“Come on, sweet girl. Let’s hit the park, yeah?”
We’re across the street minutes later, and Petal squats her haunches the second her paws touch grass.
Poor baby, she must have been bursting.
My phone buzzes in my back pocket. I pluck it out.
Miles.
How’s my girl?
She’s good, we’re at the park.
The dots appear and disappear.
Wait, he meant Petal, right?
My heart rate picks up, slapping against my ribs like it has not a care in the world.Dammit, I thought we weren’t doing this, London.
I slide my phone back in my jeans pocket and pick up the pace. I should have worn activewear so I could run. Lord knows I need to blow off some steam.
Or something.
My back pocket buzzes again, and I slide it out.
Think you could keep her company a little while longer? She’s been by herself for almost three days now.
I guess I could. I don’t have any plans.
Sure, how are you feeling, Cap?
I make the point of putting the Cap in to remind myself, mostly, of our reality.
Geez. The next person who asks me that is getting their ass handed to them. I’m fine, London.
Something deep in my core unwinds a little more.
The screen lights up again.
I mean it, you’re a life saver, probie.
Huh. The mixed signals around here are rife.
But I get it.
I think.
We’re friends, we’re boss and probie. We’re... nothing more.
Deflating with the depressing thought, I turn Petal toward her home and cross the street.
Back upstairs, I unleash Petal and close the front door before checking her food and water. I pop the TV on for her and find a good movie channel as she curls up on the lounge. Smart girl.
Feeling a little worse for wear myself, I sit by Petal on the lounge and lay my arm over her back. The movie I put on rolls the credits before long and I stand and stretch.
Scratching sounds from the other side of the front door.
No... not scratching, a key in the lock.
