At one point, she caught sight of Merry Kringle sticking her head in the door and looking around.Their gazes briefly met, and Merry mouthed a thank you.Felicity’s attention was drawn away, and when she looked back, Merry was gone.
She was kept so busy that the time flew by.When at last she was the only one in the dressing room, she gathered the costumes she wanted to work on.With her notes on her phone and the costumes bundled in her arm, she turned off the lights and headed out the door.
She would just order a rideshare, and she’d be back at her mother’s apartment in no time.She paused in the hallway and retrieved her phone.After a few swipes and taps, she found out that Kringle Falls didn’t have a rideshare.It appeared her hometown was too small for that sort of service.
Now what was she going to do?She thought of calling her mother, but she was still working evening shifts.Felicity’s next thought was to call Connie, but she didn’t want to bother her, especially after she’d taken care of Sunny all evening.
And so, that meant walking to the Evergreen Apartments.She was really starting to regret not renting a car.She could just add it to her growing list of regrets.
When she reached the exit, she found Justin propped against the wall.“What are you doing here?I thought you would have been long gone.”
“And leave you to walk home in the snow?I don’t think so.”He held out his arms.“Let me take that for you.”
She shook her head as her fingers tightened on the costumes.“I’ve got them.Thanks.”
He hesitated before he lowered his arms.“Then we better get going.We have to pick up Sunny.”He opened the door for her.“Why do I get the feeling I’m not going to get much sleep tonight?”
“Everything will be fine.”
At least that was what she kept telling herself.She told herself that when she found out the promotion she’d so desperately wanted had been turned into a competition.She’d told herself that when she’d packed up her office desk and headed out the door for the last time.She’d told herself that when she put her furniture into storage and headed home again.
She kept telling herself everything would be fine, but she was starting to wonder if that was true.Because right now, nothing felt like it would be fine.
Chapter Thirteen
It’snevergoodwhenyou wake up with a groan.
After getting home the night before, Justin had taken a seat at his desk to work on his manuscript.He’d stared at the blinking cursor for the longest time.He finally wrote some new words and then backspaced until they’d been completely erased.
He blamed his lack of inspiration on the puppy constantly interrupting him.Sunny had dogged his every step.And even though he’d taken the puppy out every hour, she still had not one but two accidents on the living room carpet.Luckily, Merry had supplied him with some sort of cleaning spray for such occasions.
Come the morning sun, Justin didn’t even have his eyes open when a wet tongue swiped across his face.With a groan, he lifted his arms to fend off the rambunctious puppy.He knew without asking what the pup wanted—to go outside…again.
Sunny pawed at his arms until he moved them.And then there were more puppy kisses.Lots and lots of sloppy kisses.What exactly had he gotten himself into?
As he got out of bed and jumped into the shower, he tried to figure out how he let three women talk him into taking care of this puppy.He must be losing his edge.
After dressing and seeing to the puppy’s needs, it was time to drop Sunny off at Felicity’s place before he went to work.Of course, when he went to put the puppy’s collar and leash on, Sunny decided to make a game of it.Justin would reach for the puppy, and the little girl would run behind the furniture.Not only was Sunny small but she was fast.
“Sunny, come here.I’m going to be late.”He was never late.In fact, he was normally early.
By this point, he was down on his knees.When the puppy came close to him, he reached out so far he fell to the side.He landed on his side with anoomph!
He never should have agreed to take the puppy.What a mistake!Now, he needed to outsmart Sunny.With the aid of throw pillows to block her escape path, he finally wrapped his hands around the puppy.
“You need to listen,” he said.When the puppy whimpered because she wanted down to play some more, he said, “Oh no.We’re done playing for now.And don’t look at me with those big brown eyes.It isn’t going to work on me.”
As though she understood him, Sunny hung her head low.Without any more incidents, he put on her collar and leash.He looked at the coat and boots that had also been in the bag.Did dogs really wear those?
Not remembering his brother, the vet, ever putting those items on his numerous dogs, Justin didn’t bother with them.With the puppy’s leash in one hand and the bag of puppy stuff in the other hand, he headed out the door.Even though Sunny had short legs, she kept pace with him.
Felicity’s mom lived one floor down from him.He thought of taking the elevator, but it was always a wait this time of the morning.The steps were faster.
There was an open staircase in the middle of the building.He thought Sunny would like going down the stairs.When they reached the landing, Justin started down the stairs and noticed Sunny was no longer beside him.
He stopped and turned around.There was Sunny at the top with her front paws out in front of her, as though using them as brakes.He already knew she could do steps.She’d been doing them outside, so why wasn’t she doing them now?
“Come on, Sunny.”He gave a gentle tug on the leash.
