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“I’m sorry, Graham.” I skipped down the steps, and my hand froze on the door to my car. Tears I had tried to fight back welled in my eyes and rolled down my cheeks. I couldn’t turn around and look at him before I opened the door. “Bye.”
I slammed the car door shut behind me, pulling out of the driveway and driving down the street through a veil of tears. When I stopped at the intersection, I pulled the note from my purse and read it again. My head spun. Who could possibly hate me enough to send something like that?
Don’t go barking up the wrong tree.
Chapter 21
Graham
It had been twenty-four hours since Chelsea drove out of my driveway, and she’s ignored all of my calls since then. When I got in my car, I thought there was a chance I was going to drive until I pulled up in front of her apartment and demanded to talk to her. I needed to know how she could go from falling apartin my arms to telling me she never wanted to see me again so quickly.
It’s just too much.
Instead, I pulled into the parking lot at Happy Paws. I sat there with the car off but the keys in the ignition, debating if I wanted to go in at all. I knew I would feel better if I did, or at least I knew it would before I knew Chelsea. Sighing, I climbed out of the car.
The dogs barking when I walked up made it sound like a normal day. I walked in, hoping that the lobby would be empty and taking a deep breath to relax when it wasn’t. Rachel turned and looked at me, instantly changing her posture and pushing her chest out.
“Hi Graham!” she cheered. Then she saw my face, and her excited expression dropped. “What’s wrong?”
“Just a rough day,” I shrugged. I wasn’t willing to admit that Chelsea had changed her mind and told me goodbye for what I hoped wouldn’t be the last time.
Rachel looked like she bit back a smile before she frowned, putting her arms out as a silent offer for a hug. “I’m sorry. What can I do to cheer you up?” Her voice no longer sounded sympathetic, and I narrowed my eyes.
“I’m really just here to see the dogs.” I pointed to the doors that led to the noisy concrete hallway, not waiting for her to acknowledge what I’d said before I walked that way. The sooner I was surrounded by wagging tails and warm breath, the better.
“Of course, of course!” Rachel shouted in a last-ditched effort to continue the conversation. “You know where they are.”
I let the door close behind me, separating me from the lobby and Rachel’s stare. People always stared when someone is upset, and the last thing I wanted to do was answer questions I didn’t have the answers to myself.
When I got to the end of the hall and reached for the last kennel door, Bullseye danced. Seeing the carefree excitement onhis face was enough to lessen the dread until I remembered the way he had so easily favored Chelsea. I sighed, dropping to the floor and sitting back against the wall. Bullseye put his face close to mine, panting and sniffing curiously. Then, he started to sniff my clothes and the floor around me, and my stomach sank.
“I know, buddy. I wish she’d come with me too.” I patted him behind the ears, and he sat down next to me, dropping onto his back and rolling to expose his belly. I rubbed it, sighing.
I heard the door to the hallway slam shut, the sound echoing off the hard walls. “There you guys are!” Rachel cheered, and I scowled. She had just talked to me five minutes earlier; she knew exactly where I was. I imagined that was why she was there. She leaned against the wall, ignoring my eyeroll. “He really loves you, you know?”
Rachel stepped into the kennel, squatting down and putting her hand on Bullseye’s belly. Bullseye didn’t wag his tail, and he watched her from the corner of his eye. He didn’t move when she patted him. Then, she looked at me.
“Do you want to talk about it?” she asked, taking a knee. I didn’t want her to get comfortable, but I took a deep breath to dampen my frustration at the intrusion.
I shook my head. “No.” Bullseye watched me closely when I stopped petting him, ensuring that I didn’t take my hand away from his belly without a protest.
“Does it have to do with the girl you brought with you?” Rachel cocked her head curiously, and my blood roared against my eardrums. “Did she use you?”
I patted Bullseye’s belly one more time before I stood up. “Look, I should get going.” Bullseye whined when I stepped past Rachel and out of the kennel, and I looked at him sympathetically. “I know, buddy. I’ll be back soon.”
“Bye, Graham!” Rachel said, almost too excited. I ruffled my brow, giving her a questioning look before I walked down thehallway and out the door. Once the door closed behind me, I grumbled to myself, hearing Chelsea’s voice in my head.
“Bye.”
Chapter 22
Chelsea
“So do you want to talk about why you ran out of the office today?” Bridget asked, taking a glass of wine and swirling it in her hand. I poured a second glass slowly, trying to come up with a way to skirt the question.
I shook my head, taking a gulp of wine. “I don’t know.”
“Does it have to do with your boyfriend?” She cocked her head to the side. “Or maybe that package you got?”
