15. Lucy
Lucy
Istare at Leo, confused. “What?”
He grabs our empty plates and sets them in the sink. “We’re getting your dog back. Today.”
“I told you. I can’t get Wally yet. I don’t have my own place.”
He turns to me. “You can use my place.”
He’s got to be kidding. But he just stands there, looking at me. Wait, is he serious?
“Leo, what are you talking about?”
“You said the shelter won’t let you adopt him without an address to give them as your place of residence, right? So just use mine.”
My mouth falls open. “Leo, no. I can’t ask you to do that. It’s too much.”
He rests his hands on his hips, his gaze on me sharpening. It’s such a power stance, even though I’m not sure he meant for it to be.
He’s just so big. And tall. And broad. And strong. He has such a commanding presence, but it’s not intimidating. More like quietly powerful.
I swallow hard.
“You’re not asking, Lucy. I’m offering.”
I don’t say anything. I’m too taken aback at how generous he is. Who is this guy? This rich college hockey player who goes around doing good deeds for people he barely knows?
“Leo, I can’t. Even if I use your address to get him out of the shelter, I could still get in trouble for having him live in my car with me.”
“He can stay here then,” he says, like it’s no big deal. “You can leave him here whenever you need to. I’ll watch him. Or one of my roommates will. Or their girlfriends will.”
I stare at him. “Would they be okay with you doing that? You haven’t even asked them yet.”
“It’s fine. I promise.”
I don’t say anything. I still can’t believe this is happening.
“Lucy.”
I soften instantly at the way he says my name. It’s low and rough and makes my skin tingle.
I hesitate. “People don’t do this.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not used to people offering to help me for nothing in exchange.”
His thick throat bobs as he swallows hard. “I don’t want anything from you, Lucy. I just want to help you. Will you please let me?”
Normally, I’d say no. Because I know how ugly people can be. I’ve been on my own long enough to know that when most people offer to help you, it’s not out of the goodness of their hearts. They want something in exchange. They want to take advantage of you or screw you over…
But that uneasy feeling I get around people like that is nowhere to be found right now, not when I’m with Leo.
There’s something about this guy. He lets his friends live in his house rent-free. He always tips a lot of money. He helps a total stranger without a second thought.
But it’s more than just his generosity. I can’t explain it…but deep down, in my gut, I know he’s not like everyone else. He’s different. He really cares. I think I can trust him.
I let out a breath, feeling lighter and more hopeful than I’ve felt in a long, long time. “Okay. Let’s go get Wally.”
* * *
When we walk over to Wally’s kennel, I can’t open the door fast enough.
He’s curled in a ball on the floor, staring at the wall, that sad look in his eyes.
My heart rips in half.
But then, he sees me. He hops up instantly and runs over to me, his tail wagging like crazy.
“Wally!” I burst into tears as I hug him and cover him in kisses. “I’m here to take you home finally,” I whisper into his soft fur. “I’m sorry it took me so long.”
He licks my face and makes that happy whining noise he always makes when he sees me after a long time apart.
“You forgive me?” I say through a wobbly smile and more tears.
He’s so excited, he knocks me over onto the floor. I laugh, feeling happier and lighter than I have in months.
When I finally sit up, I pull out the bacon from my bag. I peel away the plastic wrap and break off a piece. He gobbles it up.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a happier dog,” Leo says.
I twist my head to see him standing behind me, at the open kennel door, his eyes warm as he smiles.
A calm, comforting feeling swoops through my chest. Normally, I’d feel embarrassed about getting so emotional in front of a person I barely know.
But it’s different with Leo. He’s different. He’s a good person.
I think about the look in his eyes when I told him about losing my mom and dad…and what my stepdad did to me.
He looked so sad and angry. For me. He barely knows me, and he wants to help me.
Even the way he’s looking at me now. I can tell he’s getting emotional seeing me reunited with Wally.
I wipe my face on the sleeves of my hoodie and sit up. “Wally, this is Leo. The very nice man who is helping me get you out of here today.”
Leo steps forward and holds out his hand. “Hey, bud. How’s it going?”
Wally sniffs him, then licks his palm.
“You’re happy to see your mom, aren’t you?” he says softly.
My heart skids in my chest. It’s so sweet that he’d say that.
Wally nuzzles Leo’s hands, then shoves his nose in his crotch.
Leo stumbles back and bursts out laughing. “You’re a pretty friendly guy, huh?”
I grab Wally and pull him back. “Oh my gosh, I’m sorry. I forgot he does that to strangers sometimes.”
Leo just laughs again. “It’s okay.”
I grab Wally’s collar from my bag and secure it around his neck. I hook his leash onto it and lead him out of the kennel.
I follow Leo to the front desk. The receptionist hands him a few forms, and the two of us fill them out together.
I turn to him. “You’re sure this is okay?” I still can’t believe he’s helping me do this.
“Positive.”
We sign the papers and head out of the shelter. Wally trots happily by my side to Leo’s car, sniffing the sidewalk and the grass along the way.
I open the back door of Leo’s SUV and pat the seat for Wally to hop in. I slide in next to him.
“Sorry about the jumper cables. You can put them on the floor.”
“Car battery troubles?” I ask.
“Not mine. My sister’s car. She needed a jump the other day, so I drove over to help.”
I glance at Leo as he hops into the driver’s seat, feeling myself soften even more. He goes out of his way to help so many people.
He heads back in the direction of his house. The whole way home, Wally sticks his head out the window. I chuckle at the way his tongue and long ears flop around in the cool autumn wind.
“He’s not cold?” Leo asks.
“No, he loves the cool air. I swear, he must be part polar bear.”
In the rearview mirror, I catch Leo cracking a smile.
Minutes later, he pulls into the driveway of his house, right behind my car. I notice there are other cars parked on the other side of the driveway. His roommates must be home.
Nerves fire off inside of me. Are they going to be mad about Leo agreeing to let Wally stay with them without asking them first? He promised me they’d be fine with it, but I can’t help but worry. They don’t even know me. Are they really going to be okay with taking care of a stranger’s dog?
Leo gets the door for me and helps me out of the car.
“What if your roommates get mad when they see Wally?” I say as we walk up the porch stairs.
“They won’t,” he says without even looking at me.
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because they’re my friends. And teammates. And we live together. I know them. They’re gonna be pumped.”