Page 46 of Since the Day We Kissed

As Ethan walked out, Kara stood there, heart pounding, her mind racing to catch up. She’d agreed to dinner with him—just like that.

How did I let that happen?

And more importantly, what am I gonna wear?

16

Ethan

Ethanclosedthefrontdoor, and Hero bounded down the hallway, paws skidding on the smooth floor.

“Hey buddy! Miss me?” Ethan chuckled, bending down to ruffle the fur on Hero’s neck.

“I know, I know. Come on, let’s go outside.”

Hero didn’t need to be told twice. He darted past Ethan and through the doggy door, while Ethan ambled to the kitchen. At the counter, Ethan grabbed a tennis ball from the mesh bag full of dog toys before stepping onto the back porch and shielding his eyes against the afternoon sun.

Hero’s eyes lit up, and his fluffy tail wagged wildly when Ethan revealed the worn, neon-yellow tennis ball. With a grin, Ethan tossed the ball across the yard, watching as Hero bounded after it with unbridled enthusiasm, his paws kicking up tufts of grass.

As Hero raced back with the ball, Ethan’s mind wandered to the rescue, and inevitably, to Kara. He couldn’t help but marvel at Kara’s dedication. The sheer amount of work she managed on her own was staggering. Hero dropped the ball, now coated in slobber, at Ethan’s feet, tail swishing back and forth.

“Good boy,” Ethan praised, picking up the ball and throwing it again. He smiled as he watched Hero chase after it and recalled his night with Kara. It had been good to hang out with her again, even if it was more work related. There was something about her presence that made even the most mundane tasks enjoyable.

His mind shifted to Charlotte, and a chuckle escaped as he remembered her quick wit. She reminded him so much of Kara—the same warmth in her smile, the same determination in her eyes when she set her mind to something. The apple hadn’t fallen far from the tree.

Ethan headed inside after a few more throws, Hero trotting close behind. “Come on, boy. Let’s get you something to eat.”

In the kitchen, the sound of kibble hitting the metal bowl filled the air as Ethan prepared Hero’s dinner and refreshed his water. He watched the dog eat, his thoughts returning to Kara and the rescue. There had to be other ways he could help lighten her load.

Wait. I got it.

Ethan hurried down the hallway, his footsteps muffled by the faded carpet runner. Entering the bedroom, Hero trotted in after him, his collar jingling with each step.

“Keeping me company?” Ethan smiled, reaching down to give Hero a quick scratch behind the ears.

He cleared off the weathered oak desk, dumping the haphazard piles of books and overstuffed folders onto the twin bed. Sitting in the swivel chair, he opened the center drawer and pulled out a notebook and a pen. As he did, he felt Hero’s warm presence against his leg, the dog having inched closer to rest his head on Ethan’s foot.

For the next few hours, Ethan scribbled furiously, his pen flying across the paper, jotting down ideas from his time at the Virginia rescue, the scratching sound filling the quiet room. Every now and then, Ethan paused, twirling the pen between his fingers as he thought. Some things he had written down were strategies that had worked well, others were plans they’d never had the chance to implement. But he wasn’t sure if Kara had tried any of these before, and it couldn’t hurt to share them with her.

He reached down, giving Hero a gentle pat.

“What do you think, boy?” Ethan asked. “Think Kara will like these ideas?”

Hero responded with a soft woof and a thump of his tail against the floor, which Ethan chose to interpret as a yes.

The fading afternoon light caught Ethan’s attention. His phone screen glowed: 6:25 p.m.

“Shoot, I need to get ready,” he muttered, scrambling to his feet. As he did, a thought crossed his mind.

Is this ... a date?

The worddatehung in his mind. Ethan shook his head, as if trying to dislodge the thought.

“It’s not. I mean, we’re ...” Ethan trailed off, shaking his head. “Catching up, that’s all.”

But even as he tried to convince himself, a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. Date or not, Ethan couldn’t deny the flutter in his chest at the thought of seeing Kara again.

With that warmth still lingering in his chest, Ethan moved to his bag, rummaging through his clothes. “Just hanging out,” he repeated to himself, even as he bypassed his usual t-shirts in favor of something nicer.

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