AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Blearily, I read, ‘You’ll be in my dreams,’ and smile.
***
The next morning, I grab a quick breakfast of toast and coffee and rush out the kitchen door. My shift starts early today, and I was up late, texting with Ross. It’s already way too warm and sticky outside, and I brace myself for the walk to town and the diner, when I hear a faint “woof”.
I blink in the sunshine and find a little scruffy dog sitting on the porch.
“Buddy? Whatcha doing here?” My heart is suddenly pounding. Last time I saw Buddy, he led me to Ross, and it was the day Ross almost died. “Is our boy okay? Are you here to tell me something?”
But Buddy only whines at me and sits there, tongue lolling. He looks like he’s grinning at me, his expression reminding me of Ross when he’s teasing.
“Luna, who’s there?” Dad calls from inside the house.
“Buddy. He’s a dog.”
Dad comes to the kitchen door, a brow raised, an amused smirk on his lips. “I see. Old classmate of yours?”
“Haha, Dad, very funny.”
“Hm.”
I scratch Buddy behind the ears, and blurt out, “Hey, Dad... can we take him in? He’s a stray,” I hurry on to add, “and he’s nice, and he could use a home.”
Dad chuckles. “Are we still talking about the dog?”
Confused, I glance back at him. “Er, yeah?”
He nods. “Well, you know what this means, right? If you take Buddy in, you’re staying in this town to look after him. Or you’ll take the dog with you if you go.”
I freeze. “Dad...”
“I know you want to leave, Luna. And I get it. But showing affection to a living creature means a degree of responsibility. You can’t love them and leave them.”
Are we still talking about the dog?
I straighten, struggling with my thoughts. “So I can’t love them and leave them—like Mom did with us?”
He sighs. “Luna...”
“Sorry. I know.” I lift my hands in surrender. “Aunt Emily told me about Mom and why she left. It’s hard to change the way I’ve thought of her all these years all of a sudden.”
“Like you’ve been doing with that boy? Changing how you look at him?”
“Ross. You know?”
“I’m not deaf or blind, or even all that old.”
I snicker, some of the tension leaving me. “Okay, Dad. So what is it you think you know?”
“You like him.” He shrugs, points his spatula at me. “More than a little.” He shoots me a quick glance, as if to confirm his suspicions. “You’re spending lots of time with him. You lie to me and pretend you’re sleeping over at Dena’s.”
I sputter. “Dad—”
“It’s okay. You’re an adult now, honey. I can’t dictate your life. But please, don’t lie to me. I only want you to be careful.”
“I am.”
“Are you? Is that boy using protection? Are you—”
