Chapter Eight
Avery
“Don’t be a stick in the mud, Avery! He’s the most amazing man you’ll ever meet. Do not fuck this up.” Happy’s voice in my head was driving me nuts.
When Oscar started barking, I thought Holden would know her spirit was in his truck though I couldn’t see her, but Holden didn’t react. Finally, I responded to his comment. “I’m just glad you found me.”
The words weren’t bullshit. As I looked at the damage done to the Prius, it hit me that I very nearly could have died that night.
It wasn’t the first time death had knocked on my door. When it happened at seventeen, I was so fucking scared I didn’t know what to say or how to feel about the possibility that one day I wouldn’t wake up.
The idea that, through no fault of my own, there was a chance I’d die was almost too much for me to comprehend.
It was the randomness of it that baffled me. I wasn’t a heavy drinker or a drug user. I didn’t drive recklessly or scale buildings. My heart defect was like a sick joke the universe was playing on me.
At the same time, a young woman had been out there living her life and had no idea what fate had in store for her, either.
I was sure that woman didn’t wake up that morning and say, “I think I’ll die today,” but that was exactly what happened to my unknown savior, and I got her heart. No way did I want to let her down.
I couldn’t lie and say that goddamn accident hadn’t scared the hell out of me. When that semi-trailer slammed into the driver’s side of Brooke’s car, sending it spinning off the road and into an icy field, I had no idea if I’d make it out of that car alive.
Happy’s voice had been in my head before the accident, but when I woke up from the Christmas accident, I was suddenly able to see her. That was really a mind fuck.
“Okay, let’s get back in the truck and wait for the tow rig. It’s damn cold out here,” Holden said as he headed back toward his pickup where Ossie, his adorable dog, was standing on his hind legs with his front paws on the dashboard watching us.
We got in, and Ossie’s tail went nuts as he jumped into my lap. I had the thought that Happy might have somehow scared him earlier, and since I wasn’t hearing her color commentary on my life, I assumed she was gone, though I was sure it was only temporary.
“Aside from what happened here, how was your Christmas?” Holden started the engine to turn on the heat, which I appreciated.
“My mom tried to fix me up with the son of a friend of hers. It was truly awkward, but the guy was nice. He’s already in a relationship with a couple, but his mom doesn’t know about that yet, and she and Mom decided he and I would be perfect for each other.
He told me about being with an established couple. It sounded damn complicated to me.”
Holden chuckled. “Yeah, it sure does. Having one relationship can be difficult. Trying to manage three together is something I wouldn’t want to do.”
That was interesting. “Are you speaking from experience?” What the hell was wrong with me? It wasn’t my business.
“I’d like to know the answer too, so hush.”
I almost responded out loud to Happy, but I’d done it a few times already, and I didn’t want Holden to think I was unhinged. He didn’t scoff at me telling him my mother tried to fix me up with a guy, which was promising. Was he just open minded but not interested? Did I even want to find out?
I glanced at Holden and decided I sure wanted to find out. The man was definitely a snack, even in the baggy jeans.
“Not so much personal experience. I gave up on dating a while back, but I’ve seen my friends go through some shit, and I’m definitely not interested in diving into the dating pool anytime soon.”
“That’s bullshit. Ugh!”
Yeah, Happy was still around, and poor Ossie knew it. He hopped over the console and jumped into Holden’s lap. I got it. I’d heard it said that dogs and babies were sensitive to supernatural phenomena.
Ossie proved to me that Happy was a ghost…a spirit. Who knew I’d become enlightened at twenty-four?
“Thank you, Avery. Keep asking him questions. You’ll draw him out, I’m sure.”
“Do you go out see your parents often? I don’t go as much as I should because my mom—who I love to death—drives me nuts.”
Holden’s deep laugh sent a tingle down my spine.
“Oh, I can relate to that. I love my parents, too, but some of the things… Well, let me say I owe them an apology. I stormed out of their house the day of your accident, but they need to heal from my sister’s death, and they’re not actively trying to do it.
“I told them I was sick of the usual Christmas mourning that we’ve been doing since she was killed. I just can’t do it anymore. Every Christmas is a damn wake.” Holden sounded upset, and of course, I wasn’t sure how to respond.
“Ask him out for tonight. He needs a friend to listen to how hard it’s been for him. You can be that guy, Avery.”
I wanted to say something, but my mind went blank. Why was she pushing me toward Holden Rose? Did she know him when she was alive?
Before I could decide what to do, the tow truck pulled behind us. I’d given them a pin to find us, and then I’d become consumed with Holden—his looks, his personality, and that body that made me want to bite my fist.
