Page 130 of Make Me Trust Again
We step into the building, the blast of the cool air from the AC making goosebumps rise on my skin.
The teen behind the counter lifts his head from his phone and gives us a welcoming smile.
“Hello, welcome to United Paws, how—” His eyes narrow slightly when they land on Kyle. “I remember you. You’re the kid who came with Chase, not that long ago. You looking for him?”
Kyle’s little chest puffs out proudly. “Chase’s my friend.”
The teen nods and points his finger over his shoulder. “He’s out back working with a dog we got a few weeks ago.”
“Oh.” I tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear. “It’s fine, really… We were just hoping to get a look at the dogs because we’re thinking about adopting one.”
There’s no sense in bugging Chase if he’s busy.
Maybe he doesn’t even want to see you,the little voice at the back of my head taunts, but I push it back.
Chase isn’t like that. And I didn’t exactly come here to see him. It’s the only shelter in town that he just so happens to work in occasionally.
“Sure, let me—” Just then, the phone starts ringing, and the guy glances at Kyle. “You remember the way to the back? Just go through this door and down the hallway until you get to the end.”
He wants us to go alone?
“What about the animals?”
“They’re in closed rooms and in their kennels, so you should be fine. You’ll find Chase there, and he can show you around.” He waves me off, picking up the phone, and dismisses us before I can protest further.
“I know the way.” Kyle’s little hand tightens around mine as he pulls me toward the double doors. “It’s not far.”
While I’m a ball of nerves, my son’s completely at ease, acting like he’s been here a gazillion times before. The door closes behind us, leaving us in the dim hallway.
“They have a yard in the back and a dog park.” Kyle points to the door. “I got to play with the dogs outthere the last time.”
Our footsteps echo on the tiled floor, and I can hear a loud bark coming from somewhere that makes me jump in surprise.
Kyle opens the door, the bright light blinding me temporarily as we step outside. I blink a few times, trying to clear my vision.
Kyle’s right. The yard is pretty big and surrounded by a fence. There’s a little shed on the side, and some kind of dog-training equipment placed around the space. Water bowls and different toys are scattered on the grass.
Chase is standing in the middle of it all, but he’s not alone.
The girl—woman, really—is standing in front of him. Her face is serious as she nibbles at her lip. Chase places his hand on her shoulder, giving her a squeeze. She nods at whatever he’s saying before moving closer and wrapping her arms around him.
A prickle of unease rises to the surface at the sight of the gorgeous stranger and how familiar she seems to be with him.
Seeing John with Lucy made me angry, not because they were clearly together, but because he simply ignored our son and walked away without even saying hello. Walking in on Chase with another woman has bile rising up my throat. All the insecurities I’ve been struggling with for the last few years are coming back to the surface.
She’s dressed in pink scrubs with little paws on them. Her long brown hair is braided and hanging from one of her shoulders. She’s probably a nurse or a vet, meaning she isn’t just pretty but also smart.
She’s everything you’re not.
Chase returns her embrace, holding on for a moment. I bite the inside of my cheek.
It’s weird seeing Chase with somebody like that. He seems… different. He’s always so quiet, so reserved. He’s always keeping on the side, not touching anybody, even when he was at his sister’s, and yet here, withher, there’s an ease in him that I haven’t seen before, and I don’t know what to make of it. Whatto make ofhim.Why? Who is this woman to him? A friend, ex, or a lover? Just thinking about it makes my stomach clench with unease.
“Chase!” Kyle calls out, snapping me out of my thoughts.
Both of them pull back and turn to face us, matching surprised expressions on their faces. Even from a distance, I can feel Chase’s hazel eyes zero in on me, making the tingles of awareness run down my spine.
Dammit, I’m so busted.
