The Beginning of Forever (The Beaumont Series: Next Generation Book 6) by Heidi McLaughlin

Author:Heidi McLaughlin [McLaughlin, Heidi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-06-29T00:00:00+00:00

19

PEYTON

Someday, I’m going to look back on this adventure with Noah and ask myself, “Self, what the fuck were you thinking?” when it came to this damn road trip to Portland. It’s not that I’m seven weeks pregnant and miserable. I know those days are coming and I have months to prepare for them. It’s that we’re driving with a puppy. A puppy who is still potty training and can’t exactly ring the bell on the door when she wants to go out.

Noah’s oblivious to her needs as he drives I-5. He’s in the zone, thinking about Organized Team Activities. I tried to tell him he didn’t need to be there, but under the circumstances, he wants to show the organization he’s a leader. I question the latter because I swear if he could stick his head out the window like Stevie Nicks, he would. As is, we’re stopping every two hours to take her potty, but then I worry she’s not drinking enough water. And she’s restless. Whining because she’s cooped up in the car. I try to hold her, but that only lasts for a few minutes before she’s moving to the back. When we got on the road, I had her strapped in. I found a cute dog seat and, being the responsible pet owner I am, bought it. Along with the suggested harness and a blanket. The latter wasn’t needed, but it was sitting there on the app, so I figured why the hell not?

Stevie Nicks hates it.

Noah says it’s because she wants to be with us, which I would agree with if she wasn’t in the back trying to chew on things she shouldn’t and acting all innocent when I scold her. And I’m the only one who can because Noah’s driving, which makes me the bad guy.

“Why didn’t we fly?”

“Because we thought it would hurt her ears,” Noah says.

“Other dogs fly. Why did you talk me out of flying?”

He laughs. He didn’t talk me out of anything. This was my grand idea.

“I’m crawling in the back with her.”

Noah signals to shift lanes and then slows down.

“What are you doing?”

“Slowing down so . . .” he says, nothing else. He doesn’t need to. It doesn’t matter how many years have passed, the car accident is always at the front of his mind. I try not to think about it even though I live with the pain of what it has caused me.

I get into the back, much to Stevie Nicks’ happiness. She crawls on my lap, kissing my face and hands, while I try to buckle my seatbelt. I hate being in the backseat and will probably end up closing my eyes. Maybe I can get her to lie on me and fall asleep.

“You good back there?”

“Yes.” Probably not. I go through her puppy bag and find a bone for her to chew on. Everything with her is about redirection, rewarding her with a positive toy instead of scolding her.

“Bone,” I say, echoing the command Noah’s put on the buttons he’s training her with.

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