hear. Archer is there, and he wants to adopt my dog.
The desk guy chuckles. “Happens to the best of us. Come in to volunteer, want to leave with a dog.”
Archer nods. “Yeah, I can’t say that was part of the plan today. But this little lady and I fell in love with him.”
“Uncle Archer fell in love first. He would be my uncle’s dog, but I can see him all the time,” Meadow says while I stand there, rooted to the floor. I can’t say why this is so shocking to me. I’ve never seen Archer here before, though. I’ve been doing a good job avoiding him since he got me out of jail, and now he’s here, with Meadow, trying to adopt my dog.
Tell him hi, silly, Ella nudges me.
He’s got his niece with him.
So?
What if he doesn’t want me around her because of the shit I do? Or what if Cass doesn’t?
“Unfortunately, he was just adopted. Oh, look. There he is behind you.”
Do I have time to run? I probably would if Meadow wasn’t there, but she and Archer turn around to look at me, his eyes going wide when he sees it’s me.
“Mr. Easton!” Meadow exclaims. “You have two dogs? I don’t have any. Dad’s not sure about the dog thing yet, but Uncle Archer was going to get him.” She walks over, Archer beside her. “Can I pet them?”