Page 63 of Lucy Loves Him Not
“Winston! Victor’s puppy!”
“You’re his dog walker now,” I said with a suggestive nod.
“Victor had to go help Adam with some city management thing all day, so I offered to help. He can’t be left alone very long, yet. He’s young, hyper, and the sweetest ball of fluff,” she said the last part in a syrupy voice. “I like having him around.” She finished buckling him up and then turned to me.
“This is girlfriend behavior. You realize that, right?” I asked as we started on the trail. The river was gemstone blue with white, fluffy clouds rippled overhead, and big, shady elm trees lined the entire trail.
She shook her head vehemently. “We’re just friends.”
“Liv, he doesn’t look at you like a friend. He looks at you like?—”
“No, no, if we’re talking about non-friends, we’re talking about you and lovesick Adam!” She pointed at me accusingly.
“Okay, but I at least admit that Adam and I have something between us, whether it was against our will or not, but you…You’re in denial.”
“We’re friends and friends happen to hang out, right?” she asked casually.
“You’re hanging outevery dayand walking his dog.”
“He’s working on my house, that’s why we’re together daily.”
“Do most people hang out with their renovator’s dog?” Winston looked up at me, an ear raised in my direction.
“If the dog is as cute as Winston, they do.” She gave him a loving pat.
I took a deep breath. “You’re going to break this poor boy.”
She didn’t look at me. She looked out at the trail. “He knows it’s all friendly. It’s all it can be. He’s younger than me. And I know his reputation for dating around. I just…” She stopped walking. “He and I are totally opposite, anyway. I don’t know how it would work.”
“What if…” I started. But then Olivia gave me a look that made me go quiet.
We walked a few steps distracted by our own thoughts. Katie Hernandez, Victor’s older sister, and her husband Terrence strolled toward us in the opposite direction, hand in hand. They smiled warmly, asked how we were, and scratched Winston behind his ear.
“You’re walking, Winston, huh?” Katie eyed us with a question in her eyes. Olivia gave a little shrug, then joked, “Victor is helping me renovate and I’m helping him with dog walking.”
“I know Victor probably appreciates that. He’s a big fan of yours,” Katie said with a twinkle in her eye. Terrence chuckled.
I watched Olivia swallow nervously. “How’s the family, Katie? I heard Emma and Gabriel are in Austin right now and planning a wedding?” I jumped in.
“That’s right. It’s been nice having them just a drive away after all their traveling,” Katie said. Winston looped the leash around her.
“They’re actually getting married here in Sweet River if all goes to plan,” Terrence said.
“Oh my goodness, that’s such sweet news.” I clapped.
“I feel like we’ve all been waiting for this wedding to happen since grade school,” Olivia joked.
I added, “Did you hear Jordan and Sophia are expecting?”
Katie’s eyes almost popped out of her head. “How have I missed that?”
“I work with Sophia. She announced it before school break. She’s arranging her fall schedule around her maternity leave,” I said.
“Didn’t they just get married?” Olivia asked.
“They got married over Christmas. It’s not too crazy,” Katie offered.
After the chit-chat faded off and Katie and Terrence walked away, Olivia and I continued our walk.
