Chapter 2
two
*LEO*
Aspen has always been somebody with endless energy, unlike me, who is rather boring.
Once again, I notice the difference between us as he shows me around town.
He basically chases me through every alley, pointing out every little thing that might be interesting to me and trying his hardest so I have a good time.
I used to think of him as overbearing when we were younger, but now having him around just warms my heart.
West Sunhaven is a small town, so going by what Aspen said, I have seen everything notable within an hour. Though apparently there are some festivities and seasonal fairs that provide additional leisure.
Aspen seems to flourish when he can do work outside or with his hands. Another reason he had his major fallout with our parents. I swallow thickly, trying to shove my parents back to the depths of my mind, hopefully never to think of them again.
“You have been silent for a while,” Aspen says. “Don’t tell me you hate my little town?”
“West Sunhaven is beautiful,” I tell him.
“Not too small for you?” he teases.
“Not anymore,” I say quietly.
“Sorry, Leo, I didn’t mean to make you feel bad.”
“You didn’t. It’s true. I had my head in the clouds and thought I was better. Had you shown me around a year ago, I would have been sure that this place would never be good enough for me. I feel so shallow that after all of this, I am here, and this place is proving to be homely and welcoming.“
“Listen.” Aspen halts, putting his hand on my shoulder and stopping me as well. “You had your own dreams, and nothing about that is wrong. It’s okay that you preferred life in a city and a corporate job. There are zero hard feelings from my side. I never expected you to follow my path.”
“Maybe I should have,” I mutter.
“You did you,” he says with finality in his voice. “And the things that happened while you were chasing your dreams were not your fault. No matter what anyone tells you, nothing was your fault. Also,”—he glances at me with a frown—“you need a warmer jacket. Didn’t you bring one?”
“I have one, but left it in the apartment. It was sunny today.”
He furrows his brows further.
“Fine,” I say, not able to hide my smile. “Next time I will bring a jacket.”
Aspen smiles. “It’s good to see you laugh,” he says before continuing his walk.
I follow him. “I was thinking about our parents,” I admit, not sure if I should have told him. “You were asking…”
“Oh.” Aspen sighs. “I can see why thinking of them would silence you. They have that special ability to suck the fun and lightness out of every situation.”
“But they are right, I let them down.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“I failed them and any expectation they had in me.”
“Leo…”
I don’t know what else Aspen is saying. My ears are starting to ring, my surroundings getting blurred.
I swallow, feeling the tightening lump in my throat again.
I failed them. I failed everyone. I couldn’t do one single thing right.
My hand moves to my face. It’s like I can still feel how Dad punched me.
“… here you are…”
Aspen squeezes my arm, making me realize that he has never let go of it. “Look, Leo! Isn’t he a good boy?”
I blink, confusion chasing me away from my downward spiral. Returning to the present again, I notice that we are in front of a marketplace with Christmas trees. We passed the place earlier when Aspen showed me around. He said we definitely need to return and buy a tree for the holidays.
It doesn’t seem like he is here for the tree, though.
Aspen is still steadying me with his grip while talking to a tall, broad-shouldered man with dark curly hair.
He is sporting a typical three-day stubble, glasses that make him look even better and a composed and calm expression. God help me, he is good-looking!
Only remotely aware that I am staring, I turn my attention to my brother. “I am sorry, I… did you say something?”
“Yes.” Aspen smiles, pretending I didn’t just almost slip into a panic attack. “This is my best friend. Well, he and Robin both are.”
“I am Soren,” the man says; his voice is smooth and low. He reaches out his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Leo. Aspen has been talking nonstop about you.”
I awkwardly shake his hand. “Thank you, I am very thankful to be here,” I say quietly, feeling an urge in me to look at the man, to talk to him and hear his voice a bit longer, but the same urge gets replaced by a wave of guilt, almost forcing me to recoil.
A loud bark startles me, making me look downwards.
“You ignored him for too long,” Aspen explains. “Look at that good boy!”
“He is gigantic,” I gasp, completely drawn in by the massive dog in front of me. I have always loved dogs, but Mom and Dad were strictly against pets. “But so adorable.”
“You can pet him,” Soren says in his warm, honey-toned, smooth voice. “He is very friendly.”
“Friendly is an understatement,” Aspen chuckles. “He adopts everyone in a minute.”
He is right because the moment I get down on my knees to pet the massive pup, I have slobber and fur all over me. I chuckle. “Such a sweet boy.”
“It’s a Bernese Mountain Dog,” Aspen says. “His name is Barkley.”
“You named him Barkley?” I blink at him.
“I did nothing of the sort,” Aspen chuckles. “Soren did.”
“It was a lapse of judgment,” Soren explains. “I had to come up with something on the spot. He barked when I saw him for the first time, so he got his name.”
“Barkley is a fine name for a fine dog,” I say.
Soren and Aspen exchange a look, one I can’t quite put a finger on. “You know,” Aspen says all of a sudden. “Soren is trying to find someone to look after Barkley until he can find him a forever home. Seeing how you get along so well… What do you think, Soren?”
“I think it’s a good idea. He could stay with somebody for a while,” Soren says. “He isn’t high-maintenance, but Bernese Mountain Dogs are very much human-focused. He will love the attention.”
“Would you be willing to keep an eye on him?” Aspen asks.
Am I being set up? Was this planned?
“I will make sure to help you,” Soren promises, his dark eyes looking at me gently now. As if to underline his words, Barkley just licks all over my face and then throws himself on his back to let me pet his belly.
It doesn’t matter if I was set up. I wrap my arms around the gigantic furbaby, feeling the urge to bury my face in his fur and cuddle him.
An hour later, I hold Barkley’s leash in my hand while Aspen buys everything we’ll need for our new pup. Well, clearly it’s just temporary, but still, he needs to be comfortable and well-tended to.
Soren accompanies us and explains what I needed to do in his honey-smooth voice that makes it difficult to focus on anything, but him. He also promises to drop by tomorrow to check on us.
When Aspen and I return to the coffee shop, it’s almost closing time. Robin is still there and about to wrap everything up. “I will swiftly put a dinner together for us,” Aspen promises.
“You can cook?” I ask.
“Yes, a bit."
Is there truly nothing he can’t do?
“So, how do you like West Sunhaven?” Robin asks once he has closed the cash register. “And just for the record, I saved a piece of our infamous pumpkin cheesecake for you.”
“Thank you. And it’s a lovely town.”
“I promise you, we are much better than East Sunhaven.”
“There is a town called East Sunhaven?!”
“Yes, but we are the cool ones.”
“So, what about North and South Sunhaven?” I ask.
“Now you are just being silly,” he chuckles. “Obviously, they don’t exist.”
Obviously.
Robin eyes me curiously. “So, what’s with the gigantic furball?”
“This is Barkley,” I say. “He is staying with me for a while.”
“You must have gotten him from Soren?”
I nod, my cheeks get warm whenever I think about Soren’s smooth voice and his dark eyes. I must have stared at him constantly. Way to embarrass myself on a first encounter.
“If you need help, tell me,” Robin says, unaware of my confusion. “I love pups, and this town, and you, and Aspen.”
I blink at him. For better or worse, it truly sounds like he means it. He seems to have been dipped in fairy dust, judging by the positivity he exudes. “Thank you, Robin.”