Page 32 of Somehow You Knew

Gage flips through the pages, reading off some of the designs. “Fuck this. Kiss my ass. Is there alcohol involved?” He looks back at me, one brow raised.

I shrug. “Being an adult sucks sometimes, so I try to find the humor in it when I can.”

“That’s one way to handle things, I guess.”

“The responsibilities never end. In fact, I was thinking…since you’re here now, I could use your help with Blueberry.”

His gaze drops to the dog on my lap. “With what?”

“Well, sometimes I work late, especially on weekends. He needs to be taken for walks, fed dinner, loved on. My neighbor’s daughter has been coming by to check on him, but since you’re here, that’d be a big help.”

Gage scratches Blueberry’s head. “Yeah, I guess I can help with the little man. How’s he been doing since…”

I stroke the dog’s back. “He’s doing better now. He whined for the first few days, scratching at the door as if he wanted to leave my apartment and go back home.”

“She really loved this dog,” he says, his voice tight.

“I know.” I sigh. “He was lucky to have her.”

“Guess he’s lucky to have you now, huh?” Our eyes meet and the solemn mood from this conversation now rests between us.

A sharp knock at the front door startles us both.

Gage frowns. “Are you expecting someone?”

Blueberry jumps off my lap and runs to the door— not to guard it, but to wag his entire body in anticipation of whoever might be on the other side. He used to do the same thing at Diane’s house, always eager to greet a visitor.

I glance at the clock on the wall. “Oh yeah! The male stripper I ordered is right on time.”

Gage’s laugh fills the room, warm and deep.

Placing my plate on the coffee table, I stand from the couch and cross the room, opening the door to find…no one. I look around for a sign of anyone, and my eyes land on a pink envelope lying on the doormat.

“What is it?”

I jump at Gage’s closeness, spinning to find him standing right behind me.

“Some space would be nice.” I scoop up the envelope and slide around him, heading toward the kitchen. I lay the envelope on the counter, eyeing it cautiously.

Gage is right on my heels. “Forgive me for wanting to know why the hell you’re getting a letter mysteriously dropped off at six o’clock on a Wednesday.”

“Sometimes the mail comes late,” I argue, trying to convince myself as much as him.

“To yourfront porch?” He looks at the envelope. “And there’s no address, Hazel.”

“Well aren’t you just a modern-day detective…”

Gage gives me a deadpan look. “Are you going to open the fucking letter or not?”

I swipe the pink envelope from the counter and slide my finger under the seal. “No need for profanity, dickhead.”

He rolls his eyes. “Man, this marriage is off to agreatfucking start,” he mutters as I pull a piece of paper from the envelope and instantly feel goosebumps prickle over my skin.

“It’s a letter from Diane.”

Gage moves closer, peering over my shoulder. “What?”

Neither of us speaks as we read the letter.

---