Page 14 of Like Home
CHAPTER 9
Ryan
Itap my thumbs on my steering wheel to the beat of the song coming through the radio. I’m headed home after helping Luke install a new ceiling fan. He’s pretty handy, but isn’t a fan of electricity. I chuckle at the memory of the panicked look in his eyes when I asked him to flip the light switch to make sure the wiring was connected properly. Luckily it was, and I was able to head home soon after.
I’m on the last stretch of road before I reach my neighborhood when I notice a car with hazard lights blinking in the distance. I squint through the rain streaking my windshield as I slow down, realizing there’s something in the middle of the road. My brows draw together in concern, and I hope everything is alright. I pull to the side of the road behind the car so I can see if they need help.
I hop out of my truck, grab my flashlight from my tool kit and shine it on the pile in the road.
It can’t be…
“Summer?” I ask, rushing closer. She looks up at me, squinting in the light and I realize she’s kneeling over a huge, white dog. She has her jacket slung over it and she’s gently pettingthe dog’s head. She’s completely soaked through, her top and slacks clinging to her body.
“Ryan?” she asks through chattering teeth.
“Yeah, what happened? Are you alright?” I can’t help the panicked way I’m looking her over, searching for any sign of injury.
“F-fine. Just cold. This poor girl was in the middle of the road. It looks like someone hit her and then drove off.” She pauses to collect herself and then continues, “I almost r-ran her down again, but was able to stop. I tried to lift her so I could take her to the vet, b-but it hurt her. I’m not strong enough to lift her without jerking her around and I don’t know how badly she’s injured.”
“Okay, let me help. Just give me a second. I’ll be right back,” I say, already jogging back to my truck. I grab one of my sturdy work jackets from the backseat and hustle over to them. I drape the jacket over Summer’s shoulders and bend down to let the dog sniff my hand. She licks it and I give her a head pat. “Does she have a name tag?”
“No, just a collar. She’s got to be someone’s pet because she’s really sweet and looks well taken care of otherwise. Thanks for the jacket by the way.” She turns her hazel eyes to me, mascara running down her cheeks from the rain, tears, or both.
“You have to be cold. You’re drenched,” I say gruffly, unreasonably annoyed that she put herself in harm's way. She even gave the dog her jacket. I admire the selflessness, but damn if the caveman part of my brain isn’t frustrated that she didn’t put herself first.
“Well,myleg isn’t broken,” she huffs, “Come on, let’s get her up and into my car. I want to get her to the vet ASAP.” She stands and quickly pushes her arms through the sleeves of the jacket.
“Let’s take my truck. There’s more room in the back seat, and you can sit with her to keep her calm.” She nods, and I gently scoop the dog up in my arms, jacket and all. The dog whines and I soothe her as best I can. “It’s okay, sweet pup. We’re going to getyou taken care of.” Summer jogs ahead of me to my truck and opens the back door. I slide the dog in, careful of her twisted back leg. She rests her head on the seat and my heart breaks a little. The poor thing is shivering just like Summer.
“She must be exhausted,” Summer says, looking in on her. She starts to round the truck to hop in on the other side.
“Hold on,” I say. She gives me a questioning look. “Get in your car, I’ll follow you home and then we’ll take my truck to the vet. I don’t want you leaving your car out here.”
“But—”
I hold out a hand to stop her, “Your house is literally five minutes away. She’s not bleeding out. We’ll be able to do both. Stop arguing and get in your car.” She glares at me for a second, before stomping to her car.I don’t think she likes being told what to do.Despite the circumstances, I laugh a little. I jump behind the wheel and crank the heat up.
I follow her home, being cautious to stop gently and go as slowly as I can around corners, so I don’t jostle the dog. I’m buzzing with adrenaline and misplaced frustration. Logically, I know that what Summer did was brave and selfless, and something to be admired. But my brain keeps replaying the image of her shivering in the middle of a dark road, drenched with rain, where anything could have happened to her. I pull to a gentle stop in front of her house and find Summer waiting on her front porch for me. As soon as she sees my truck, she runs to it, getting in the back seat and placing the dog’s head on her lap.
“Why didn’t you call someone?” I ask tersely once we’re back on the road. My heart is still pounding with the last dregs of adrenaline at finding her in the middle of the road alone.
“My phone died. I didn’t want to leave her there, but I didn’t know what else to do.”
“So you were just waiting for someone to come along and stop at—” I check my dashboard clock. “Nine at night?” I shakemy head. I admire her willingness to help, but the woman has no self-preservation instincts.
“I guess I was. What was the other option? Leave her to get run over again?” she asks heatedly.
“No, I guess not.” I sigh and shake off the last of the tension, “Sorry, you just scared the shit out of me. When I stopped and saw that you were in the middle of the road, I thought something had happened to you.”
“Thanks for stopping,” she says quietly. I wave away her thanks because only an asshole would have driven around them without stopping.
I follow Google’s navigation instructions to the vet. I peek at Summer and the dog in the rearview mirror and I can hardly take the sight of her gently stroking the dog’s head and murmuring softly to her. Her eyes are still tearing up, but she keeps petting the dog, making sure she feels as safe as she can with two strangers.I’m in trouble,I think, swallowing down the affection rising in my chest.
CHAPTER 10
Summer
We pull up to the vet's office, and Ryan rushes in to get help while I stay with the dog. I continue petting her head and telling her how brave she is. Ryan’s comment still stings.
