I looked up and down the road, seeing nothing but trees. I felt so bad when I saw the pink collar around her neck. This was someone’s lost dog, and I’d just killed her. Rushing back to my car, I grabbed my phone and called Ketai.
He answered on the second ring. “Hey, baby,” his raspy voice greeted me.
“Stanley! It came out of nowhere, I promise, an-and—” I began to stutter, trying to tell him everything at once. “I swear I didn’t mean to do it. She’s not moving, and I think she might be de-dead.”
“Free? What? Where you at?” I was pretty sure I could hear him jump up by the urgency in his voice.
“I’m on the way to your house, and I hit something.” I had to close my eyes because every time I looked at the little body lying there, I started sobbing harder.
“I’m on the way. Don’t move, baby. I’m coming. Just calm down,” he assured me in a soothing tone.
“Okay.” I sniffled before wiping away some of my tears.
“You standing outside the car?” I nodded, forgetting he couldn’t see me.
“Yes.”
“Get back in until I get there, and lock your doors. Stay on the phone too. I’m about to click over and make a call.”
“Kay . . .” I did as I was told, placing the phone on my thigh after putting it on speakerphone. Even though the line was silent, I could hear the static that let me know I was still connected to Tai. I closed my eyes and steadied my breathing.
“Baby?” Tai called out when he came back on the line.
I picked up the phone and placed it to my mouth. “I’m still here.”
“I’m pulling up,” he told me.
I instantly felt better because I heard his engine buzzing as he closed the distance between us. The tires squealed when he came to an abrupt stop beside me. I tossed my phone down when he hopped out and came rushing over to me. He opened the door, and I collapsed into his arms.
“I didn’t mean to do it,” I tried to explain myself.
He rubbed my hair and pulled me into him. “It’s all good, baby. You’re okay.” He kissed my forehead, but he took my hand and yanked me out of the car. I felt better, wrapped in his arms. I inhaled his scent and hugged him tighter. I loved the fact that I didn’t have to tell him what to do. His arms around me were exactly what I needed right then. I felt like a terrible person.
He released me and interlocked his hands with mine before walking us to the front of the car. “That’s someone’s dog,” I muttered. “She’s wearing a collar.” Ketai looked from me to the dog a few times. “What?” I turned toward him, unraveling my hand from his. “You think I’m a terrible person, don’t you?”
He chortled, looking at me like I was crazy. “No, baby. Girl, I thought you hit a person. I got the ambulance on the way and all.” My bottom lip trembled, and my tears started to pool again. “Hey, hey. Come here,” he said, taking notice of my little breakdown. I felt like he was taking me for a joke or something.
“No. You think it’s silly I called you about this.” I turned away from him.
His arms wrapped around my waist. “No, I don’t, baby. I’m happy you called me because you’re rattled about this. I will always come running for you. Nothing is too big or too small. You could call, saying your nail broke, and I’m doing the jet about that.” He spun me around in his arms. “Why didn’t you use Miles?”
I sniffled, looking up at him through my heavy lashes. He wiped away my tears, waiting for me to answer. “I was trying to give him a break.”
Ketai frowned. “A break? For what? I paid him to drive you around, baby. He doesn’t need any breaks.” I nodded, resting my chin on his chest. After this, I wasn’t sure I wanted to be behind the wheel for a while. He smooched my lips, and I released a shaky breath. “You feel better now?”
“Yes, I do.”
He smiled before looking down at the dog. “I’ll find out who she belongs to and shit like that. Don’t worry. It was an accident, baby.”
I mean, I knew it was an accident, but damn. I knew how much people loved their pets. She was probably afraid and lost, then here I go knocking her lights out. I wasn’t driving anymore; Miles had better be ready to crank that Eskimo up.
On cue, I saw our truck pulling up. “Miles is going to take you to the crib while I handle this. Cool?”
I gripped his shirt tighter. “Are you coming home after you’re done?”
He nodded. “Of course.”
I sighed and loosened my grip. “Okay, thank you. You the best man in the world, Stanley. I love you,” I whispered.
