Page 119 of Rainstorm

“Someone wants to talk with you,” she returns to announce a couple of minutes later.

“Who is it?” I grumble. “I’m not expecting anyone today.”

“It’s the neighbor who moved into your old place. Seems he’s having trouble with the lights or something, so he wondered if you could help him.”

I don’t know how I can be of any help, since I’m hardly an electrician.

Plus, I don’t want to go back into that house. It still hurts to even pass by the front door, although I force myself do it sometimes, just to prove to myself that I am not pathetic and feeble.

I huff irritably as I get up from the couch, cursing as I give my appearance a quick cursory check. My jeans are reasonably clean, and my blouse isn’t stained. My ponytail seems okay and a glance in the mirror confirms I don’t have anything green stuck in my teeth.

Whoever asked for me is no longer in the hallway, so I reluctantly head to my old house, where I knock on the door, as a dog barks excitedly from the other side.

“Oh. My. God,” I exclaim in total shock when the door opens and I see who’s standing there.

Chase.

It’s not possible.

He’s here.

He’s here!

He’s really here!

He also has a small fur baby scampering around the cane he’s leaning on.

I want to jump into his arms, I want to smell him, I want to touch every part of him to make sure that he’s just the same.

He stands there smiling hesitantly, as he holds the door open.

We’re clearly both very apprehensive, which I guess is hardly surprising, considering.

His eyes stare hungrily at me, while I ogle him madly.

When he takes my hand, electricity instantly surges through my body. It’s that spark, of course. It never left and it’s still there, stronger than ever now that we’re in physical contact. How could I pretend this whole time that I didn’t miss him?

I’m so caught up that I haven’t noticed I’m actually inside the house now. I can’t drag my eyes away from him and I don’t want to.

He’s slimmer than he used to be, evidence of what he’s been through, and his hair is cropped very short, but no question, he’s still as handsome as ever.

“You look…”

“Alive? Standing on my own two feet?” he jokes to cover up how nervous he is.

“And who is this?” I ask, turning my attention to the little yellow Labrador puppy crazily running around our feet.

“This is Gaviota.” Seagull. I love the quirky name, it’s adorable. He picks up the puppy, scratching its head before putting it in my trembling hands. “You said one way of starting a family was to adopt a dog, so I went to the rescue center and got us our first born.”

Oh. My. Heart.

A puppy dog.

I have to say something, emotions are running through my body like a crazy river about to flood.

“But what are you doing here, Chase? Shouldn’t you be on your way to The Orchard? Plus, how did you even get in, since this is no longer our home?”

I look around and swear my eyes must be deceiving me.

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