Page 27 of The Darkest Parts of Me

I don’t know how it happens so fast, but suddenly Shy starts running toward Maven and Tasha as they’re locked arm in arm, barking happily.

“Shy! No, no, no!” I shout, but she completely ignores me and jumps on them, knocking them both to the ground. I’m not sure what I expected, but a jumble of laughs and Shy whining happily, licking Maven’s face was not it. “Shy! Get off!” I yell, grabbing her by the collar and trying to pry her off.

Why do embarrassing things keep happening to me in front of this woman?

Tasha is on her knees clutching her stomach from laughing. Maven is flat on her back, stunned, but looks unharmed. I finally pull Shy off, but she still whines loudly.

“Sit,” I say to her sternly, then look back down at Maven. “I am so sorry,” I say as she sits up on her elbows, avoiding my eyes. “Are you okay?” I ask, kneeling beside her.

She wipes her face with her sleeve, her hair falling loose from parts of her long braid which is currently draped over her shoulder. She looks at me expressionless for a moment, but then she bites the inside of her cheek, trying to stop from smiling.

“I’ve never seen Shy do that to anyone!” Tasha exclaims.

“Uh-huh,” Maven breathes out, narrowing her gaze at me while still holding back a smile the best she can.

“It’s true. I swear,” I add, but she doesn’t look at me. Instead, she glances at Shy who is staying put, her tail thumping on the ground as it wags happily. Maven looks at Shy then back to me, and then the wonderful sounds of her laugh pours from her. Before I know it, all three of us are laughing, and I swear, if dogs could look smug, Shy’s expression looks like she is quite proud of herself.

“Thanks for the warm welcome, Shy,” Maven says cooly with a wide grin, rubbing a hand over Shy’s ears.

“I really am sorry,” I say as she continues to pat Shy’s back.

“I forgive you, Shy. It’s okay,” she says while looking at me. Tasha flashes me a smirk. I stand and reach down for Maven’s hand, and she squeezes it tightly as I help her to her feet.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got it,” Tasha says, standing. “Anyway. Let’s go. Mom and I got our spot all set up.” I give her an apologetic look.

I watch them walk away before I say to Shy, “Not really helping ‘the keep my distance’ plan, you know.”

Shy’s tongue sticks out of the side of her mouth, and she’s staring at me like it was nothing at all. Then to top it all off, she leaves me to follow the two of them. That little shit, but I will love that dog forever for breaking the tension. I watch Shy trail Maven and Tash all the way to where they have a group of chairs arranged together. Shaking my head, I walk over to sit next to Grant.

“I guess Shy isn’t as well trained as I thought,” Grant says to me as I sit down next to him.

“I guess not,” I mumble, rubbing my jaw as I watch Shy sit right beside Maven like she’s done it a thousand times. Grant follows my gaze.

“Looks like you’ve been replaced,” he adds, chuckling.

“I’ll say.”

“Renn! What happened over there?” Val asks as she walks over to us.

“I have no idea.”

“Looked pretty funny from where I was standing,” she says, giggling.

“It was not funny! More like, awkward.” I bellow. I can’t help but glance back at Maven as she runs her fingers through Shy’s fluffy, brown fur. Shy looks like she’s in heaven.

“Renn, are you blushing?” Valery asks, her tone rising an octave.

“What? No!” I say, standing.

“Where are you going?” she asks, giving me a look.

“To see if the food is ready. I’m hungry.”

“I think you’re right, Valery. He is blushing,” Grants says, chuckling.

“Okay, thank you! You can stop now,” I say, walking quickly toward the large tables with plates of food on top. This is going to be an interesting night to say the least.

No one really knows why, but every year without fail, a glow of fireflies make their home on the shores of Mirror Lake, and their lights shine the brightest against the still surface of the water at this time of the season. This phenomena is the closest thing I’ve found on this planet that can compare to the wonders I’ve seen in this galaxy. That is, until I saw Maven’s eyes. That thought alone heats my blood. Get a hold of yourself.

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