Hearts off Paws by Niy Simone

Author:Niy, Simone
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-02-09T00:00:00+00:00

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Nine

Chanté & Strawberry

The day of Strawberry’s next vet appointment was also an errand day for me and Evan. We went to look at tiles, paint, and tools at a hardware store near our houses. Evan picked out all the necessary tools, and we both decided on tile and fixtures. He said he had what he needed to start the bathroom renovations the next day.

From a general standpoint, we were quiet; Evan opened doors and spoke professionally, and when I’d point, he’d put things in my cart. But we didn’t converse the way we usually did. The harsh silences passed without elegance, and we did nothing to combat them.

On the way to the vet, after picking up Havoc and Strawberry, he finally addressed the elephant between us.

Evan asked, “After the appointment, can we go back to the park today to talk?”

“Sure,” I replied casually.

Despite our commitment to having a conversation, the vet appointment was still way more tension-filled than the first. Evan and I kept our distance, I asked my questions, and then we were dismissed. Even though we hadn’t been anything more than friendly neighbors during our first visit, to an outsider, we looked friendlier then compared to now.

Dr. Lacey said everything looked fine with the puppies. They were thriving, and it didn’t look like we’d have a runt in the small litter. I knew I needed to start nesting for Strawberry, and Dr. Lacey gave me a list of things to buy. When the visit ended, Evan took the dogs out of the room first.

Dr. Lacey and I were the last two to leave. I trailed Evan and was almost out the door. But Dr. Lacey called for me before I entered the hall.

“Chanté?” I turned and curved back inside.

“Yes?” Dr. Lacey was scribbling on a piece of paper at a short counter.

It was her name and number.

Okay—I knew Evan and I looked like strangers, but it couldn’t have been that bad. Even worse was that I didn’t know if she was making a pass at me or asking me to make one on her behalf to Evan.

I cocked a brow at the Doctor’s script and lazily tracked it back up to her face.

“If all of the puppies aren’t spoken for yet, I’d love to talk about buying.”

“Oh,” I puffed out. I was sure I looked as relieved as I felt. “Definitely—I’ll give you a call.”

She smiled kindly, and her eyes lit up, making her spirit come across even more genuinely warm.

Evan and I got to the park and sat on the same bench we did the last time we were here. Havoc and Strawberry were people-watching in front of us again.

I kept myself closed off with my legs crossed, my arms over my chest, and my steely expression focused ahead.

“Okay,” Evan started. “I’m going to explain myself.”

And then, I had become the shoulder for him to vent on instead of it being the other way around. Eventually, as his story progressed, I physically and emotionally opened up to him.

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