Chapter 16
A lex stood beside Tori in the heart of The Word Well, a whimsical little bookstore tucked inside a restored Craftsman with creaky wood floors and mismatched rugs that gave it character in all the right places.
Twinkle lights draped across exposed beams twinkled like stars in a low, cozy sky, and bookshelves—crammed with everything from swoony romances to epic fantasies—curved like they belonged in a storybook.
The air smelled of brewed coffee, old pages, and just a hint of vanilla from a candle flickering behind the register.
She and Tori were busy arranging copies of the latest romance release on a central display table nestled between a vintage armchair and a chalkboard easel that read Happily Ever After Starts Here! in swooping pink script.
“I called the number on his tag, but it’s disconnected,” Alex said with a sigh, straightening a stack of glossy paperbacks. “I posted online and reached out to shelters in Portland. Now... I wait.”
Tori, mid-placement of a glittery bookmark stand, tilted her head. “Shelters?”
Alex nodded. “The park was closing, and Lady was still wandering around. I figured someone must’ve seen her and called it in.”
Tori snorted. “I still can’t believe you stole someone’s dog. Honestly, didn’t have you pegged as a criminal. But you know what? It suits you.”
Alex gaped at her. “Excuse me? You were on the phone with me when it happened. I was completely distracted by everything falling apart here—so technically, this is a team crime.”
Tori smirked. “For all you know, you’ve had the wrong dog for days.”
Alex froze. “No. No way. He only started acting weird after the park yesterday. Or... she... if he were actually Lady...” She groaned and covered her face with both hands. “Oh my gosh.”
“At least now you know Lady isn’t mad at you,” Tori said with a laugh. “You just had the wrong dog.”
Alex peeked through her fingers. “I’m thrilled this is a comedy to you. And for the record, I didn’t steal him. I accidentally leashed the wrong dog. Huge difference.”
“Oh, totally,” Tori said, lips twitching. “Mothers do it all the time when they leave the park. ‘Oops! That’s not my toddler.’”
Alex gave her a look. “Hilarious.” She looked down at Fetch, who lounged comfortably at her feet like he’d always belonged there. “I just don’t get it. Why didn’t Lady come running? And why did this guy walk off with me without a second thought?”
Fetch offered a blink and a slow tail thump.
“Well,” Tori said, lips curving mischievously, “now you know why he barks every time we say ‘Fetch.’”
“Fetch,” Alex repeated with a smirk.
“BARK!”
Both women jumped, then burst into laughter as Fetch leaned into the attention, soaking it up like a sponge.
“Poor Lady,” Alex murmured, scratching behind his ears. “Hope she’s okay. And I bet you miss your person too, huh, boy?”
“BARK!”
Alex froze mid-pat, her hand hovering. “I didn’t mean to take you from—” Her eyes sparked. “Wait. That’s it!”