Page 29 of Before We're More Than Friends
“Thanks, so is yours. Reminds me of the city.”
My chest panged as I thought of home. “Actually, that’s where we’re from.”
Hayden blinked. “Dallas . . . from Dallas?”
“Our parents did it on purpose.” I gave an awkward laugh. “Our dog’s name is Houston. Maybe we should get a cat and name him Austin.”
“Dallas, what are you doing?” Kami jingled the keys in her hand as she walked up to me, saving me from this super awkward conversation I shouldn’t have started. “Are you coming in or what—” She noticed Hayden and smiled. “Oh, I didn’t realize he was talking to you. I’m Kami.”
“Hayden.” Hayden nodded to the keys in her hand. “Trying to create a melody with the keys?”
I scoffed. “Naw, that’s just her impatient habit.”
“At least my impatient habit sounds good,” Kami muttered. “We need to unpack a few things. It was nice meeting you, Hayden.”
“She and my sister Lana would get along great,” Hayden whispered to me. “They’re both crabby.”
I covered up a snort. Kami shot a glare at me.
“Feel free to come by whenever you like.” Hayden strummed his guitar again. “See you later, Kami and Dallas from Dallas.”
“See you, Hayden from Nevada,” I said.
Kami waved goodbye, and we went into our house. Things were still in boxes, the walls still plain, the rooms still feeling empty. But for the first time, I had hope that we could make this a home. Maybe.
CHAPTER 8
Raina
“You guys are acting like you haven’t drunk in a week,” I said as my friends and I hung out in the shelter’s break room Wednesday afternoon.
Arielle and Caleb devoured their water and let out heavy breaths. “Those dogs were furious!” Arielle exclaimed. “They didn’t want to be taken out for a walk.”
“I have no idea how Oliver got them to calm down,” Caleb said, wiping sweat from his forehead. “They looked like they wanted to kill us.”
Oliver laughed. “You guys could’ve bathed the cats instead. At least dogs don’t havenails.”
Hayden winced. “Don’t remind me of the time Fireball almost scratched my eyebrow off. I never knew so much blood could be in one area of my face.”
Arielle gagged on her water. “Let’s not relive that experience.”
Even in the break room, I couldn’t escape the stories of wild things animals did. I checked my right hand, which now had a big Band-Aid over it instead of the gauze. Most of it was alreadyhealed, but it would take a few weeks for the scar to be completely gone. I checked my hand again after a few seconds as if any healing would take place that fast.
Stop it.
I checked two more times.
Done.
Arielle’s gaze flickered to my hand before she cleared her throat. “Are you guys going to the Saturn Frenzy on Saturday?”
“Yep,” Hayden said as he scribbled in his songwriting notebook, probably brainstorming a new song for the band he was in with Oliver, Caleb, and Sienna. “What girl are you bringing this time, Oliver? Cat Owner’s Daughter?”
“Who?” Oliver blinked. “I’ve been talking to someone else.”
Arielle gasped. “Already? Who is it this time?”
“The new vet’s daughter. She and her brother are coming to the Saturn Frenzy to hang out with us.” Oliver grinned. “They’re starting at the shelter and our school next week. I think you guys will like them.”
