Page 65 of Puppy Love

“Well, I hope that was long enough because I’ve got to get this guy,” Cody scrunches his nose at Westley, and though I’d done the same only hours ago, it makes me hypocritically want to punch him in the face. “In with Dr. Robinson before she leaves.”

I shoot Violet one last pleading glance, not caring about the desperation behind it. She gives me a singular nod, and all the tense muscles in my body slowly ease.

“Right, sorry about that,” she says through what seems like a genuine chuckle to someone who wouldn’t know any better. “Work stuff. You like it here, Cody?”

I’m almost amazed at Violet’s ability to flip a switch. How easy duality comes to her, like second nature. Her tone can be so curt one second, then like sweet tea the next. Cody seems intrigued too, or maybe more confused. His brows quirk, and he glances at me, my stomach twisting under his gaze.

“Yeah, I like it alright. But it’s just temporary.”

Violet continues scribbling on the intake form, not looking up at him but ensuring the forced sincerity remains in her tone.

“That’s a shame. How come?”

I chew furiously on the inside of my cheek as his eyes burn a hole through me, his gaze still unbroken. My chest twitches from my anxious breathing, which I swear puts a shimmer in his eye.

“I’m moving in January.”

Violet’s head snaps up, just about at the same exact moment that my heart sinks. It makes no sense really, why that sentence filled me with dread instead of relief.

The proof I’ve moved on is standing right next to me. But for some reason, my vision goes blurry.

“Oh Cool! Where are yo—”

“Why are you moving?”

I don’t mean to cut Violet off. I don’t even mean to say anything at all. But the breaking words flow out of me with no regard for my intentions.

“I got accepted into the music program at USC,” he answers. I blink, a tear trickling down my cheek. Cody moving has no effect on me. I mean, really, I haven’t even seen him since the breakup. And it surprised me, but after the first few months went by, I didn’t want to. So why, in this moment, does it feel like the end of the world?

I nod, wiping my face as I sniffle.

“Oh,” I say, my voice cracking. “That’s great.”

Cody nods, but our eye contact is broken by Violet, who waves a white sheet in the air.

“Here you go,” she says, and Cody turns his attention toward her. He scans the paper, nodding in approval, then walks back around the front of the desk. The familiar allspice scent filling the air around me is almost nostalgic.

“Well, I’m going to take him back, and you two should be all set,” Cody says, slipping a leash over Westley’s head and returning the old one to Violet. He looks over his shoulder as he stands in front of the staff door.

“Call me, Cam,” he says, then disappears behind it.

Violet grabs my hand without hesitation, squeezing softly.

“Are you okay?” she asks, the familiar roughness of her palm is strangely soothing. I nod, but her grip only tightens. “Cam, you’re shaking.”

“Huh?” I look down. My hand is trembling in hers. I realize now that, for some reason, I’m still crying. I take a shaky breath, my heart frozen in my stomach, yet racing in my chest at the same time.

“He really is a dick, huh?” she asks. I swallow, my shoulder shaking as I wipe my cheek against it.

“Violet please,” I sniff. “Just don’t.” I look at her briefly through my wet lashes, and she gives me an apologetic nod. “Just take me home.” *

twenty-two

Leash Laws

Violet

From the moment we left Pine Paws Animal Sanctuary, I haven’t been able to get rid of the sinking feeling in my gut. I’d expected it to go away after a good night’s sleep, but it was still there the next morning. And today, I woke up feeling so queasy I had to sprint to the bathroom just in case.

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