“I just want to say sorry for the stuff I’ve said to you in the past. I never meant to hurt you.”
This apology felt different from the one he’d given me in the maze. There was a weight to his words, like he’d had time to think through the way he’d made me feel all those years ago. I paused, half in my car. “Thanks. I think we’ve both said and done things we regret. I’m sorry too. It’s probably best if we move past everything.”
The words were out of my mouth before I realized the double meaning. That we also needed to move past the night in the storage closet. I was too far away to try to read his expression.
“Agreed. Let’s just be good neighbors from here on out, okay?”
“Deal,” I answered as I tried to imagine what he considered good-neighborness. I swallowed my speech about garbage and parking spots and leashes and slammed my car door shut.
Good neighbors.
At least for a little while.
chapter twenty-two
Edith whipped around and snarled at Ivan.
“Immediately no,” I said, stomping over to where she was cornering him and swooping her up into my arms. “I’ve seen what I needed to see.”
“Oh, they’re okay,” Paula protested. “It’s fine, Ivan needs to be taught a lesson.”
It was nearing the end of my weekly seven p.m. puppy play and socialization class and a few of my students were getting punchy.
“Some dog-to-dog corrections are okay, but all Ivan did was sniff her,” I explained, raising my voice a little and looking around at my half dozen human students to bring their attention to what was going on. Edith was panting in my arms and still staring at her victim. “Ivan wasn’t being pushy or inappropriate with Edith, he was just curious. The way Edith snapped at him means that she’s overstimulated. Remember, therecanbe too much of a good thing when it comes to socialization, and that’s when we need to intervene. Or better yet, before they snap.”
Carly pointed at Geneva, who was gnawing on her class bestie, Sassy the Pomeranian mix. “I think these two could go all night.”
“It might seem that way, but even if the puppies are having fun it’s a good idea to take breaks,” I answered, walking Edith toward my office. “They’re like toddlers; they don’t realize when they’re overtired. That’s when things get ugly. It’s time to wrap up for the night anyway.”
I ignored the fact that my puppy had become the biggest a-hole in class and deposited her in the room so I could answer any questions before people headed out. As usual, the group was slow to pack up, but I loved that my classes turned strangers into community. Paula and Sassy’s person, Donna, walked out chattering together.
“Do you have a sec? I wanted to tell you something in person,” Carly said, watching the door shut behind them. “I have news.”
I immediately glanced at her midsection and she laughed and punched me. “No, not that. Theothermillennial milestone.”
“Well, you’ve already got the puppy.” I ticked it off on my finger. “And if it’s not a baby... is it a house?”
She nodded and bounced up and down. “Yes! We put in an offer on a place on Broad Street. It happened super fast. If all goes according to plan we’ll be moved in before Christmas.”
“Carly, congrats!” I pulled her into a hug. “Tell me there’s a yard.”
“Theyard.” She sighed, her face glowing. “It’s an absolute nightmare of dirt and weeds and I love it! It’s almost two acres.”
“Are you kidding? Pictures, please.”
She pulled out her phone and scrolled through photo after photo of an adorable white Cape Cod with green shutters.
“It’s perfect,” I said.
“Oh, come on.” She frowned at me. “Did you miss the pink and black bathroom tiles and dark wood cabinets in the kitchen? It’s awful, but it’s got potential.”
“And that’s all that matters.”
My phone went off in my pocket and I was shocked when I pulled it out and saw the international number on the screen. Why was Sam calling me? I held my phone up. “This is my friend in Tokyo, I need to grab this. She usually doesn’t call.”
“Ooh, yikes,” Carly said. “I’ll grab G and head out.”
“Congrats again,” I shouted to her as I answered the call.
