Now I’m not so sure. Last night I slept with pepper spray in my hand, and I don’t think I dozed off for more than a few minutes at a time.
Sparkles tugs me toward a patch of grass and immediately flops onto her side, rolling dramatically in the damp earth.
“Really?” I sigh. “Fine, but you’re going to need a bath before bed. You’re turning green.”
She looks up at me with the happiest expression imaginable, her spotted belly exposed like she expects applause.
I crouch down beside her and scratch behind her ears, smiling despite myself.
“You’re ridiculous,” I say, but I don’t really mean it. Sparkles pants happily, nudging her cold nose against my wrist.
I love her so much, and I don’t think I’ve felt that emotion for anyone since my parents.
“You’re lucky you’re cute,” I murmur.
Growing up the way I did, pets were never allowed. Foster homes. Safe houses. Witness protection apartments that changed every few months whenever someone decided the current address wasn’t secure enough.
Animals weren’t practical when you could disappear overnight. And that possibility has never really gone away.
Even now.
Especiallynow.
Sparkles is done rolling around and apparently has caught another whiff of something she must investigate. She sniffs enthusiastically at the base of the stone archway that will lead us down to the water where the rowing team practices. There’s a really pretty wooden overlook that I like to sit on and read sometimes, but I can tell that’s not going to be an option with how high-energy Sparkles is today.
The place is peaceful, and even when the rowing team is down here, they’re so far out on the water it’s not disruptive. Which is exactly why I come here when my mind won’t stop spinning.
I crouch beside Sparkles and scratch behind her ears.
“You know,” I tell her softly, “I think I’d be really lonely without you. I’m not glad you were in a bad situation, but I’m glad you’re here with me.”
Sparkles leans her spotted head against my knee, tail sweeping happily through the wet grass.
I smile down at her.
“I’ll take that as you’re pretty glad too.”
A sharp voice suddenly cuts across the ground and echoes.
“Livy!”
I glance up to see Ronan jogging toward us from the path that leads back toward the dorms.
His light blond hair is sticking up in about ten different directions like he ran his hands through it a hundred times already today.
“Hey,” I call back, and I try really hard to keep the disappointment out of my voice. There’s just something about him I don’t really like, and I can’t put my finger on it.
Sparkles stiffens slightly when Ronan gets closer, so I rest my hand gently on her back.
“You’re the best girl,” I reassure her quietly.
Ronan slows when he reaches us, crouching a few feet away instead of approaching right away. Smart man, I guess.
“How’s the queen of spots today?” he asks.
Sparkles eyes him suspiciously before deciding he’s acceptable enough to ignore. At least she’s not growling, so I’ll take it.
“She’s thrilled I finally got a day where I could take her for an extra long walk. I’ve had so much homework lately,” I say with a small laugh. I don’t add on that I’ve not been sleeping, and it’s really starting to catch up to me. Randomly throughout the day my eyelids have been pulling like they just want to shut so bad.
