Sunny didn’t move.Well, that wasn’t quite true.She sat down as though telling him there wasn’t anything he could do to get her to go down those stairs.
“Sunny, come on.I can’t be late for work.”He’d never hear the end of it from his brother, who had a thing for punctuality.
He gave one more gentle tug on the leash.Sunny was no longer looking at him.The next thing he knew she laid down.
With a resigned sigh, Justin retraced his steps.He scooped up the puppy and held her to his chest.Not a second later, she tucked her head under his chin.He had a feeling that was Sunny’s version of a hug.The corners of Justin’s mouth tugged upward.
Sunny stayed snuggled to him as they made it to the second floor.He turned right and found the correct apartment at the end of the hallway.He rapped his knuckles on the door.He still couldn’t believe Felicity was back.Not that she would be staying long.After all, she had her big fancy job in the city.There was nothing in Kringle Falls that could rival that.
He wanted to be happy for her, but there was a part of him that wondered what would have happened if they’d have gotten engaged all of those years ago.Would they be happy?Would their child be in this year’s Christmas play?
Kids?Really?When he realized just how far he’d let his thoughts stray, he admonished himself.Besides, none of it mattered.She hadn’t stayed back then, and she wouldn’t stay now.
When no one answered the door, he knocked again.This time he put a bit more force into it.Then he waited and listened.He didn’t hear anyone.
Was it possible he’d gotten it wrong?Was he supposed to take the puppy to the bookshop?He didn’t recall anyone mentioning that.
He knocked again.“Felicity?”
If she wasn’t home, what was he supposed to do with the puppy?He could just see Michael’s face if he showed up at work with the puppy in his arms.He imagined trying to watch Sunny while he was working on the old snowplow.The pup would be into everything.No.He was not even going to attempt taking Sunny with him.He’d just have to track down Felicity.After all, she helped get him in this position.
He raised his hand to pound on the door when it swung open, scattering his thoughts.There before him stood Felicity.Her long brown hair was mussed up, as though she’d just gotten out of bed.And her eyes were sleepy, as though she hadn’t been ready to leave dreamland.
She wore a pair of pink shorts with an oversized gray sweatshirt with a New York City logo over the chest.She looked adorable.And the last thing he wanted was her to be all cute and attractive.
When his gaze met hers again, he felt drawn to her.It wasn’t the first time he’d felt that instinctual pull toward her.Far from it.But this was different.Back then they’d been kids, and things weren’t so complicated, but now they were adults, and complicated didn’t even begin to describe things between them.
However, that didn’t stop his gaze from slipping down her slender nose and past her pinkened cheeks to pause on her full, rosy lips.He wondered what it would be like to kiss her now?Would it be the same as before?Or would it have changed with time too?
“Arf!Arf-arf!”Sunny jarred him from his runaway thoughts as the puppy tried to jump out of his arms in order to reach Felicity.
“Sorry.”She ran a hand over her hair, mussing it up even more.“I was up late working on the costumes.”
He nodded.Though he wasn’t surprised.He remembered how Felicity used to throw herself into projects.If it was important to her, it would be nothing for her to stay up most of the night working on it.It appeared that part of her hadn’t changed.
When Felicity held out her arms for the puppy, he handed over Sunny.The puppy immediately bathed Felicity’s face in puppy kisses.It brought a smile to her face.
Felicity backed up.“Come in.”
He shook his head.There were too many reasons for him not to go inside—including the fact that he couldn’t stop staring at her.It was like he was trying to memorize everything about her before she disappeared from his life again.Not that he should care.She had her life.And he had his own life.
“I can’t.”He held out the bag of puppy supplies.“Here’s everything you should need for her.And just an FYI, she isn’t housebroken yet.”He struggled not to roll his eyes but failed.“Let’s just say last night was a challenge.”
With a smile that lit up her eyes, Felicity looked at Sunny.“Were you giving Justin a hard time?”Then Felicity turned to him.“She said she just has to get used to you and your place.And she’s sorry.”
He found himself wanting to believe her, which was utterly ridiculous.First, Felicity wasn’t a dog whisperer like his brother Colin.Second, it didn’t matter because Sunny was going to be adopted.The sooner, the better.
“Just remember you said that, because you have her all day.Good luck.”
When the puppy got too wiggly, Felicity placed Sunny on the couch.She turned her attention back to him.“Would you like to come in for some coffee?”
He shook his head.“I can’t.”
“You’re leaving so soon?”
Wait.Was she saying that she wanted him to stay?No.That couldn’t be right.But even if he had the extra time to hang out, it wasn’t a good idea.
Just then he noticed a movement out of the corner of his eye.He turned in time to see Sunny running past him and down the apartment hallway.
