“Justin, what is it?”Concern echoed in Felicity’s voice.
“Sunny!Sunny, come here.”He took off down the hallway.
“Oh no!Sunny!”Felicity’s footsteps sounded behind him.
Who knew a little dog with short legs could move so fast?And Sunny was showing no signs of slowing down.
At the end of the hallway, the elevator doors were open.There appeared to be no occupants.Sunny ran inside, and the doors closed behind her.
He ran until his hands hit the now-closed doors.This couldn’t be happening.He was going to be late for work.And the thought of explaining all of this to his older brother was not at all appealing.
“Look.The elevator is going down,” Felicity said.
By the time he turned to her, she was already running for the stairs.He fell in step behind her.
“Why did she run?”Felicity asked.
“How would I know?”This is not what he bargained for when he agreed to care for the pup.If they lost her, he had absolutely no idea how he would face Merry.
“She can’t get that far,” Felicity said, as though in response to his thoughts.
“She can surprise you.After all, she already figured out how to ride the elevator.”Frustration rang out in his voice.
“I don’t even think she knows she’s in an elevator.”Felicity sounded breathless.
They stepped into the foyer of the first floor.He scanned the foyer and then the hallway.There was no sign of Sunny.Where was she?
“Do you see her?”he asked.
“No.”
“She must still be in the elevator.”He turned to go back upstairs.
“Wait.”Felicity walked toward the elevator.
What was she doing?The puppy was nowhere in sight.And yet he followed her because…well, he didn’t know why.Still, he kept going.
“Felicity?”
“Shh…”
Why was she shushing him?Did she spot the puppy?He hoped so.
She slowed her pace.He did the same.And then he heard a voice.Was that what she was listening to?
“Aren’t you a cutey,” a female voice cooed.“You must be lost.Your owner must be worried about you.”
Felicity stepped up to the open apartment door and smiled.“Sunny, there you are.”
He stepped up beside her, wanting to see the puppy with his own eyes.And there was Sunny enjoying the cuddles of their former sixth-grade math teacher.
“Felicity, I’d heard you were back in town.It’s good to see you.”Mrs.Wilson turned to him.“Justin, is this your puppy?”
“Uh, yes, ma’am.”
“Tsk.Tsk.You can’t let this puppy run around on her own.It’s dangerous for her on the elevator.”
He suddenly felt like he was back in elementary school.He opened his mouth to defend himself.After all, it wasn’t he who put the puppy down on the couch with the apartment door wide open.Although, he might have done something like that himself.
