AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Nolan nodded as he read my message.
Maddox would always talk me down. But he didn’t tell me not to do something. He’d always say he had my back no matter what I decided to do. If I wanted to quit ball, he said he’d fix it with my parents so they were okay with it. Even when I said I wanted to run away, he told me that if I really meant it, he’d come with me. He’d buy the bus tickets, he’d sneak us out of the house, he’d do whatever it took to make it happen. To fix it.
My throat felt tight, but I knew this time, it had nothing to do with my condition.
I don’t know why he said it now.
Nolan rubbed my arms, then he was hugging me. “We’re going to figure it all out, okay, Dallas? We’re going to get Loki back and we’re going to get the town off our backs once and for all.”
I nodded, but he must have seen something in my face. “And we’re going to talk about what’s going on in that head of yours every time you look at me. Like you’re surprised I’m still here.”
I sighed because I should have known better than to think I could hide anything from him. I nodded again.
I have some calls to make about the meeting tonight.
“Okay, I’m going to go feed the animals. What do we do about this?” he asked as he held out the sparkplugs.
I looked at them for a moment, then grabbed them and put them back in the butter dish. I returned the dish to the fridge and stuck it all the way in back where it wasn’t visible.
I might have still been pissed at Maddox, but I also knew he was onto something with Isaac and Newt. But if there was any chance at figuring out what it was, we needed them to stick around for a bit.
Nolan smiled, brushed his mouth over mine, told me he loved me and then went upstairs to get dressed.
The small conference room in Pelican Bay’s town hall was packed with people when Nolan and I entered. I ignored the hushed whispers that followed us as we made our way down the narrow aisle. We’d purposely waited outside the room until our case had been called, so we wouldn’t have to deal with all the stares. But it wouldn’t have mattered. There was no reason to suspect the majority of the people were there for any other reason than to watch Pelican Bay’s former-golden-boy-turned-freak and the town-reject-turned-famous-and-very-much-vindicated-violinist fight to save a group of animals not one of them gave two shits about. The fact that we were holding hands just caused the audience to titter even louder as we made our way to the small podium in front of a long table with five people sitting on the other side. Sheriff Tulley stood off to one side. Of the town council members, I only recognized Doc Cleary.
I glanced over my shoulder to make sure Isaac and Newt had found a place to stand off to the side of the room. Surprisingly, they’d ended up along the wall near where Nolan’s mother was sitting on one of the many folding chairs that took up most of the small space. Nolan and I had told Isaac he didn’t need to come, but Newt had actually been the one to take the decision away from his brother. He hadn’t thrown a temper tantrum or anything when Isaac had said they’d be staying at the house. He’d merely looked his brother in the eye and said that Loki needed him because he could tell the mean people who’d taken Loki what a nice dog he was. I’d seen a spark of pride go through Isaac as he’d studied his little brother, then he’d nodded and told Newt he was absolutely right – that Loki did need Newt to tell the truth about him.
“The room will come to order,” the man in the middle of the table said as he used a small gavel to get everyone’s attention. The crowd immediately fell silent. “We’re here to discuss the matter of the Lake Hills County Wildlife Rescue and Sanctuary owned and operated by Dallas Kent. We’ve received a petition to ascertain whether or not this business continues to serve the best interests of our community. Mr. Kent, do you have something you’d like to say before we open the discussion to the floor?”
I’d already typed my remarks out on my computer at home so I nodded to Nolan so he could read them, but before he could speak, Doc Cleary said, “Just a minute, son.” He turned his attention to the head of the committee. “Jeb, if I’m not mistaken, Mr. Kent’s business doesn’t reside within the city limits of Pelican Bay, so even if what that petition is alleging is true, this committee and the town of Pelican Bay have no jurisdiction.”
