Her father appeared at the top of the steps, shock and concern on his face. “Should I come?”
“I need you to stay with Mom.”
“Riya...” He nodded at her.
Her lips quivered as her heart started to sink. “I know.”
Her father went back to her mother.
“Let’s go.” She turned back to Hetal. “Where are they?” She knew Lucky would be with Dhillon. They were almost never apart these days.
“They’re here. At home.”
Riya burst through Dhillon’s front door, just like she had countless times as a child. She found Dhillon sitting on the floor, still in his scrubs. Lucky lay next to him, on his side, his tongue hanging out, breathing shallow. Scout was curled up next to Lucky. Sarika Auntie stood and made room as Riya barreled into the room.
Her heart fell into her stomach. “Do something, Dhillon!” Panic and dread vied for space inside her, making her shiver despite the heat. “Why is he lying there like that? Do something!”
Dhillon met her frantic look with red-rimmed eyes. His scrubs were crumpled, his hair tousled as if he’d been running his hands through it. “Riya...” The intimacy with which he said her name brought her back in time.
“Don’t say it.” All the years they hadn’t spoken melted away in this moment.
“There’s nothing...” His voice croaked.
She shook her head violently as she made her way to Lucky’s side. “No!” she negated once again, as if the force of the word could ward off the inevitable. As if she could hold back death by sheer power of will. “There has to be something.” Her demands were unreasonable, and she knew it. Tears burned behind her eyes. She was as powerless to fight them as she was to save Lucky. “Dhillon-V.” It had been years since she’d called him that—the nickname she’d had for him when they were kids—and it fell out of her now with a sob. She gripped his hand.
He squeezed her hand and pulled her close, letting go of her hand and wrapping his arm around her shoulders. She leaned into his chest as she reached out to touch Lucky. His fur was soft, familiar and still warm. She ran her finger along his burn scars as she listened to Dhillon’s heartbeat. Dhillon ran his hand back and forth across Lucky’s snout, an action the dog had always loved. Riya managed life-and-death situations every day, but here she was, falling apart at losing a dog.
Lucky was more than a dog: he had been her friend, even when Dhillon wasn’t anymore. Lucky had been there for her when Samir died. When she’d got in trouble for staying out too late, for not doing well in school, Lucky had been there for her unconditionally.
Lucky’s chest continued to rise and fall under her hand.
Until it stopped.
She gripped Lucky’s fur just as Dhillon did. She leaned toward the dog, laying her forehead on his side, as Dhillon removed his arm from her. Emptiness fell over her at the loss of his closeness. She heard him shuffling around, checking Lucky’s vitals. She knew he wouldn’t find any.
She stifled a sob and looked up. Dhillon shouldn’t have to do this, but he’d never put Lucky into the care of a colleague. “Dhillon-V.”
“Riya-D,” he whispered, almost automatically, just as he used to. He looked at her, a clinical mask hiding his feelings. “Let me finish.” Grief made his voice low and gravelly. He confirmed Lucky’s death and then glanced at his watch. She reached her hand out to him, and once again, his hand in hers was strong and warm. Secure and familiar.
Riya knew his face almost better than she knew her own. His pain was just beneath the surface, and she saw it peek through in his dark eyes. He blinked, and the pain was suppressed. He wasn’t trying to be brave or macho; he simply wanted to deal with the business of death before his thin mask failed him.
twelve
DHILLON
Dhillon had known Lucky wasn’t going to last much longer, but he thought they’d have a little more time. He hadn’t even had time to take Lucky to the clinic. His mother and sister sat around them. Riya stood beside him. She hadn’t stood beside him like this in years. In unity, in support, in camaraderie, a united front where they each knew the other’s thoughts, where they were almost...one. They hadn’t stood beside each other like that since the fire.
He missed it. He missed the easy familiarity, the unmistakable bond.
He missedher.
But right now, Lucky’s body needed to go to the clinic.
Sarika sniffled. “He was just a baby when we got him from the shelter. Even though Dhillon took him out every hour, Lucky still had accidents.” She shook her head. “Honestly, I thought he’d never be trained.”
“Second-best day of my life,” Dhillon murmured.
“What was the first?” Riya whispered.
