Page 67 of Before This Ends (Before)

I stand from the side of the bed and glance at my empty overnight bag, the stuff that was inside it currently in the pile of dirty laundry that just keeps growing. I debate if I should repack it with clean clothes, then decide against it. With Hazel gone and Winter back home, I doubt Miles will want me sleeping over. And maybe Miles can get a full-night’s sleep for once without me waking him up.

It takes me less that twenty minutes to get to Eli’s building from Miranda’s apartment, and as I’m walking toward the glass double doors, I happen a glance across the street to where Miles and I stood when things between Eli and I finally came to an end. It feels like a lifetime has passed since that moment.

Going into the building, I take the elevator up, then knock on his apartment door and wait, hearing Dolly’s tiny paws claw at the door.

As soon as the door opens, Dolly comes bouncing out and begins dancing around my feet, making me laugh. I bend to pick her up, but it takes a second to catch her in her excitement. “Hey, baby.” I hold her wiggling body against my chest and laugh as she licks my face. If Winter was here, she would lose her mind.

Lifting my eyes to Eli’s, I smile. He looks exactly the same, but all those feelings I had that were tied to him are gone. There is nothing there. Even my anger and frustration with him has vanished.

He opens the door wider, and I follow him inside. “I found a few things you forgot.” He waves a hand toward the box on the coffee table that is filled with random items and my photo album. But it’s not the only box. There are moving boxes stacked up against every wall.

“Thank you.”

“It’s not a big deal.” He tucks his hands into the pockets of his sweats. “She misses you,” he mumbles, watching Dolly.

“The feeling is mutual.” I laugh when she tries to bury her face into the collar of my sweatshirt.

“My mom is coming to pick her up next week.”

“Why?” I frown. He got her from his mom before I ever met him. Her dog had puppies, and she couldn’t keep them all, so she gave him one and his brother another.

“I got a new job.” He glances around the apartment. “It’s in New York, and the place my job rented for me doesn’t allow pets.”

“I’m sorry,” I say quietly. “But congratulations on the new job.”

He shrugs, not looking excited. Instead, he looks sad, and I hate myself a little because I know I’m at least partly responsible for that emotion.

“Do you want her?”

“What?” I jerk back.

“I know my mom is willing to take her, but she is already stressed financially from losing her job and having three dogs. I don’t want Dolly to get there, have Mom change her mind, and her give her away to someone else.”

“Are you being serious?”

“She loves you.”

“I—”

“Please, I wanted to ask you before, but things just—” He cuts himself off, and I nod, because I get it. It’s weird between us. Even if there are no hard feelings, things are still weird.

“Are you sure you can’t take her with you?”

“Yeah, there’s no way I can afford a place on my own, not one that allows pets.”

“What about later?”

“No.” That one word is firm.

“Then of course I’ll take her,” I say quietly, and his shoulders sag like he’s relieved.

“I’ve got to fly to New York the day after tomorrow to go sign my lease and meet my new boss. I was going to put her in doggy day care, but if?—”

“I’ll keep her. You can just let me know when you’re back, and I’ll bring her over, and then I’ll pick her up whenever you’re ready.”

“I’d rather just…” He looks around. “I’d rather just close this chapter now.”

“Okay,” I whisper. “I can give you some money?—”

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