Page 38 of Crash
In the weeks leading up to the adoption, she’d done a little research on the process to make the transition as comfortable as possible. It couldn’t be easy to be uprooted from the only home he’d ever known. She even went out and bought a new cat bed, toys, and anything else she could find at the pet store. She’d set it all up in her bathroom prior to picking Pickles up.
It took months for Pickles to warm up to her enough to sit next to her. He kept his distance and refused to allow her to pet him for the longest time. Now, though, he was always getting in the way and demanding attention from her.
“No need to take off your shoes. We can go out the back door.”
She followed Griffin and Rover as they led the way to the back of the house. The hallway was a straight shot toward the sliding glass doors, which faced the lake. She could see a small walking path at the edge of the well-maintained lawn.
When Griffin slid the door open, Rover took off like a torpedo, bounding off into the grass and frolicking like the happy puppy he was. She smiled fondly at his antics as they made their way to the walking path.
Rover found a giant stick and brought his prize back to Griffin with a joy that was unrivaled. Griffin took the stick clenched tightly in Rover’s jaw. He didn’t toss the stick immediately. Instead, he seemed to be testingRover’s patience and obedience. Quynh watched in fascination as the giant puppy sat as still as his giant body allowed, tail thumping wildly against the grass.
When Griffin raised his arm to toss the stick, she was no longer looking at Rover. No, she suddenly became aware of his flexing biceps beneath his dark henley and the way his back muscles rippled with the movement. She tried to rip her gaze away as the telltale heat pooled in her abdomen.
They both watched as Rover took off to retrieve his prize. After a few moments, Griffin led the way along the path, and she fell into step with him.
“It’s so beautiful here.” She looked around at the tranquil setting. The sun was setting. The magnificent sky was alight with bright colors ranging from pinks, purples, and oranges. The lake gleamed as it mirrored the sky, making the effect even more ethereal. She had never seen such a beautiful sight before. It truly was breathtaking.
The temperature cooled, making her shiver beneath her sweatshirt. Though there was a slight chill in the air, it was the perfect temperature for an evening stroll. She wouldn’t have wanted it to be anywhere else at this moment.
The fresh lake air was rejuvenating, so much different from the congestion of city life. The air pollution would probably catch up to her, eventually. A problem for futureQuynh. Today, she was breathing in fresh, clean air, and it was wonderful.
Another thing she noticed was how quiet Willowbrook was compared to the city. At first, it was difficult for her to fall asleep without the usual noises of the city, which normally consisted of a symphony of passing cars, wailing sirens, or sometimes drunk and disorderly pedestrians.
“Definitely beautiful.”
She stopped to admire the view, not realizing she’d been lost in thought. She’d been doing that a lot lately.
I’m losing my damn mind.
When she turned to look at Griffin, he was looking at her.
Was he calling me beautiful? Or am I imagining things?
Was she pretending there was something between them when there was nothing?
She couldn’t help the blush blooming across her cheeks. Hopefully, it was too dark for him to see it. She crossed her arms across her chest, not used to being the center of attention.
“How are you liking Willowbrook?” Griffin broke their silence after a few minutes of following Rover. The walk was otherwise leisurely, pausing occasionally when Rover would run back with his stick before running off to retrieve it when Griffin tossed it.
“It’s…unexpected.”
At his questioning glance, she shrugged her shoulders.
“I didn’t expect to ever come back here. It sorta never crossed my mind. It’s like I’ve blocked all memories of ever being here when I was a kid.”
“When did you move away?”
“I was maybe nine or ten years old. Too young to really understand what was happening.”
“Where did you move to?”
“My mom and I stayed with my aunt until she passed.”
The sounds of their footsteps through the dirt path and the gentle lapping of the lake were soothing. Griffin didn’t push her for more information, which she appreciated. She had fond memories of her aunt, though it was still difficult to think about all the people in her life who were no longer with her.
Her aunt passed. Her mother followed suit not too long after. And now, she was about to lose a father she barely remembered. It was like she was always in varying stages of grief.
Was she always destined to lose the people around her? Was she cursed to live alone for the rest of her life?
