AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Terrell and Xander ran up to me, Terrell pulling me up while Xander got his skateboard. Terrell glanced from me to the new girl and back again, a grin growing on his face.
I gave him a look. “Don’t say a word.”
“I wasn’t going to say anything,” he replied, shooting Xander a grin.
“Right, he was going to leave it to me to pick on you.”
I glared at him.
Xander tapped his chin. “What was worse? That epic dismount or the botched job with the new girl?”
I shoved him just as we heard the fire alarm go off inside.
Busted.
Fifteen
April
I loadedmy draw string bag full of dog treats I’d bought from the store using the money Jesse had given me. I was going to figure out how to walk Heidi without having my elbow dislocated if it was the last thing I did. Bonus points if she never dragged me in the direction of Diego De Leon ever again.
When I’d seen him fall from doing that stupid skateboarding trick, my heart had leapt to my throat. I was so worried and genuinely afraid that I’d have to call 911 or even perform CPR. We hadn’t gotten that far in our CNA classes, and I was woefully unprepared.
Almost as unprepared as I had been from his smile.
When he lay like that on the sidewalk, with his curls all messy and the sun shining into his eyes... I almost forgot to breathe.
It was like all pretenses had been wiped away and it was just... us.
But then he had to make that comment, and the anger that had left my body came back tenfold. Why did he have to get under my skin?
I let out a deep breath as I approached the Pfanstiels’ house and knocked on the door.
As soon as Jesse opened it up, Heidi came sprinting out, her leash in her mouth.
“Heidi,” we both scolded at the same time.
She stood by the gate of their front picket fence, looking innocently up at us with the leash in her jaw.
“I’ve got it,” I said with a laugh. “Is it okay if I give her treats today?”
“Completely fine,” Jesse replied. “You’re a lifesaver.”
As the door, shut, I walked toward the gate where Heidi waited.
“You’re an ornery thing,” I said to her, making her head tilt and her eyebrows rise.
“Don’t act all innocent,” I laughed, taking the leash and clipping it to her collar. She turned her nose to the gate, excitedly waiting for me to open it so she could yank me after her.
“Here’s the deal,” I said. “I got some tips from Sadie’s mom and a bag full of treats. Today is going to be a good day.”
If she understood, she didn’t let on. So I breathed deeply and opened the gate. Just like usual, she took off, eagerly pulling me from the sidewalk toward the sand. But this time, I said, “HEIDI! TREAT!”
That got her attention. She turned toward me, maybe stunned or curious, and I pulled a treat from my bag. “That’s a good girl.” I gave her the treat and scratched her neck. We walked just a little ways before I turned and, tugging her leash, said, “Heidi, let’s go!” She followed me, and I praised her again, sinking my fingers in her soft golden fur and then giving her another treat.
For the next half hour, Heidi and I did the drills Harini told me about over and over and over again. We didn’t get more than a few minutes’ walk from the Pfanstiels’, but sweat dripped down my brow and pride swelled in my chest.
Heidi was actually paying attention to me. Actually listening.
