Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Lauren
The Girls
Callie
Can we assume your silence over the last few days means you had a good time at the conference? Or do we have to kill Jax?
Callie
Or someone else? I can kill someone else for you
Guilt swirls in my stomach. I have been MIA from the group chat over the last few days.
I’d like to say it’s because I’ve been so invested in the conference, but it has a lot more to do with recent romantic developments.
I haven’t wanted to be on my phone because I’ve been so absorbed in soaking up my time with him while I have it.
I’ve been sucked into Jax’s orbit, and it’s time I return to real life.
The last thing I want is for a man to become my whole world and then have it come crashing down again.
The Girls
Me
No killing necessary. I had a good time. I’ll catch you up soon
Callie
Ohhhh our girl is growing up and she got some!
Olivia
Callie don’t be embarrassing
Olivia
Wait did you Lo?
There was no “getting some”
Olivia
Omg Callie you were right!
Callie
I’m always right
Olivia
You can fill us in tomorrow at the puppy yoga event I’m hosting for the rescue
Olivia
You’re coming right? You signed up last month
Of course I’m coming
Callie
I can’t wait to hear all the details!!!
The second I walk through the door of the yoga studio, I’m met with squealing. Callie beelines toward me with a silly grin on her face and wraps me up in a hug.
Olivia’s not far behind, though she approaches at a normal pace.
“Did I call it or did I call it?” Callie turns from me to Olivia and back again. “Are you two officially dating now?”
Perhaps overreacting, I clamp my hand over Callie’s mouth, my eyes wide.
“Keep it down. I don’t need anyone to hear, especially not Little Miss Nosey in the corner.
” I tilt my head in the direction of Mrs. Liens.
She retired a couple of years ago and has made it her full-time job to be in everyone’s business.
“Do you not want people to know?” Olivia furrows her brow.
“Sort of. We’re going to keep it a secret for a little while.
I don’t need everyone’s opinions on us while I’m figuring this out.
I know some people will think Jax is a rebound after I was with Austin for so long, but that’s not what this is, and I don’t need that idea getting into Jax’s head.
” I smile shyly at my friends. “Everything felt so right this past weekend. I’m not ready for that to change. ”
Olivia nods along in understanding as Callie eagerly bounces up and down. “Oh, a secret relationship! This is going to be so fun for you. It’s kind of hot, sneaking around.”
“Yeah? Have you done a lot of sneaking around?” I nudge her side. “Got a secret love affair you haven’t told us about?”
She rolls her eyes. “Nope, it’s just me and Boots.”
“Maybe we need to change that.” I grab a rolled-up yoga mat from the bin in the corner. “You spend an awful lot of time with your cat.”
She grabs her own mat, following me toward the back of the studio. “I spend a lot of time with you two too, but I don’t hear you complaining about that.”
“Touché.”
Ms. Easton unfolds her mat up front and clears her throat loudly, waiting for everyone to quiet down. “Thank you all for coming. I’m so happy I can support this wonderful cause. I’ll let Olivia take over.”
Olivia glides to the front of the room, turning to face her audience with a confidence and light she didn’t have when she first came to Roots. It’s wonderful to see what a new job, a support system, and some time to relax have done for her.
“Good evening, y’all! I’m Olivia Parker.
I started working with Resilient Paws Rescue as a volunteer back in May, and now I’m heading up the marketing with the goal of helping keep the dogs fed, getting them the medical care they need, and, ultimately, finding the right home for all these amazing animals.
This is the first time we’ve ever held puppy yoga for the rescue, but after today’s turnout I hope to do it more regularly. ”
A few ladies in the front row nod along in agreement.
“The setup will be simple. Ms. Easton will lead us through an hour of yoga, and we’ll allow the puppies to roam around freely in the room.
Feel free to pause at any time to sit and hold the puppies.
They love being loved on.” She grins with affection.
“The puppies that will be in here today are from Lubbock. We found them last month huddled underneath a water tank for warmth when an early snow blew through the city. They’re about four months old, and they’re now fully vaccinated and microchipped.
The adoption process will be a foster-to-adopt, where you’ll be considered a foster until the dog has been spayed or neutered.
These puppies are the product of irresponsible breeding, and we don’t want to perpetuate the problem. ”
She glances down at her phone, undoubtedly reviewing notes she took for the event. “We are having a DNA test done on them to confirm their breed, but we suspect they’re Australian Shepherd, Border Collie mixes.”
Olivia shares a smirking glance with Callie, and when I turn to her, she raises her eyebrows at me.
