Page 1 of Willow Embers
ONE
NIXIE
“Whoa there, rowdy.”I press the brake button on Tiberius’s retractable leash and almost choke on a laugh at the look he shoots me over his furry shoulder. “This is a hike,nota run,” I remind him.
He pants happily and turns back to the rough dirt trail as I make up the distance between us. The little brat is having the time of his life out here, whereas I’m struggling.
There’s not enough air at this elevation. It’s been years since I’ve walked anywhere that didn’t have sidewalks. My shirt is clinging to my curves like it’s painted on. And the dry autumn breeze cutting through the trees is too hot against my skin.
I look down at Tiberius. “This is what I get for having that third glass of wine last night, isn’t it?”
His head cocks to one side, and I swear, it’s like he understands me. And he’s judging me.
It doesn’t help that I only had that third drink because I was foolish enough to let Breigh drag me out to the bar. I knew better. In a place as small as Black Timber Peak, running intopeople you know is part of the deal. But I’d convinced myself the odds were low that I would run intohim.
Beauden Lomont.
My high school sweetheart. The boy who left the day after graduation and took my heart with him.
A boy who had grown into a man whose scowl, when I literally bumped into him leaving the bar, cut deeper than any words ever could.
Which didn’t make sense. It wasn’t like I was the one who took his virginity, left town the next morning, and couldn’t be bothered to call or write.
“I guess I’m just a glutton for punishment, huh?” I ask Tiberius.
He prances in the dirt in front of me, his fluffy, pale-yellow tail swishing in chaotic arcs.
“I know, I know,” I say, rolling my eyes as I start walking again.
He doesn’t care about my personal dilemma. Not right now, anyway. The call of the wooded trail is too strong, and with the way he’s pulling on the leash, I have no doubt my very toddler-like golden retriever is going to sleep like a baby tonight.
“This right here is why they flunked you,” I tease.
He doesn’t even bother to look back, and I shake my head. Whoever thought this adorable ball of fluff would make a good service dog clearly had no idea what they were getting into.
Don’t get me wrong, Tiberius is smart and sweet. I’ve never met a more attentive creature in my life. But some days he’s a littletoofriendly. He wants to play with everyone and everything, and he thinks they all want to play with him too.
The wine-induced headache I woke up with starts throbbing again, at a spot in the back of my head that makes my eyes water, and I seriously debate cutting the hike short and heading back to my car. But that wouldn’t be fair to Tiberius. He mightbe bouncy and a handful at times, but he’s been a champ on this trip and he deserves this rollick in the woods.
Every time tears spilled down my cheeks as I boxed up my mom’s things, he was at my side. When I slept on her old couch instead of in her bed because I couldn’t bring myself to spend another minute in her room, he curled up at my feet.
Not to mention the way he helped me hold my life together after a ruptured brain aneurysm took her from me nearly a year ago.
My mom was the one who talked me into adopting him.“You need someone in your life, Nixie. Someone loyal and loving. Who will treat you the way you deserve to be treated.”
At first, I thought she was trying to nudge me back into the dating scene, like she’d done countless times before. Until she messaged me a picture of the most adorable eight-month-old golden retriever puppy and a link. One glimpse of his big gold-flecked, milk chocolate eyes and it was love at first sight.
I’d only had him for a few weeks when she left this world. She never even got to meet him. And I still can’t help wondering if something inside her knew what was coming. The doctors said that was unlikely, but I’ll always have my doubts. The universe is big and strange and chock full of things we can’t even imagine.
Either way, Tiberius has become my rock. He’s always there for me. Always happy to see me. And he’ll never ghost me after leaving for the Army, unlike the big, brooding jerk from last night.
The least I can do is power through another mile for my furry partner.
“After some water,” I mutter, silently cursing myself for letting Beauden take up any more space in my aching head.
I swing my sling pack around and let the leash handle hang loose in my hand while I fumble to get my water bottle out.Tiberius lets out an excited bark, and the next thing I know, the leash is being ripped from my grip.
A shock of alarm rockets up my spine. “No!” I dive for the leash, but it’s too late.
