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How could she have said that to him? Talk about worse . . .
Hazel growled at the tail chasing of her thoughts. She shut her eyes, bouncing her phone on her forehead, as if jarring her brain could fix what was inside her heart.
“How am I this much of a mess, Moose?” She opened her eyes and looked at her old friend.
Raising his large white head, he panted and then made the great effort to get his legs beneath his massive body to lumber to her side. A short whine followed by a grunt came just before Moose planted himself on his hind end.
“You still love me, right, boy?”
That massive head pressed onto her lap.
“More than you love Bennett?”
Moose sighed.
“Okay, but equal to Bennett?”
He pulled his head from her lap and pushed his front paws forward, sliding against the pine floor into a lying position.
A nonanswer.
“Maybe we could try it, don’t you think?” Hazel bent forward to pet the thick fur of Moose’s panting side.
Moose picked his head up.I’m listening . . .
“Bennett could move in here while he’s working on the Elliot house.”
That chin clunked back on the floor.No dice.
“Yeah, I guess there’s the kids to consider.” A pang of something close to jealousy hit her as she thought of Bennett’s little instant family—one she wasn’t a part of. Hazel ignored it, not wanting to consider why she’d feel insecure about that. “It’d be pretty cramped, and I’m not used to people all the time.” Not to mention, Bennett had already turned down that offer last night.
A puff of air left Moose’s lungs, and he rolled to his side. Utterly unimpressed.
“What?”
The dog side-eyed her, then looked toward the bunkroom where Bennett had stayed over the summer when he’d visited.
“Fine. You’re right. Bennett wouldn’t go for it.”
I’m really trying to be a better man, Zel. A godly man. Can’t you get behind that?Something Bennett had said to her last summer, when he’d told her he wouldn’t be sharing her bed on his visits anymore.
Bennett was already a better man than she’d first met last year. Why did that mean they couldn’t enjoy the physical pleasure of their love? And anyway, it was silly that Bennett would be opposed to moving in. Wouldn’t it make sense to see if they could stand living together before they decided marriage was a good idea?
Something in Hazel’s heart dropped in opposition to her logic. It felt like . . . disappointment. In herself.
The sound of tires against dirt and rocks set her free from the labyrinth of her dizzying thoughts. Relief took the place of that unaccounted disappointment, and Hazel leaned down to pet Moose once more before she popped to her feet. “Come on, old man. You’re going outside because I’m going to town to see a man about a house.”
Moose lifted his head with eagerness.
“His house. We’re staying here.”
With a string of grunts and a few whines tucked in for good measure, Moose clumped to the front door. Hazel opened it the same time Hunter stepped out of his truck. Ice and Cream scampered outside, no regard to people or older dogs, barking an overly enthusiastic greeting. Scout trotted to the deck and then sat at Hazel’s feet, watching her for instructions. Moose walked with his slow, purposeful stride, stepping down the front steps and toward Hunter. Once at his side, he planted his large backside into the ground.
“Hello, old friend.” Hunter laid one large hand on Moose’s head, his fingers getting swallowed in the thick fur. “Are you keeping my sister in line?”
Moose glanced toward Hazel, then turned smiling eyes up to Hunter.I do my best.
Wasn’t that the truth?
