Page 62 of Falling for the Forward

“Yep. I’m not lucky enough to get rid of him this easily.”

“Uncle Carter!”

I shake my head and sigh. “He’s grown on me a little bit, I guess. Everyone in the neighborhood has seen us walking him and they know he’s ours because no one else is insane enough to have a farm animal in their house. If someone finds him, they’ll bring him back.”

“What if he just lies down and gives up on life? He could freeze to death.”

I scrunch my face in confusion. “He’s a pig, Liv. Why would he want to give up being petted and fed Goldfish and cupcakes?”

“I chased him for a while, but I was afraid I’d get lost. He went into the woods at the end of that cul-de-sac with the house that has a guest cottage.”

“Okay.” I drive in the direction of the cul-de-sac. “What’s this I hear about you crying over a boy?”

“Ugh, did Charlotte tell you?”

“Don’t worry about who told me.”

“Only Suki and Charlotte know, and Suki wouldn’t betray me.”

“Okay, drama queen. What happened?”

She shrugs. “He doesn’t like me. That’s it. And now he knows I like him and it’s embarrassing.”

“He needs to get some glasses. Any guy should consider himself lucky you like him.”

A smile tugs at her lips. “Thanks. I thought you’d be mad that I like a boy.”

“No, of course not. You can like boys as long as you stay at least six feet away from them at all times.”

“Are you serious?”

“Absolutely.”

“It’s him!” Her face lights up and she points out the passenger window. “He’s okay.”

Darling is walking in someone’s front yard, his snout to the ground as he explores. I’m more relieved than I thought I would be.

I park in front of the house and we both get out of the car. Darling lifts his head and looks at us.

“Darling, come on!” Olivia says. “Let’s go home.”

He turns and walks in the opposite direction of us, his leash dragging through the snow.

“Darling!” I call. “Come on, dude, it’s cold out here.”

We jog toward him. As soon as he sees me, he speeds up. I stop and shake my head.

“We can’t let him get away!” Olivia says as she runs to catch up with him.

It’s freezing out here and I’m missing my nap. I run faster this time, catching up to him. I bend down to pick his leash up, but he darts away.

“You bastard,” I mutter.

Olivia tries to grab him, but he eludes her, too.

“Let’s try to box him in,” I call out.

I get on one side of him and try to close in, making Darling run toward her. He does, but when he gets close to her, he dodges to the side.

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