They’re hoping I’m going to fall in love today.
They know I want a dog, and a working breed like this would be the right fit for the ranch, but puppies are a lot of responsibility, and I’m already entering a new relationship with Jax. It’s the last thing I need.
Olivia wraps up her speech. “Thank you to Ms. Easton for agreeing to be our instructor today, and thank you to my friend, Callie, for getting us connected. Let me know if you have any questions, and have fun!”
Ms. Easton leads us through a gentle warmup, having us roll our heads in circles as we stand with our palms outstretched.
Meanwhile, Olivia helps Carol unleash five little furballs into the room.
One instantly comes up to me, her tongue hanging out as she jumps up on my legs.
When I glance down at her sweet blue eyes, I melt.
“Yup, you’re doomed.” Callie chuckles.
Olivia finally rejoins us as we’re led into downward dog. The same chocolate-colored mutt scrambles underneath me as I hold the pose. She licks my face until I have to collapse onto my knees to shield myself from the puppy’s love.
“Someone has taken a liking to you.” Olivia beams, then lowers her voice. “Speaking of, you have to explain how things happened between you and you know who.”
“He Who Shall Not Be Named,” Callie chimes in. “Ohhh, we can call him Voldemort!”
“We are not calling him Voldemort.” I groan as we pop back up into Warrior I.
“I kind of like it.” Olivia purses her lips, trying to hide her smile.
“Two against one. He will now be called Voldemort from here on out.” Callie does a fist pump.
“You two are ridiculous.”
“Hey, if you don’t like it, then I guess you need to stop hiding your relationship.”
“Oof.” Olivia lets out a breath. “There’s no recovering from that.”
I glare at her, and she instantly holds her palms up before shifting into Warrior II. “Hey, I’m not the one who dished it out. I’m just acknowledging it was good.”
Two furballs bustle our way as they try to bite the back of each other’s necks. They pause for a brief moment when one of them knocks into Callie’s leg, and she immediately drops to the ground with them.
“I don’t know how I can possibly tell you two anything with the way this conversation has gone so far. It’s like herding cats.”
“I promise I’m still listening.” Callie says from her spot on the floor, legs spread out so the two puppies can roughhouse between them.
Ms. Easton leads us through a sequence of cobra pose to downward dog, and the chocolate-brown furball from earlier returns to me, nibbling on my ear. I try to shrug her off, but end up cross-legged on the floor with her in my lap after about thirty seconds.
I take the opportunity to move a little closer to Callie and Olivia, lowering my voice once again as I fill them in on my weekend. Every once in a while, my story is punctuated with an “Aww” or “Oh my god.”
“I know you two are trying to keep things a secret, but are you officially dating now?”
I wince. “I don’t know. I’m kind of torn between really liking…
Voldemort”—I glance to the girls for their approval before continuing—“versus being absolutely terrified to trust someone with my heart again. And in a way, it being him makes it that much harder because he’s never done a real relationship before. What makes me special?”
“I felt the same way with Rhett when he finally opened up to me,” Olivia says.
“He hadn’t shown so much as an inkling of interest in a woman since he came to Roots, and that was years before I stepped foot in this town.
I didn’t get what made me special. But ultimately, I pushed away my fears and decided to trust him, and now I’m dating my best friend.
Rhett has never given me a reason to doubt him.
” Olivia shifts back into cobra pose. “Sometimes you just have to take a chance and trust that someone’s past doesn’t dictate their future. ”
Callie nods emphatically. “She’s right. When my parents left Roots, I kept my guard up for a little while.
I was afraid to let anyone love me because it seemed like everyone who did just leaves, but that will lead you to a pretty lonely place.
If you shut everyone out because of a few bad apples, you’ll have no one.
” She scoops up the puppy at her feet. “Has Voldemort given you any reason not to trust him since you two expressed your feelings for one another?”
I shake my head.
“Then you have to give him a chance. They call it falling in love for a reason. It means you give up control. When I stopped guarding my heart, I found wonderful people like Ms. Easton, Rhett, and you two. You have to open your heart fully, or you won’t stand a chance.
You’ll end up with the exact thing you’re trying to avoid. ”
“Thank you.” I continue stroking the puppy in my lap, who has now fallen asleep. I’m thankful for her calming presence.
Callie watches me with a smile while Olivia leans over to pet the top of her head. “I hope you know you’re taking this sweet girl home soon.”
“I don’t think so.”
Olivia presses her lips together. “Whatever you say.”