Page 50 of Kylo
There was a crackling noise.
Then there he was, his droopy eyes a little more alert than usual.
“Hey, bud. Those assholes scared you, huh?” I asked, reaching out to rub his velvet ears. “They scared your mom, too. We should go check on her.”
His presence gave me the excuse I needed to be able to check on her.
I just so happened to be driving down the road.
When I saw Ernest darting down the road.
I stopped to get him.
She wouldn’t suspect a thing.
And I could see if she was okay.
“Come on, bud,” I called, patting my leg, and trying to move away. “Come on. Let’s go see mom. You want a treat?” I asked.
His head whipped up at that, but he didn’t move to follow.
“That was probably the workout of a lifetime for you, huh?” I asked, walking over to him. “Alright. Let’s do it this way,” I said, squatting down and sliding my arms under him.
I was shocked at the weight of him.
“Jesus, man. The fuck do you weigh?” I asked as I got to my feet, readjusting his awkwardly shaped body, then starting back toward Vital Greens.
I didn’t see Rue anywhere.
Until I got to the door.
She was on the other side as I yanked it open.
Her face had been a mask of absolute horror.
Until she spotted the dog in my arms.
Then, fuck, she just fell apart.
She dropped down to the floor, her face buried in her hands, sobbing so hard that her body shook.
“Hey, darlin’, hey,” I murmured.
I sidestepped her to set down Ernest, who whined and nudged her side.
Then I pulled the door closed, got down on the floor, and pulled Rue into my arms.
Ernest stayed close, his body pressed to his owner’s as she cried into my chest.
Not just cried.
She fucking shattered.
I’d never seen anything like it.
Not only did the sobs rack her body, but she was trembling so violently that it almost felt like a seizure. Her cries were frantic, constant, loud. And the tears just soaked through my shirt in moments.
“Hey, you’re okay,” I assured her, squeezing her tighter like I could hold her together if I tried hard enough. “I’m right here,” I added when that didn’t work. That got a sad little whimper out of her. “I’m not going anywhere,” I assured her.