“We need to get out. Where do you want the car towed?” Holden asked.
We were about forty-five miles from Baltimore, but I had no idea what the hell to do with Brooke’s car. “I’m not sure.”
Holden nodded and got out, so I hurried to follow him. He walked over to the driver while I stood back. “Hey, man. Thanks for coming out on such a shitty day.” The two men shook hands.
“Sure. This looks bad. Was it fatal?” They were both standing near the sliced-open door, and once again, I was damn grateful to be alive.
I stepped closer and extended my hand. “Hi. Thankfully, I’m still alive. Can you tow it to your garage? Will you give me your business card and I’ll have the owner contact you when she returns from the holidays?”
I retrieved my wallet and handed the guy a credit card. “You can charge it to this. I’ll pay for the tow and whatever storage fees you need to charge to house the car. Once Brooke returns home, I’ll contact you and pay to tow the car wherever she needs it to be.”
The guy took a picture of my credit card before he nodded and went about hooking up the Prius and pulling it onto the back of his tow truck. “I’ll wait for the owner to reach out.” He hopped into the cab of the truck and drove away.
“You ready to go back to Baltimore?” I glanced at Holden. The man was staring at his phone, but the surprising thing was Happy standing behind him.
“I thought you went away.” Yeah, I said it out loud
She smiled. “This guy is a keeper, Avery. He’s perfect for you. You just need to convince him of the same.”
I needed to do what now?
My whole fucking body was tingling as I got out of Holden’s pickup with Oscar in my arms. “They’re dog friendly, I promise.”
I carried Holden’s sweet dog with me into Two Bitches Saloon, a dog friendly bar in Baltimore. The bar, which had fantastic food for both humans and their precious pooches, had a separate side for people without dogs, and it was conveniently two blocks from my house.
I turned to see Holden had hopped out of the truck and was following me, which was a relief. “Okay. Sure. I could eat.”
We went inside and I stepped up to the host stand. “Two humans and a pup.” I took one of Ossie’s paws and waved at the host.
The young woman grinned and pointed at Oscar. “What’s his name?”
“This is Oscar.”
She grinned and held up a pet treat. I turned to Holden, who grinned and nodded as he slid off his beanie and tried to smooth down his golden brown hair which was waving in every direction.
“If you’ll follow me.” The young lady led us to a table by the large garage door that was open in the summer. There was a door nearby if one needed to take out their dog to do its business in the small dog yard they had outside.
Holden reached into the pocket of his coat and produced a simple leash, clipping it to Oscar’s collar. “You can put him down.”
I nodded and lowered the sweet pup to the floor, and Oscar took full advantage of the distance the leash gave him, sniffing at everything he could reach.
“I’m, uh, I’m close enough to walk home, so I’ll be having a drink.” I felt like an idiot announcing that I was planning to have a drink, but I needed something to steady my nerves.
"Okay. Is the food good?”
I chuckled. “It’s fantastic, and they have a separate menu for the dogs.” Just as I said it, our server came over and put down a bowl of water for Oscar.
“Welcome to Two Bitches Saloon. I’ve got your puppy covered, so what can I get you two to drink?”
I extended my hand to Holden for him to go first. “This is on me. I’m not kidding.”
“I’ll have a draft lager, please.” The server nodded before turning to me.
“I’ll have the same.” She smiled before she walked over to Oscar and gave him a pet.
She headed to the kitchen, and Holden turned his attention to me. “You come here often?”
I chuckled. “Usually for lunch. It’s a great place to come for a quick bite. The staff are nice, and I like watching the dogs.”
Holden glanced up. “You like dogs?”
“I love dogs, but our building doesn’t allow them. That’s why I come here for lunch when I can. They have a great selection and watching the dogs play makes me smile.”
Suddenly, Oscar began barking, as did a bunch of other dogs nearby. I glanced around, trying to figure out why, but I saw nothing for a moment.
As I turned toward the door, I saw Happy being dragged out of the restaurant but I couldn’t see who, or what, was doing the dragging, just that she was fighting it and failing.
I started to get up to follow her, but I couldn’t move.
It was as if I was paralyzed. The dogs continued barking as though the apocalypse was upon us.
“Stay away.”
The voice came from nowhere and everywhere at once.
Nobody seemed to be affected other than me, which was yet another creepy new thing in my life.
Holden turned in his chair as a loud clatter sounded and a man came through with two huge dogs on leashes.
Holden stared at the man before shrugging and turning back to me.
“That’s strange.” He gave Oscar a pat on the head, and the pup settled down under Holden’s chair.
Suddenly, I could move. It was as though I’d been tied up and someone cut the rope.
What the hell was that?