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He couldn’t defend himself because the sheriff was right. The only thing he’d stuck to in his life was music.
“Now that’s not fair, Sheriff,” Viv said. “Sometimes, it takes some of us a long time to find our way. I think Red is on the right track.”
“If you say so.” The sheriff walked away, climbed into his patrol car, and drove off.
“You haven’t made a lot of friends in this town. Why is that?”
“I can’t help it if people don’t love me.”
“Maybe you can.” She walked to the truck and got the bags of goods they’d purchased during their outings. “I find that for someone to love us, we often have to love ourselves first. I mean, think about it. How can you expect someone to love you if you can’t stand yourself.”
“I like myself.”
“Okay, but when you look in the mirror each morning, do you love who you see?”
He hadn’t given much thought to loving himself. He loved things about his life, like his ability to make music, but to look at himself and declare that he loved what he saw? No, he’d never considered that.
“Oh, I’ve loved myself plenty, and I’ll tell you, it’s not as satisfying as when I’m loving someone else.”
She marched past him. “That’s your problem. We wouldn’t be here if you weren’t spreading your love so far and wide.”
She set the bags on the porch and started to unpack. “Do you have a ladder?”
“It’s in the shed.”
“Is it locked?”
“No, this is Aspen Cove. Nothing bad happens here.”
She cocked her head and put her hands on her hips. “Except break-ins and vandalism.”
Lucky growled and barked. When Red turned, he found the dog fighting with a flower, and by the looks of it, the flower was winning.
“You should feed him and see if you can get an appointment at the veterinary clinic in town. I’ll get the cameras installed.”
He’d just been dismissed. Sighing, he moved towards the door, holding the dog food in one arm, and sweeping the pup up with the other. He was now a dog owner—what had he gotten himself into? It’s not that he wanted a dog, but he didn’t want to disappoint Viv. With one last glance at Viv outside, tending to the cameras, he stepped inside his home.
The pup wriggled excitedly in his arms, then hopped onto the ground and sniffed around at everything with great enthusiasm: the rug, chairs, tables, and even his old guitar. His tail wagged fiercely as he ran around in circles, looking up now and again to see if his new “dad” approved of his behavior.
With a chuckle, Red dropped to his knees and patted his lap. “Come here, buddy. We have to go over some rules.” The pup raced back over, jumping onto him, and licking his face all over. “No chewing on furniture. And you can only pee or poop outside. Got it? In exchange, I’ll feed you and take care of you. But don’t expect me to love you—that I can’t do. How do ya like them apples?” Red sighed, stroking the pup’s fur and trying to ignore Doc’s voice in his head. He wasn’t offering Lucky much—just a home, food, water, and a yard at best. He hadn’t been emotionally capable of loving anything, or maybe he just hadn’t given love an honest try. He imagined the safest place to start would be a pet.
After all, Lucky was just a pup; he deserved all the love he could get. Red had to admit that the little guy already had a piece of his heart, even if it was only a tiny sliver. He felt a kinship to the dog who’d been tossed aside and knew he had to do more than feed and care for Lucky if they had any chance of them forming a bond together. With that thought in mind, Red made an appointment with the local vet to get Lucky checked out and up to date on vaccinations. He also found a pet store online where he could buy toys and treats for Lucky—anything to help foster their growing relationship.
Red knew this puppy would change his life forever for better or worse—but deep down, something told him it would be for the better.
Feeling a newfound purpose, he set up the kennel and made Lucky comfy in front of the television. He scrolled through the channels, but the only thing that seemed to capture his interest wasSurvivor. Red thought it ironic since that’s exactly what the dog was.
He moved into the kitchen and set out to make a meal that would blow Viv’s mind. The woman had a hollow leg when it came to eating, and he would make sure she was satisfied. And maybe, in the process, he’d impress the pants off of her.
But as he chopped vegetables and seasoned the meat, Red couldn’t help but wonder why Viv had such a hold on him. She wasn’t his usual type; he typically went for taller and more conventionally feminine women. Yet, he found something about Viv’s tomboyish demeanor and casual style alluring and disarming. Her smile made her approachable and almost inviting—although admittedly, inviting him she was not. Maybe it was how she held herself confidently and didn’t seem to care about impressing anyone. Or perhaps it was her intelligence and quick wit that always kept him on his toes. Whatever it was, Red couldn’t deny his attraction toward her, which scared him. Could she be the one? Or would she be another woman who left when things went south, and he knew they would. South was the only direction his relationships traveled. Girlfriends for a night were so much less complicated.
The door opened, and Viv walked in dripping sweat. “Can I borrow your shower and some clothes?” She looked down at herself. “Tomorrow, we have to go to Val’s place to get my things.”
“Can’t we buy you new stuff? Do we have to visit your brother?” He rubbed his jaw. “I won’t fully recover for a while and don’t think I can sustain another blow.”
“Don’t be a baby. He’s not going to hit you again. Besides, you have to stand up to bullies.” She lifted her nose in the air. “Did you cook?” She moved to the trash can and looked inside. “What are we having?” She rummaged through the top of the garbage. “I don’t see any boxes.”
“I don’t use boxes. I cook real food. We’re having baked chicken and roasted vegetables with garlic mashed potatoes that I peeled, boiled, and mashed myself. As for bullies, I think I’ll stay clear.”
