AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He’s the kind of dog who blends in and will shy away from traffic noises. Unless I’m out calling him, there’s little chance he’s gonna just appear waiting on the sidewalk for me.
With a low growl of my own, I feel the Dodge spring to life under me. I keep my eyes peeled, but juggle between the road, looking for Valentine still and keeping track of where I’m headed via the GPS.
Once I see the area I’m headed to, I understand a little more about both Rachel and her dad’s situation.
I can’t judge people for where they live, but I know this neighborhood wouldn’t be at the top of anyone’s list if they had a choice.
The stretch of the freeway I’ve just traveled under separates a lot and I realize too just how much I’ve grown used to my own little piece of the world, with its gated communities and tree-lined streets.
Watching for a turnoff and a wolf-like dog at the same time, I see a flash of pink from the corner of my eye as I pass.
My foot finds the brake without me having to even look twice, and I feel the car turning once I see nobody coming the other way.
It’s Rachel.
I’d know her anywhere now, having replayed her body in my mind a million times already in just one day.
My heart’s in my throat suddenly. She’s walking away from the direction of her house which could mean only one thing.
She’s coming back to me.
I slow down and watch her head half-turn once she hears the low growl of my engine, making her walk a little faster.
I ease the window down and drive up next to her, grateful that she stops walking once she sees it’s me.
There are no words, just a sound she makes. Her face a mixture of emotions that I can’t help but feel in my own chest.
Putting the car into park, I struggle to free myself from it fast enough to take her into my arms, lifting her up and turning as I hold her.
Breathing her in and swearing to myself I’ll never let her go again.
Not ever.
She tries to speak but I silence her with a kiss. I don’t want to talk right now, I just want to feel her next to me. Feel her mouth on mine and taste her on my lips.
When I finally set her down, I hold her face in my hands, feeling how cold she is and frown.
Her eyes move past mine to the empty car and she gasps, “Where’s Valentine?”
I feel myself having to hold back my emotion, I can’t even bring myself to say it at first.
“I was hoping he was on his way to find you,” I finally manage to tell her.
“He’s gone, Rachel. I can’t find him anywhere. Will you help me?” I ask her, but she’s already halfway to the passenger side of the car before I join her.
There’s no awkwardness between us, everything that happened this morning is forgotten because we both know it doesn’t matter now.
I have half of what I came for and feel lighter already knowing she’s with me from now on.
One glance from her tells me everything I need to know, her hand over mine before I shift the car into gear cementing our bond.
“We’ll find him,” she reassures me, telling me to follow her directions back to her place.
“If he’s gone this way he might already be there,” she adds, infecting me with her optimism once I recall how it was Valentine who went and found her in the first place and brought her to me.
“I hope you’re right,” I muse aloud, “and when I do find him, once we get home…” I start to tell her, but I know she’s already thinking the same thing.
“Let’s just get Valentine first, I should never-”
But I won’t hear it, I hold my hand up and shake my head, trying to keep my eyes on her, and looking for Valentine and on the road.
Her directions are on point. More than the GPS and in no time we’re out front of her place, a removal van out front with a couple in blue coveralls stamping their feet while they warm their hands.
His ‘n Hers removal Co. on the side of their truck. They might be husband and wife, I tell myself.
Cute.
“I left a note,” Rachel says to herself, hopping out of the car and going over to them while I scan the yard and street for my buddy.
I get out and try to avoid looking at the house itself. Its arched windows like eyes, half asleep with one halfway up and the other all the way down.
I almost expect to see Rachel’s dad coming out too, but I can overhear her talking to the movers.
“I’m Rachel. Sorry, I left a note for you… my dad’s sleeping.”
