Chapter 1
CHAPTER ONE
RORI
" R ocky!" I shout as my golden retriever bounces into the hotel elevator. Somehow, between the front door and the front desk, his collar broke, leaving the blue rubber duck-covered fabric in my hand. I run behind him, trying to catch up, but end up watching as the elevator doors close behind him. I hit the silver door as I hear the elevator start to rise. I watch as the numbers rise. I quickly hit the up button, hoping the other elevator is on the first floor.
This holiday has definitely not gone to plan. I wasn't supposed to be here alone, to start off, my now ex-boyfriend Jacob dumped me a week before Christmas.
"If you don't want to go to Denver anymore, I understand." He really tried to take the trip I paid for to impress this new girl. He says they met after the breakup, but who takes someone across state lines when they met just a few days ago? I wasn't planning on still coming, but when he wanted to take the trip, I immediately started packing. Anxiously waiting for the elevator, I catch myself rolling my eyes and bouncing my foot. I keep looking around the lobby as if anything in here would magically bring my dog back. The silver doors finally slide open, and quickly jumping in, my fingers find the "5" button, since that's the last floor I saw flash on the floor indicator. He has to be on a floor higher than that. I press every floor above five, lighting up the entire console. The silver doors slide closed way too slowly, and I jam my fingers against the close button, hoping it would make it close faster. The elevator begins to rise, and I finally take a small breath of relief that I am one step closer to getting Wrangler back.
Eli
My stomach growls, reminding me I haven't eaten anything since lunch yesterday. Red-eye flights are great until every place that serves food is closed. Especially when you are running late for your flight, and you don’t have a chance to grab anything before. I grab my sweater and throw on my shoes to head out into the hotel. Hopefully, the hotel restaurant is open and decent. I grab my phone and wallet, making sure I have the hotel key, and head out the door. I walk two doors down and turn into the elevator bay. I press the down button, calling the elevator to my floor. It only takes a moment until the light above the silver doors pings on. As the doors slide open, a golden blur bounces out and onto me. It takes me a moment to realize what is happening. A beautiful golden retriever ran out of the elevator and put his paws on my chest. His smile and heavy breathing clue me into him being a sweet boy.
"Well, hey there, bud." I scratch his head while smiling ear to ear. I move my hand to his neck, looking for a collar. His hair is indented from the constant wear of one, but there isn't one there now. " Where are your parents?" I continue scratching his neck and gently pushing his paws down so all four are grounded on the floor. I look in the empty elevator, hoping to see someone, but I don't. I know the elevator came from a floor below me, so it may be easiest to just take this fluff ball floor by floor to see if anyone is looking for him. The elevator doors start sliding closed. I lurch forward to stop it but am too slow. Stairs it is.
"Come on boy." I pat my leg as I walk to the stairwell entrance, "Let's get you home."