Page 24 of Puppy Love

I grab my phone and turn it back on. Once it comes to life I close my eyes against the pain I feel. He hasn’t even tried to contact me. I pushed him away and he left.

I’ve never had anyone love me and I definitely haven’t loved anyone. When I was passed from home to home, I didn’t bother trying to connect with anyone. I knew it was only a matter of time before I’d be moved again.

I sit up and look around my bedroom. That’s it. I’ve been passed from home to home, never having a place where I felt accepted. Never having the comfort of being home. That’s what this house give me. This town gives me.

The thought of him taking that from me is what makes me turn off my phone. I’m not being dramatic. I’m protecting myself. Just like I always have.

I pull my legs up to my chest and wrap my arms around them, tucking my head to my knees. I fell in love with him. I let him into my heart and my home, and he wants to take both from me.

I don’t want to lose either of them.

When I wakeup I reach over and realize it wasn’t a horrible nightmare. Jayden left last night, and I haven’t heard a word.

With puffy eyes, I climb out of bed and take a quick shower. I don’t bother looking at myself in the mirror as I brush my teeth and pull my wet hair into a bun.

When I’m finished, I walk to my room and get dressed in my work clothes. I grab my sneakers and a tear rolls down my cheek. They are still where I left them.

I walk into the kitchen and the deafening silence wraps around me. No barking. No running around that echoes through the entire house. No begging by my feet. No laughter. No touching. No talking.

Before Jayden and Ace moved in, I thought I was lonely, but this, right now, this is lonely. It’s body aching, heart shattering loneliness.

I wipe my tears and grab my keys, walking out the door. Work doesn’t care if I’m dying inside, I need to show up. It’s going to be a horribly long shift and I have no idea how I’m even going to get through it.

Walking into the diner, I feel like I’m in a haze. I didn’t sleep and my emotions are impossible to hide.

“Cambri? What are you doing here?” Susan, my boss, asks.

“Working?” I say.

“I got a message from someone saying you couldn’t make it in today. I got coverage for you and from the looks of you, I think you need to take the day,” she says.

Confused, I dip my brows. “Who called?”

She shrugs, fixing the menus. “No idea, sweetie. He sounded very concerned for you though.” She lifts her eyes to mine and searches my face. “Are you alright? Do you need to talk about something?”

Jayden. He called me out because he knew I’d be in no condition to work today. It’s incredibly sweet, which confuses me even more.

“No, I’ll be alright,” I say.

She tilts her head, unsure if she believes me. “If you need a few days, just let me know.”

She’s always been an amazing boss. I wouldn’t consider us good friends, but I would say we care about each other. She’s always made that clear. Probably because she hires most of the kids from the system and I’m the one who’s stuck around the longest.

“Thanks, Susan,” I say, walking right back out the door.

I turn my phone back on as I get into my car and notice the missed calls from Susan, but nothing else. I toss it on the passenger seat and drive home. My plan is to get into sweats and continue to feel sorry for myself.

When I open the door Ace comes running at me. My tears are unstoppable as I fall to the floor and wrap my arms around him.

His tail is wagging and he’s licking my salty tears. “Ace, I missed you so much. Where did you go last night?”

He barks and runs to the back door. A small smile finds its way to my face as I stand to let him out. He immediately brings me a sense of comfort.

I open the door and once he runs out, I look toward Jayden’s room. My stomach is twisting, and my heart is pounding in my chest. I slowly walk over and push the door open, but it’s empty. I step inside and I feel like I can’t breathe.

His bed is made, and I see a folded piece of paper on it, so I sit down on the bed and open it.

Cambri,

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