“What’s new?” A new voice spoke up, and my body went rigid as I took in Dale, Kaleb’s father. I internally screamed, trying to think of how to get myself out of this situation. I should have just agreed with Ryan rather than denying him. I should have just accepted his date.
“That these two are dating?” Ryan said, waving a hand between Kaleb and me.
Dale looked stunned and disgusted, wrapped in a tight bow. His eyes instantly went to me, and I wished I could disappear. I knew he didn’t approve. Dale always disliked me.
I watched his eyes snap back toward Kaleb. “What are you talking about?” A woman stood next to Dale, and I could have sworn that just a moment ago, Kaleb had been talking to her. She was now looking me up and down like I was an insect she was dissecting.
What the hell was Kaleb trying to do? What was the plan in his head right now? We couldn’t actually lie to all of these people. The truth would come out.
“You’re dating her?” Dale asked. “Why hadn’t you told me you were even dating someone!? When did this start?”
I glanced at Kaleb, who simply shrugged. He looked calm as he pulled me closer to him. “Not sure of the date it started.” I moved, sliding free from his hold.
Dale wasn’t taking that as an answer. “You don’t know when it started?” Dale stopped closer to Kaleb. “How do you not know when it started?”
Ryan stepped toward me. “Are you two seriously together? Why didn’t you tell me you guys were dating?”
I felt my mouth open and close, not sure how to answer that. So I didn’t. I turned and started to walk away, practically running as quickly as my feet would take me. I made it to my car and, once inside, took a few deep breaths in trying to calm myself.
What the fuck just happened? What in God’s name was Kaleb trying to do? Was he insane? Did he have any idea what he was doing?
I rubbed at my eyes, shaking my head. Everyone was going to question whether this was true or not.
I shook my head and sighed. “It’s fine. This will blow over. People will move on to something else.”
I started my car up and drove to the animal shelter. I knew it would help me clear my head. I pulled up in front of the small building, reading the sign. I couldn’t help but smile thinking of the litter of kittens inside. I thought of each of the dogs: Charlie, the three-legged dog, Dotty, the senior dog, Frank, the husky with boundless energy, and Spot, the little puppy.
I headed around back and unlocked the door. I slipped inside and smiled as the dogs all started to bark, hearing the door. I could hear them bouncing against their kennel doors, the sound of paws scrapping on the ground.
“Hey, guys. Did you miss me?” I said, shutting the door behind me. “Who’s ready for their dinner?” I got into my afternoon routine of letting them all outside to enjoy the airand use the bathroom. I feed all the cats and the kittens. I cleaned out the hamster’s kennel and checked on the fish at the front desk. I was scooping up the bowls for the dogs when I heard footsteps coming from the back. I turned and spotted Mike, Ryan’s father and the owner of the shelter, standing with someone.
“Nora, I didn’t hear you come in.”
“I used the back door,” I said as I gave him a smile. Mike was a sweet old man with gray hair. He had laugh lines and always wore run-down clothing. He put everything into his work and the animals rather than himself. He had a rusty pickup that I questioned how it still ran, but it made him happy. His motto was, “Why spend it on myself when these animals need it more?”
“You are the perfect employee, Nora,” Mike said, beaming with pride. My eyes flickered to who was standing with him. It was Gabriella, one of the people who moved into town because of the hybrid that ripped their town apart. She was sweet but reserved, unlike her sister, Hazel. They reminded me of Jade and I.
Gabriella was short, with light brown hair that was cut just below her ears. She was wearing a pair of ratty jeans and a white t-shirt. She seemed to have a hard time adjusting to our town, and I knew part of it was because she was shy.
“Hi, Gabriella,” I offered, having a lot of count of how many times she’d been here. Mike said she was looking to get a cat, but seemed on the fence about it. She stopped in every few weeks to see what we had.
She offered a smile in return before dropping her eyes lower. Mike pushed the door to the cats' room open. “Do you want to start feeding the dogs? Once I get her in here and situated, I can offer you a hand with the rest.”
I started getting the food put away, giving each of the dogs a little love before putting them back into their kennels. I was locking up Charlie when I heard the front doorbell going off.
I glanced to see where Mike was, but I knew he was outside, probably picking up poop. I headed for the front and froze when I took in Kaleb. He had his back to me, looking into the fish tank.
I was tempted to just skirt back and act like I didn’t hear anyone come through the front door.
“I heard your footsteps,” Kaleb said, glancing over his shoulder. “You’re a heavy walker.”
I swallowed, not sure what to say. I hadn’t spoken to the man since he left me down. I didn’t feel the need to talk to him now. What could he want? He told me he had no feelings for me, that he was only being nice because I was friends with his sister, and yet today he just blurts out that we are dating?
Had he just said that because Ryan was bothering me? Even if that were true, why bother stepping in? It had nothing to do with him.
“What are you doing here?” I crossed my arms, leaning back on my heels. “Planning to adopt an animal?”
He shook his head. “No, I came here to talk to you.”
