Damn it. Of course, the one topic I didn’t want to talk about is brought up.
Breathe in and out, Trinity, and tell her.
“My dad passed away four years ago,” I whisper, forcing my voice not to crack.
Great.Now, she’s going to look at me like I’m a freak, just like everyone else.
Her breath gets caught in her throat. She glances over at me with shock, then sadness. “I’m so sorry. I wouldn’t have said anything if I had known,” she stammers and places a hand on my arm. “God, I feel so horrible now.”
I chuckle while waving my hand in the air. “Don’t apologize. How would you have known if I didn’t tell you?”
Looking down at her lap, she reaches toward the grass and starts yanking strands out from the ground. Twirling a piece between her fingers, she lets out a sigh. Now, I feel bad. She looks so heartbroken. I wish I hadn’t told her.
A bark attracts both of our attention. I spot Simba running over to us. His tongue hanging out happily as his tail wags back and forth.
“You have a dog! I hate you for keeping him away from me.” Amelia pushes my shoulder as she smiles over toward the ball of sunshine.
My heartbeat quickens and stops when I notice he’s running too fast to halt beside me.
He’s running toward the road …
“Shit,” Amelia yells as we spot Leo’s car racing down the road … right to where Simba is running.
“Simba!” I scream.
My throat closes as I jump to my feet in a frenzy. I can’t lose him too. I just got him. I can’t fail him. I force my body to run as fast as humanly possible. Simba stands still on the road due to shock.
Move, move!
I don’t care if I get hit. I can’t lose something else I love.
“Leo!” Amelia yells and waves her hands in the air, trying to get her brother’s attention but it doesn’t work.
What the hell is he doing that he doesn’t see what’s going on in front of him?
My lungs burn as my feet smash against the concrete road. My eyes go wide from the car to my puppy. Finally reaching Simba, I quickly scoop him up in my arms and run back toward Amelia.
I let out a panicked cry as I realize he’s going too fast. There’s no way he’s going to stop. I’m going to get hit and die.
“Holy shit!” I hear Leo suddenly exclaim through his open window. His body roughly presses back against the seat as he slams on the brakes as hard as he can.
Please, please, please.
Thankfully, he skids to a stop centimeters away from me and Simba. His tires let out a protest as rubber burns on the concrete, leaving tire marks on the road.
Holy crap, I’m still alive. I’m still breathing.
Every bone in my body is intact. My heart is beating a mile a minute as I stare at the front of his car, which, might I add, is way too close for comfort for me.
“Are you fucking crazy?” Amelia yells as she stomps toward his car. She pokes her head into his window and gives him the angriest look I’ve ever seen in my life. “You almost just killed someone!”
“I was distracted!” he stammers as he raises his hands in surrender.
“I was screaming at you. We both were.” She scoffs. “You shouldn’t be using the excuse that you were distracted. That’s a huge mistake, Leo! Do you know what this would do to us?”
He leans his head against the headrest and rubs his eyes with the palms of his hands. “I don’t want to talk about this. I’m in shock, okay? I didn’t mean to almost run over a human, let alone our neighbor.”
“Are you fucked up or—”
