Chapter Seven #2
She turns to face me, both her hands reaching up to cup my face. She doesn’t let me finish my sentence before her lips are against mine. Her tongue darts out seeking access, and I grant it to her immediately.
My hand cups her lower back, and I take a step forward, bowing her back as my other hand slides into her hair.
It takes less than a second before I’m hard, and judging by Indy’s moan, she can feel it too. I can’t help but wonder how wet she is under that short black skirt, and I consider sliding my hand beneath it to find out.
But as quickly as she kissed me, Indy pulls back. Chest heaving, her eyes are wild as she stares at me with swollen lips. Pride blooms in my chest at the desire rolling off her in waves.
I move to kiss her again, but she quickly shakes her head. “We can’t—”
The way she’s gazing at me changes, desire seeping into sadness as she shakes her head again, a deep breath racking through her when she looks down at the ground.
She doesn’t have to say his name.
I already know. It’s the same song and dance.
Neither of us want to betray Dylan.
The memory swirls away just as I round the large log, and Whimsey comes into view. She’s tucked herself into a ball, and she lifts her head to look at me. Her tail gives the saddest of wags as she whimpers, and a sinking feeling pummels my stomach.
Something isn’t right.
I don’t hesitate swooping her into my arms, picking her up even though she’s not a fan of being carried. The hold I have on her is awkward, but I’m able to shift her around as I walk, finding a position that’s comfortable for both of us.
The flashlight goes slack in my grasp, but I do my best to follow my path back toward the house.
“What happened to you, girl?” I wonder out loud, hoping she hasn’t broken something. I’d assume if she had, she’d be crying in pain or trying to get out of my grasp, but instead she looks up at me as if to say I’m so glad you found me.
I’d pet her if I could, so instead I dip my head and kiss her on top of hers. “Don’t worry, we’ll get you home and look you over, Whims.”
Relief floods me now that I’ve found the old dog alive and breathing. I wasn’t mentally prepared to deliver bad news tonight, and now I don’t have to.
It takes me fifteen minutes to get back to the house, and as soon as we break through the tree line, I spot the glow of the porch light, leading us home. Quickening my pace, I sigh when I finally reach the gravel driveway.
“You found her!” Jessie comes barreling down the steps of her granny unit, no doubt looking out of her window the entire time I was looking for Whimsey.
“She’s alive, but something's not right. I found her curled up, whimpering. Is the main house unlocked?”
“It is. I brought in your bag for you.” She climbs the porch stairs, her hand turning the handle to my parents’ house as she talks.
“Thank you,” I tell her, both for bringing in my bag and for holding open the door as I step inside, dog still in my arms.
I take Whimsey into the kitchen where the light is brighter and I can inspect her thoroughly.
“What do you think is wrong?” Jessie asks, her hand cupping her mouth as she watches me place Whimsey on the mat in front of the kitchen sink.
“I’m not sure. Paper towels?”
She rips a bunch, leaning over me to run them under the faucet. After she’s squeezed out the excess, she opens them back up and hands them to me. I drop them on the floor next to where I’m kneeling.
Running my hands down Whimsey’s fur, I feel for any cuts, bumps, or blood, not finding any until I inspect her paws. When I reach the back left one, she bares teeth.
“Easy, girl. I won’t hurt you.”
My eyes meet Jessie’s, and she kneels beside me, rubbing Whimsey’s ears. “It’s okay, my sweet girl,” she coos. “Gareth’s going to help you, okay? You don’t need to be scared of him.”
While she baby talks to the dog, I’m able to lift her paw and see what’s hurting her. Using the wet paper towels, I gently wipe the dried blood, spreading her fur enough to find a broken piece of barbed wire in between her paw pads.
“Shit,” I hiss, knowing that has to hurt like a bitch. “I’m going to need more wet paper towels, hydrogen peroxide, antibiotic ointment, and something to wrap her paw with.”
Then before Jessie can move to go grab everything I’ve just asked for, I quickly pull the metal out of Whimsey’s paw, like I’m ripping off a Band-Aid.
Blood coats my fingers as I pull the piece of barbed wire away, dropping it next to me on the floor so I can grab the towels. I start dabbing her wound, holding the cool compress against the puncture to help slow the bleeding.
“I’ll grab the supplies,” Jessie says, pushing to her feet quickly.
“It’s okay, Whims. You’re okay,” I reassure her, petting the top of her head with my free hand.
Sitting back on my heels, I try to keep her in one spot.
Jessie rushes back in with everything, and I get to work sanitizing Whimsey’s paw and getting her squared away.
When I finish, I grin at Jessie. “Well, it could have been a lot worse.”
“I’m so glad you found her, Gareth. I was just about to go looking for her myself when you showed up.”
“I’m glad I was able to help. You want me to carry her back to your place so you two can relax the rest of the night?”
“That’d be great.” She nods, happy to accept my offer.
Once Whimsey’s comfortable in her dog bed at Jessie’s, I say goodnight to them both and head back to my parents, ready for a hot shower and something to eat.
My phone’s heavy in my back pocket as I trot down the steps, Indy on my mind yet again.
Pulling it from my jeans, I open my contacts, staring down at her name as I walk back into my parents’ house.
All it would take is a simple swipe on my screen to connect us—her soft voice flooding the speaker would instantly put me at ease.
But we’re not together. I can’t just call whenever I want.
Especially since she has a boyfriend now.
My stomach twists, my hand practically trembling as I stare at her name for a heartbeat longer.
I press the side button to put the phone to sleep.
The screen turns dark, something inside of me shutting down, too.
And as much as it breaks me, I don’t call.