“Do I think you’re a little overprotective? Yes. But I’ll respect your wishes because you’re her mom. Plus, I don’t want to be another reason she hates it here. Maybe I can get her to love Asheville as much as we do.”
He’s going a little far with the “we”. If I loved it so much, I never would have left. I’ll take this small victory, though. At least one thing has gone my way tonight. “Thank you.”
“No problem.” His grin is still like the one he used to give all the girls when we were younger. It’s the one that will make you forgive him for anything. Maybe that’s what it is, he’s advance apology for if he screws up this one thing.
My phone vibrates in my hand. A text from an unknown number pops up.
Unknown: Hi, I think I may have found your dog. It was on Starlit Road in the field. But the address doesn’t seem like a local one. Are you missing a dog?
“Oh. My. God.” I screech and immediately start typing a response.
Callie: Yes. Thank you so much for finding Alice. If you send me your address we can come pick her up.
My brother is staring at me in confusion. I don’t have time to explain. Our smallest family member is coming home.
The phone vibrates again.
Unknown:
No need. Send me your address, and I’ll bring her by.
I do as he asks and send him our address. I guess she didn’t get as far as I thought she would.
“Can you please tell me what’s going on?” My brother throws his hands in the air exasperated with my lack of explanation.
“Someone found Alice. They are bringing her to us now.”
“I’m not leaving until they’ve come and gone. Let me see your phone.”
Kind of a weird time for him to play the overprotective big brother, but whatever. I hand him the phone and he studies the message.
“Well, that makes me feel a bit better.”
“What does?”
The fact someone found her should make him feel amazing.
“Peter is the one who found her. So, she’s in good hands.”
Holy shit. That’s not what I was expecting. Now he’s coming here. To my house. And I look terrible. If I try to change Miles will ask me why, but if I don’t, I’ll look like a hot mess while seeing Peter for the first time in well over a decade. Damn it.
Three
Peter
“Alright, Alice. You ready to go home to your family?” She’s a gorgeous pittie. I’m surprised she’s as small as she is, but she’s lean and it’s all muscle.
I’m just happy I found her owner. They must have just moved to town. The least I could do is offer to take her home. I know if she was my dog, I’d be an emotional mess. There’s no use in a family getting out this late to come get their dog. It’s not like I have anyone here waiting for me to get back home. It’s just easier for me to do it.
Digging through my toolbox, I find a piece of rope and tie it to her collar as a makeshift leash. She may be small, but she’s still heavy. The last thing I need to do is throw out my back trying to carry her again.
“Let’s go girl.”
Alice walks beside me as I open the door and sits while waiting for me to lock it behind us.
“Good girl.” I give her a scratch behind the ear. I swear she sighs at the gesture.
She must be well trained because she doesn’t try to run in front of me as we head toward my truck. She stays beside me, or slightly behind.
