“Nope. Grab your purse. We’re heading out.”
I do as I’m told and follow him out of the apartment. With the elevator still out of action, we walk past the other two front doors toward the main one. Noise filters down the hallway, letting me know that at least one of them is occupied.
Hand in hand, we ride down to the parking garage, and when we get to Cole’s car, he opens my door for me.
“Thank you,” I say, as I climb in. “Do I get a clue yet?”
“Nope,” he teases before closing me in and then joining me.
We chat away as he drives us across town. I keep my eyes on the road, searching for clues, but I don’t come up with much.
“What is down here?” I ask when Cole stops at an intersection I’m not familiar with, with his blinker on, ready to go left.
“Wait and see.”
I squirm in my seat, getting more impatient by the second.
He’s barely around the corner when I spot a sign.
My heart jumps into my throat, excitement taking over.
“Are we…”
“Are we what, Whirlwind?” he asks innocently.
“Are we going to the dog shelter?”
“Oh, is that something you’d enjoy doing?” he asks, as if he doesn’t know.
“Spending my day with dogs? And you? Are you kidding? Wait, you are coming too, right?”
“Yeah, I’m coming too.”
“Oh my god, I’m so excited,” I squeal, clapping my hands together in a way that I’m sure resembles a small child.
“Just remember, you can’t bring them all home.”
47
COLE
Freya practically bounces into the shelter and introduces herself to the manager, who’s waiting for us.
I love spending time at the homeless shelter and getting to talk to people. Freya loves it too. But this…getting to spend the day with dogs who are yet to find their forever home…yeah, I had a feeling she’d be buzzing.
“Right, we have a whole day of tasks laid out for the pair of you,” Lilah, the manager, says, leading us through a door behind the reception desk. “But first off, we have got a whole load of dogs that need exercising.”
“Just lead the way and tell us what to do,” Freya says excitedly.
Lilah takes off, I assume toward where the dogs are housed, while Freya steps into my side and grips my arm.
“I’m so excited to meet them,” she whispers, but I don’t think it’s quiet enough because Lilah’s shoulder bounces with amusement.
“Just remember what I said. I know my apartment is big, but it’s not that big.”
“I’ll be good, I promise. As long as I can come back and do this again.”
“You’re welcome anytime,” Lilah says over her shoulder. “We’re always looking for volunteers.”
