Chapter 32
Thario left the vet, happy that Hope didn’t have a chip identifying her as another person’s pet. The vet estimated she was around eleven months old. She was malnourished, but for the most part healthy. She would need some training, which he’d already planned on doing.
Hope jumped up into the truck, and he scratched her head. "You ready to move to our new place?"
Hope barked, and he chuckled. When he got back to the place he was staying, Frog wasn’t happy with him for only taking Hope.
“Sorry, Frog, but Hope needed to see the doctor.”
Frog narrowed his eyes like he didn't care what Thario's excuse was. He didn't like it. He sat next to Frog and petted his head. After a moment, Frog sighed, then rested his head on Thario's leg.
“There you go, buddy. I do love you, but sometimes you’re going to have to accept that you have to stay at home. I promise, I’ll take you everywhere important.”
Frog let out a soft bark, then moved to Hope, sniffing her.
He knew Frog could smell the veterinarian's office on Hope.
They'd given her a few shots to make sure she was covered for things like rabies and illnesses.
At least she was getting better treatment now.
The vet said he thought her fur would grow in more even once she had regular care and food.
Thario glanced around, realizing he needed to finish packing his clothes. He didn’t have much here, but with Hope’s kennel, he absolutely needed help to get his stuff to his new house.
At least his van had survived the fire and then the wreck yesterday. He wondered if that guy was going to come back looking for Hope. He’d had the pup chipped, so if anyone ever scanned the dog, he would be the person they contacted.
After he moved in, he would see what he could find out about the guy.
He was still on reduced screen time, but he was getting better.
The main thing he needed to be aware of was not overdoing it.
If he spent too much time looking at his computer, he could end up having even worse headaches.
He was excited to have a space set up for searching, but he would have to force limits.
Hope moved to the door, so he clipped the lead onto her harness and took her and Frog outside. He couldn't wait to get the fenced-in backyard because Hope wasn't leash-trained yet, and walking her every day until she learned some discipline would be difficult.
While he was out with the dogs, Griz, Elowen, and Calla showed up. He didn’t want to show too much, but he was very glad Calla was there.
Calla was glad she’d been included in helping Thario move to his new place. She memorized where the cabin was, not that she would be driving over here anytime soon. Now she knew where Thario lived.
Hope was very interested in her and had no issues staying with her. Even when Thario and Frog went outside to load something into the van, Hope stayed beside her.
Knuckles was nice to Hope, but she stuck with Elowen since Hope stayed with her.
It took less than thirty minutes to get everything loaded. She glanced around, looking for anything Thario could have left behind.
“Looks good,” Elowen said as she stepped inside.
“I think we’re ready to go.” Thario glanced over to her, his lips spreading into a cute smile. “Do you want to ride with me?”
“Yes,” she answered without even looking over at Elowen or Griz. She’d assumed they wouldn’t have any issues with her leaving with Thario.
She turned to Elowen to check with her, and her friend smiled.
“We’ll follow you there,” Griz said.
They were in the van, both dogs in the back, though Hope kept putting her head on the center console and checking on her.
“Have you started learning to drive?” Thario asked.
She shook her head. "No, not yet. I probably should do some driving, but nowhere near the edge of a mountain. That would be too dangerous."
Thario laughed. “When I got out of the hospital and had to adjust to my new reality, it was hard. Honestly, I wouldn’t drive during the day. I only went out when few other people were out so if I wrecked, the damage would be less.”
“Did you wreck?”
He shook his head. “No, but it took a while to get my confidence back.”
“I don’t know how long it will be before I have confidence.”
“You don’t have to push it. Your true friends will be here for you.”
“Friends? So you think of me as a friend?” She wasn’t sure why she asked that. They’d kissed, but maybe he didn’t want more than friendship.
They stopped at a light, and he reached over and grabbed her hand.
“You are a friend. The best relationships are built on friendship, not lust. Whatever we have simmering between us, I want it to last longer than a few weeks or months.”
His words made her feel funny inside. Like she’d been lifted up high then dropped without warning. It was a good, but shocking feeling. “Oh.”
The light changed, and he took off. The cabin wasn't too far away, and when they parked, she reached over and squeezed his arm.
He turned, and when she looked into his eyes, she swore she could spend forever with this man. She was moving way too fast. He was right to slow them down.
“Thank you for that. You’re right. We need to be friends first.”
“With me moving here, and you living with Elowen and Griz, we’ll have time.”
Griz and Elowen were out of their car, and the dogs were barking because Knuckles was out there running around.
“We should get out,” Thario said.
“Yes. I’ll get Hope.”
“Thank you.”
She took Hope out to the back and watched her while Thario, Griz, and Elowen unloaded Thario's van. After Hope relieved herself, she went inside with the dogs, glad that the older dogs had settled and Hope seemed to want to follow their lead.
Being with these people was so different from anything she’d ever known.
When she started talking to a therapist, there was going to be a lot to discuss.
Everything she had learned so far about living with others from Elowen and Griz made life look easy.
And she guessed it was when you had someone with you who was good.
Thario caught her gaze from across the room and smiled. He was a good man, and she couldn't wait to spend more time with him.