When she opens the door, I gasp.
“Puppies! Oh, my gosh.” I’m already kneeling down in front of the pen. A Dachsund-mix adult dog greets me, and she’s surrounded by seven miniature versions of herself. “They are so adorable.”
“Aren’t they?” Her smile disappears. “Some asshole dropped them off on the side of the road. Them and the mother.”
I shake my head in anger. “I hate people sometimes. I’m sorry to sound so disillusioned, but I just don’t get it.”
“I hear you. Luckily, a couple was behind the vehicle, and they got out and managed to get them all into their car. They brought them here.”
I pick one up and cuddle it to my chest. “We’ll make sure to find great homes for them.”
“We will. And I think we may already have one.” She taps my shoulder. “You want first dibs?”
“Me?” I look down at the innocent-faced dog in my arms. His dark eyes are huge, and his pink nose is so sweet. “I don’t…I can’t.”
“Why not? I know how much you’ve always wanted a pet. And you’re amazing with the dogs and cats here. You said you have a fenced yard. So why can’t you?”
Because my father could kill it with one bad episode.
I make up some excuse about my brothers being allergic and change the subject.
But as I play with the puppies and help Dina take photos of them for the shelter website that lists animals available for adoption, my frustration grows.
Mom keeps promising me we’ll leave him.
“When?” I asked her once.
Her pretty face creased with worry. “As soon as I can figure out a way. We need to wait for the right timing.”
The thing about timing is I don’t believe it’s ever right until a person decides it is.
* * *
After I leave the shelter, I stop for a hamburger and fries at a nearby fast food chain.
“Hey.” A kid in my class stops at my table. “How are you, Sky?”
I pull my hair further over the left side of my face. “I’m great. You?”
He takes my polite response as an invitation and sits down across from me. “I’m good. So…are you going to the Winter Formal this year?”
“Oh. I don’t think so.”
I’ve never been to any school dances. Boys and I don’t mix. Other than my brothers, I’m scared of the opposite sex, and I’ve never actually been on a date. And the idea of my father meeting a future boyfriend is absolutely horrifying. Besides, having to explain to some boy why my father is the way he is? That’s not exactly a great start.
“Do you want to go together?” he asks abruptly. “I mean, I’d like to take you. If you’re interested.”
“Oh,” I say again like a jerk.
My palms start sweating as he looks at me, waiting for an answer. Even though this boy seems perfectly harmless, I’m going to say no.
It’s the smart thing to do.Even if I’m holding myself back from really living, at least I’m being careful. Because nothing is worth putting myself into danger. I have to deal with danger on the daily at home already.
I force a friendly smile and stand up to leave. “That’s so nice of you to ask. But unfortunately, I’m going to be away that weekend. Family plans.”
Little do I know how true that excuse is about to become.
* * *
