AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He’s hitting me with all the truths. You’d think someone would break entirely when the love of their life died. Lucy’s death shattered Dallas, but she left scattered pieces, so he’d be able to take care of Maven. She knew their daughter would be Dallas’s savior when she wasgone.
He goes to grab my bag. “Come on. Lauren has a twelve-hour shift. We’ll talk, and then you can have her apartment to yourself for thenight.”
I hold my hand out to stop him. “I’m getting on thatplane.”
His lips press into a white slash, and he tiredly rubs hisface.
“Scooby is waiting forme.”
He blinks. “I’m sorry,whois waiting foryou?”
“Scooby.”
He folds his arms across his chest and kicks his legs out. “You two hanging out in the Mystery Machine withVelma?”
“Scooby is my cat, smart-ass,” I snap, jutting my chinout.
“Why you named your cat Scooby is a conversation for another time, but we’ll be having some serious talks about the name of our child. I won’t have a Shaggy Barnes runningaround.”
My hand falls to my chest at the sound of a knock on the door. Dallas holds a finger to his mouth. The knocking stops, and I open my mouth to tell him that I’ll see him later when it starts back up again. The person on the other side must really need to go because the knocks get louder andfaster.
“Out of order!” Dallas finally yells. “Go somewhereelse.”
The knocking subsides, and I narrow my eyes his way. “You do know, this is the women’s restroom? They’re probably going tosecurity.”
I shrug. He can’t badger me if he’s injail.
“Then, let’s make thisquick.”
“My mom is watching Scooby for me. I told her I’d be back by tomorrow. I also need to tell her about the whole becoming-a-grandmathing.”
Family—Dallas’sweakness.
I realize I chose the right words when his face falls into anapology.
“Why didn’t you tell methat?”
I wrinkle my nose. “If you haven’t figured it out by now, I’m not the most openperson.”
“That makes two of us. What a pair.” He gives me a gentle smile. “Go home, Willow. Tell your mom, but keep incontact.”
My shoulders slump. “Iwill.”
“Promise me.” I open my mouth to do what he asked, but he stops me, scowling. “Actually, don’t bother. Promises don’t mean shit to you.” He unlocks the door. “If you don’t answer my calls, the next time you see me will be when I’m standing on your mom’s doorstep, introducingmyself.”
* * *
“I don’t knowwhy you won’t let me keep him,” my mom whines while running her fingers through Scooby’s thick whitehair.
A few strands stick to her hand because he sheds like no other. We have the whole let-me-keep-Scoobytalk every time she cat-sits.
I flew into LA, got my car from my apartment, and then drove to my mom’s house. She lives in the same house I grew up in, in a small suburb three hours out of LA. The ride gave me time to figure out how I was going to break the news toher.
“Mom, you bought himfor meas apresent.”
After Stella moved away, he was a birthday gift to keep me company, but I think she used me as an excuse to buy herself ananimal.
“You’re out of town so much, and you don’t give him the attention he deserves,” she goeson.
