Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 80986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
To give her a few more seconds to gather herself, I bent down to pat the dog. “Sunny, how could you do that to Hailey? You scared her to death.”
The dog held still for all of three seconds while I petted him, but then his attention turned to the other people on the sidewalk.
“Are you going to be a good boy for Hailey?” I asked.
“She’s a girl,” Hailey said, her voice sounding calmer. “And no, she’s probably not.”
Hailey tugged at the leash, and I fell in step with her as we walked back the way she’d come.
“So is this one of your many jobs? Dog walking-slash-chasing?”
She nodded as she kept a tight grip on the leash. “Pet sitting, yes. I also take care of a few cats and even a parrot when their owners are away.”
“That’s quite the mix. And I bet they’re all easier to deal with than the men of Rho Kappa Alpha.”
She laughed, shooting me a quick smile. “You could say that again.” Then her smile faded, and a shadow crossed her face.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.” Her answer was too quick. “I just don’t want Sunny to get away again.”
The dog was walking calmly on the leash, but I understood that Hailey had a responsibility to keep her safe. I wondered if that was all it was.
Hailey stopped in front of a three-story apartment building. Sunny bounded up two steps and turned to look at us impatiently. “This is it,” Hailey said.
“Wow. Sunny lives here?” I’d passed by this building many times, but I’d never been inside. It was classic, built in the 1950s, and it had been well maintained.
“Yes. Listen, Theo, thank you again. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t been there.” In the sunlight, her tawny eyes showed flecks of gold, and her brown hair had hints of honey.
“Someone would’ve caught her eventually.”
Hailey shuddered. “But with the cross street right there—I don’t like to think of what might have happened.”
“Then don’t.” I put my hand on her shoulder, squeezing lightly. “Because it all worked out in the end.”
She looked away for a moment.
“Can I see Sunny’s home? I’ve always wanted to see the inside of this building.”
She looked up at me, hesitating like a babysitter wondering whether to sneak her boyfriend in with her. Finally, she nodded.
I followed Hailey and the dog up the stairs. Both were beautiful, but I had to admit that I spent a little more time watching the way Hailey’s legs moved as she climbed the stairs than I did Sunny’s.
When Hailey unlocked the door and stepped inside, I was immediately diverted by the condo itself. It was stunning, a perfect mixture of old-world charm and modern updates. The high ceilings made the space feel expansive, and tall windows let in streams of natural light that bathed everything in a warm glow. I walked into the living room, temporarily ignoring my two charming companions.
The furniture was light and bright—a mix of cream upholstery, sage green accent pieces, and polished wood. Paintings lined the walls, a mix of styles from what I could see. I hope to examine them more closely later.
Hailey let the Sunny off the leash, and the dog dashed into the kitchen. Then the unmistakable sound of a thirsty dog lapping up water reached us.
“This place is incredible. They did a really good job with the renovations.”
Hailey smiled, looking around the room. “I love coming here. It always lifts my mood to be in this room.” She moved forward and put her hand on the back of the sofa. “This condo… it’s kind of like my safe space and my happy place rolled into one.”
“I can see why. Have you been taking care of Sunny for long?”
“A couple of months. The owner is a professor, and she can’t come home to let Sunny out during the day.”
“Then I’d say the professor and Sunny are very lucky to have you.”
“Yeah, when I manage to keep hold of the leash.”
Before I could address that, she went into the kitchen, and I followed, watching as she changed Sunny’s water and put out fresh food. Sunny whined and danced in little circles when Hailey opened a foil bag of treats. She plucked one out but then caught my eye. “Want to give it to her?”
I really did. We’d had a golden retriever when I was a kid. He’d been a little darker blond than Sunny, but they seemed the same in temperament. “Sit,” I told the dog as I held the treat a foot over her head. “Sit…” I warned again as her butt lifted off the ground, her tail wagging so fast it was a blur. Then I relented. “Okay, here you go.”
Sunny plucked the treat out of my hand and swallowed it in two bites. Then she sat back down, and I gave into a very strong urge. I knelt down beside her, and she immediately rolled onto her back. It had been years since I’d given a dog a belly rub, but it was clear from Sunny’s contentment that I hadn’t forgotten how.