“Come on. Someone will be excited to meet you,” she tells me as she pulls me into an elevator and guides me to her unit, unlocking and opening the door.
“Kyle, relax. We’ll go outside in just a second,” she tells Kyle.
I drop down to one knee and am greeted with a thousand kisses.
My heart melts for an entirely new reason as he smothers me with love like we’re the oldest friends.
“Does he greet everyone like this, or am I special?”
Shay whips her head around, probably surprised to hear me talk after a couple of hours, or days, weeks, however long this hell has lasted. I can’t even tell anymore.
With a leash in hand, she walks over and rubs Kyle’s head. “He doesn’t meet many people, so I’m honestly surprised he didn’t bark or anything.”
“I’m special. Knew it.” I chuckle, feeling a tiredness that I’ve never experienced before, like even my soul needs rest to recover, if that’s even possible.
Shay chuckles, the bright sound like music to my ears. Hearing that does something inside of me, pulling me from my stupor enough to feel like I’m a real person again.
When I look up at her reddened eyes, the corners of my lips twitch, my voice barely audible as it takes everything in me not to start crying again. “Thank you.”
Reaching over, she slides her hand along my jaw. “You never have to thank me for being there for you. You do the same for me.”
I would. I have to a different extent. But that doesn’t mean that she deserves to hear it any less.
Lifting my hand, I hold hers against my face, leaning into her touch even more. “I’d be lost without you.”
“No, I think you’d be just fine?—”
“No,” I cut her off, shaking my head violently. “You have no idea, Shay. You are the glue holding me together right now. Every breath is full of your scent. The sound of your voice or your laugh carries me. Every beat of my heart is because you’re there, pulsing it for me.”
Her eyes water, and her bottom lip trembles. “Matt.”
“You’re all I’ll ever need, in this life and the next. You’re it, Shay.” I hold her hand to my cheek, terrified to ever let go.
She’s closer now, her lips grazing mine, like we can’t help but to drift toward one another.
“I need you, so much.” Her voice breaks with emotion.
Suddenly, something jumps between us, peppering both of us with wet, slobbery kisses.
Kyle.
I knew from the beginning that Kyle would get between us. I just didn’t expect it to make me laugh so damn hard as he fights his way into our arms like a big hug.
Shay laughs, and for the first time tonight, I feel the smallest drop of peace. “Do you want a minute to yourself, or do you want to come with us?”
Holding her stare, I pet her sweet dog. “I’m wherever you are.”
CHAPTER 20
SHAY
“Is he still having fun? I feel like he looks annoyed that we’re still outside.” Matt laughs, talking about Kyle practically pouting on the final stretch of our walk.
I chuckle, glad to hear Matt laugh tonight. “Kyle can be a grumpy boy past his bedtime. He prefers to be tucked in at a sharp nine p.m., tucked beneath a blanket with his head on the pillow.”
“Sounds like a guy with his priorities straight.” Matt holds on to his leash, which is loosely hanging between them.
“Oh, yeah.” I grin, looking at my sweet rescue mutt who has taken over my heart. “He’s the best boy.”
