Page 176 of Dear Rosie

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Part of me expected him to hate me. But Charles is too good for that. Too magnanimous.

I reach into the box and haul him out and onto my lap.

“You’re such a good boy.” I hiccup into his fur. “The best boy. I love you so much.”

He just keeps purring.

And I hug him tighter.

Then my phone vibrates with an incoming call.

“What if we run away?” I whisper against Charles, knowing who must be calling.

He meows again.

He gets it.

Resigned, I pull my phone out of my pocket.

I slide my tongue across my lower lip, my mouth feeling suddenly dry.

It’s a video call.

I don’t want to answer.

But I’ve spent so much of my existence doing things I don’t want to do that I’m used to it.

I take another breath, then accept the call.

As it connects, I angle the camera so it’s on Charles, showing he’s okay.

“Aw, hey, bud.” Nathan greets his cat with a kind tone.

Charles stretches his neck, releasing an extra loud purr.

Nathan chuckles. “Did you enjoy your field trip today?”

I keep my face out of view.

“You gave our Rosie quite the scare, huh?”

Our Rosie.

I sniff.

“My poor baby.”

I peek over Charles’s head at the phone and see Nathan’s handsome face filling the screen.

But he’s not looking at Charles; he’s looking at me.

“I’m so sorry.” I nearly choke on the words.

“Rosie—”

“I wasn’t thinking. And I endangered Charles. And I-I.” I suck in a jagged breath. “I’m so sorry, Nathan.” I squeeze my eyes shut and press my face into Charles’s back.

“Rosie.” Nathan’s voice is so soothing that it makes the tears come faster.

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