AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He’s right, there are. The only problem—I’m not sure he’s ready for what I have to say. “I know. Just not today, okay? I’ve got a ton of work to do, and you’ve got therapy.”
His gaze remains steady. “I don’t know how to move forward without talking about the past.”
“I don’t either. Maybe we don’t move forward. Not yet at least. Maybe, for now, we just agree to be civil, friendly. We’ve always been good at that.”
“We’ve been good at a lot more than being friendly.” Rhett leans in close, and I’ll be damned if my stomach doesn’t start to flutter. “The connection we share is still here, Mo. I know you feel it.”
“Oh, I feel it. But I’m surprised you do.”
He steps back. “I’m starting to realize I might not have much of a choice.”
Don’t I know it. “Just because we feel it doesn’t mean we need to act on it.”
He nods. “Because we’ve got things to discuss, and until then—”
“Until then we’re friendly acquaintances,” I answer for him. “Who bring each other gifts.” I look down at the bag between his legs. “Is that what I think it is?”
“If you think it’s a peace offering in the form of donuts from the bakery, then yes, it’s what you think it is.”
I grab the bag, unlock the door to Animal Haven, and lead him inside. “I accept your peace offering, and I’ll gladly take a donut or two before I start my day. I overslept and forgot to eat breakfast.”
“I didn’t sleep well either,” he says, wryly.
My dog, Ruby, saunters out of the back room to greet us and Rhett’s eyes grow wide. Lowering himself, Rhett holds out a hand and waits patiently for her arthritic legs to carry her across the room.
I watch Ruby approach him and my mind drifts back to the day she became a part of our family. Dad picked her up off the side of the road. She was a gangly puppy. He nursed her back to health and instead of adopting her out, we kept her. She’s not as lively as she once was. Years of running around Animal Haven with the other animals have taken a toll on her hips. Her black and brown patchy face has faded to a dull silver. Her big brown eyes are still bright, but they’re also tired.
She stops in front of Rhett’s hand and takes a whiff. Her tail starts wagging, and she pushes her nose into his hand.
“Hey, pretty girl.” Rhett gives Ruby a nice long rub down. “You remember me, don’t you? I can’t believe you still have her,” he says, looking up. “I didn’t see her when I was here yesterday.”
“She was inside. Duke and Diesel are a little too hyper for her.”
He nods and looks back at Ruby. “She’s got to be what, ten?”
“Twelve.”
Rhett pets Ruby for as long as she’ll allow. He whispers soft words into her floppy ear. Eventually she gets tired of standing and walks off.
“Let’s eat.” I kick out a chair for Rhett to sit in and take the one next to it. I lay some napkins on the desk and pull out a donut for each of us.
“Does Ruby still live here, or do you take her home every night?”
“She lives here. I tried to bring her home with me a few years ago, but she hated it. She would sit in front of the door and cry for hours, refusing to eat or sleep. I eventually brought her back out here.”
“This is her home.”
I nod and take a bite. We eat quietly side by side, and although the air is thick with tension, it’s not uncomfortable. It feels distantly familiar. It feels good.
“Where are Duke and Diesel?” he asks, licking icing off of his finger.
I’ve only had those dogs for a few days, and they already feel like mine. It’s going to suck handing those babies back over. “I left them at my house while I do morning chores. Duke was still sleeping.”
Rhett laughs. “That dog is going to sleep his life away. He snores so loud too.”
I smile. “He does! And he farts in his sleep.” I make a face. “I made him sleep in the living room because he stunk up my bedroom.”
“You had them in your bedroom?” He looks surprised.
