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Damn it. Those are good questions.
**Curtis**
That little thief. When I find her…
What? You’ll thank her? You may not admit it out loud, but you’re having fun.
I grumble at the observation, refusing to acknowledge the truth of it. When I came home during my first break, during the lull between lunch and dinner, it was to find Enzo gone again.
A chuckle had slipped out before I could catch it, quickly followed by another. I was stumped as to how she was doing it, seeing as how my spare key was hanging in its spot, and I knew I had locked up behind me when I left.
And when I got home, it still was. As it is now, when I disengage it, a bark coming from Enzo inside as he becomes aware that I’m back, leaving me to shake my head. Did she abracadabra it?
He races toward me, tongue lolling out, a different outfit than yesterday adorning him. Enzo had finally let me remove that one following his last bathroom excursion prior to bed, and while I’d wanted to toss it, his sad eyes had stopped me.
Since I’ve turned over a new leaf and have decided to be truthful, at least with myself, about my feelings – I sound like a walking advertisement for Dr. Phil – I confess to Enzo, “I’m jealous you’re spending more time with her than I am.” Yes, I talk to my dog and he not only understands, he replies. Doesn’t yours?
He looks at me, grins, and in all his wisdom, silently tells me, “Then do something about it.”
Chapter Five
Cydne
April 12th…
How in the hell can I be falling for the man, and how do I stop it? I don’t want to become my parents, oblivious to everything but my person. Every day, without fail, I’ve taken his dog from his house, had a great time with him, then returned him so Curtis can have him at night. It’s like our own unspoken custody agreement. And every day, without fail, breakfast or lunch, depending on the hour, is sitting there waiting for me. He’d even figured out my preferences by leaving a variety of foods, making me choose according to my tastes, more than once, paying attention to them. Those I ignored were never seen nor heard from again.
Oh, and that’s not even the best part. When I pick Enzo up now, he’s already wearing an outfit. My favorite was the little suit, complete with a bow tie like collar. My heart had melted at the visual of him searching for it, selecting it for his buddy, and purchasing it. Don’t even get me started on me picturing him putting it on Enzo.
We’ve even taken to leaving each other notes. Questionnaires, to be exact.
First was my favorite color. I responded with red, because of course I did, I think with a flip of my hair. I then asked about his movie, surprised by his answer.
The Hunt for Red October. I’d promptly purchased it that night through Amazon Prime, finding myself so enthralled with it I went on to watch the rest of the movies in that world. Followed by the newer TV show. Being cute, I’d gone shopping and found a jigsaw puzzle with a scene from the Sean Connery version, it is the best after all, and left it on Curtis’ counter.
He and I have been jointly assembling it, separately.
We’re getting to know each other, sort of spending time together.
Are wedating?Admittedly, it’s been forever since I’ve been on one, but I don’t recall it going quite like this. Then again, our meet cute wasn’t what you’d expect either, so maybe this is just our version of it.
**Curtis**
I’ve come to a couple conclusions.
I think it’s safe to say I’m in a committed relationship. I mean, she’s pretty much the first thing on my mind in the morning, wondering what she’ll do with my,our,dog that day. And the last thing at night, her face there waiting for me when I close my eyes.
On paper – which means in real life, too, since I’m being honest in my answers and I’m assuming she is as well – she appears to be my perfect match.
I want to put in the last piece of the puzzle she so thoughtfully got for me by her side.
I want to actually spend time with her face to face, but the people in this town are helping her in her quest to avoid getting busted.
As the days have gone by, I thought the smiles aimed my way when I’d ask others if they’d seen her were my imagination. Then I overheard Ella talking to Ashton, giggling over Cydne’s “narrow escape” when I’d shown up. I’d been tempted to ignore it, but my curiosity getting the better of me. “Why are you two in cahoots with her?”
Ella had snorted, waving at Ashton to fill me in. And she did, gleefully, by informing me, “It’s not just us.”
That bothered me for some reason, like the whole town was against me, which sucks. Ella had deciphered my expression correctly because she’d patted my hand out of pure maternal instinct, then stated, “Dear, you’ve lived here for three years, yet you’re more at home in the shell you wear around yourself, like a turtle. Since Cydne moved here and borrowed Enzo, you’re smiling. There’s a spring in your step. You’re having fun. We won’t take that away from either of you. Helping her means helping you.”
