Chapter Twenty-Three
Letty wasn’t unhappy.She was absolutely miserable.When she’d agreed to date Riley until New Year’s she’d never imagined she’d become so caught up in him that she’d be miserable without him.
She kept going over her talk with Cici.Was she being totally selfish and not taking his feelings into account?And if she was, what did she plan to do about it?
When Riley walked into the library two days after New Year’s, she thought her heart would burst.But he wasn’t there to see her.He went to the nonfiction stacks without even glancing at her or the desk.She wondered what he was searching for.A while later he came to the checkout desk with a stack of books.“Hi, Letty.”
So, they were pretending everything was fine.“Hi, Riley.”She sorted through the books getting them ready to check out.So this was what it was going to be like?They were acquaintances.As though they’d never had a mad, passionate affair.Well, if he could do it so could she.She was puzzled looking at Riley’s choice of books.
“Old dogs?Why are you checking out books on old dogs?I didn’t think any of yours were that old.”
“He’s a new addition.I found him the other day when I was riding.”
“How old is he?”
“I’m not sure.The vet thinks he’s eleven or twelve.”
“Someone dumped an old dog?That’s awful.”
“Yeah, some people are hard to believe.But he’s with me now.He’s a sweetheart.Some kind of Lab or golden mix.In fact, my mother fell for him and has decided she needs an inside dog.She’s named him Sergeant.”
“Your dad is okay with that?”Jasper had always been against inside dogs when Letty lived with them.Of course, Val had snuck her dog Murphy inside when Jasper wasn’t around to veto it.
He smiled.“Ever since she had pneumonia my father has done anything she wanted.He was pissy about the help for her at first, but after Mom talked to him he got better.I have to say it’s weird.He’s never acted this way before, but her illness must have scared the crap out of him.”
“I guess it did.I hope the books help.”
“They’re mostly for my mother.I tried to tell her we’ve had dogs all our lives and he isn’t any different but she insists he is.She’s worried about him since he’s older.She’s even talked to the vet about putting him on supplements.My dad just shakes his head and buys whatever she wants.”
“You’ve had old dogs in the past.”
“Yes, but usually they grow old with us.They don’t come that way.”
“I’m glad he’s making your mom happy.”She didn’t want him to leave.It hurt to see him but it was worse not to see him.“I keep thinking I’ll get a dog one day, but I haven’t done it yet.”
“You should do it.Your apartment complex allows pets, doesn’t it?I’ve seen dogs there.”
“They’re fine with it.I think you have to pay a deposit but it’s no big deal.”
Riley picked up the stack of books.“I’d say see you around but I probably won’t.”
“Riley, I—Don’t hate me.”
“I could never hate you.But we’re over and I have to move on.”
Move on?He was moving on?Already?When she couldn’t stand the thought of another man touching her?The idea of Riley being with someone else, making love to another woman literally made her sick.“You’re dating someone?”
He shrugged in answer, took his books and left.
Damn it!Who Riley dated was none of her business.Not anymore.No matter how much it hurt or how much she berated herself, she’d made her bed.
*
“That is onefine-looking man,” Bonnie Driver said, watching Riley leave.“I hear you broke up with him.”
Letty didn’t ask how Bonnie knew.She knew everything that went on in Marietta.Though Bonnie was at least eighty she didn’t look it.Her hair was gray but stylishly cut and her skin was remarkably smooth for a woman her age.She also wore stylish clothes, not little old lady clothes.But nothing so young as to look foolish.She simply looked put together and fashionable.“He is and I did.”
“You’re still in love with him.”
