Page 67 of Forever To Me

Pulling away, I tell myself I’m heading back to The Black Dog to handle some invoices. But somehow, I end up parked outside Steamy Sips instead. I need a coffee, and I like to support Cami and check in.

The second I approach the coffee trailer, Cami’s face lights up like she’s been waiting for me all morning.

“Well, if it isn’t just the man I wanted to see,” she says, handing off a latte to another customer before turning her full attention to me.

I narrow my eyes. “Why do I feel like this is going to be bad?”

Cami glances around like she’s about to commit a federal offense, then leans over the counter.

“I need a favor,” she says, voice low.

I sigh. “Cami?—”

She waves me off, eyes darting left and right before locking back onto mine.

“Look, I know you have contacts back in Nashville.”

I school my expression into neutral territory. My face betrays nothing—not my past, not my history, and definitely not the truth behind what she just said.

Even though some people around here know who I used to be, we kind of have an unspoken thing that we don’t talk about it. And it’s been great. Until now.

Cami waits, watching me closely. I don’t confirm or deny it. I just cross my arms.

“What do you want?” I grunt, defeatedly.

She leans in closer, practically whispering. “Do you think you could get someone to steal Violet’s dog back from her shithead ex? He’s in Nashville.”

I blink. “What?”

Cami nods seriously, glancing over her shoulder like we’re plotting a heist. “I think it would cheer her up to have Rip Heeler back.”

I process that sentence slowly.

Her dog is named Rip Heeler?

I exhale, dragging a hand through my hair. “What happened to her dog?”

Cami straightens, her expression darkening. “That jackass ex of hers stole him. When she left, he said she didn’t deserve to keep Rip, even though she’s the one who raised him. And now she’s here, trying to move on, but she’s heartbroken over that dog. I saw the way she got so sad when she saw my blue heeler and she really misses her dog. And you know Violet?—”

I do.

I know how her face softens when she talks about animals. I know how her fingers linger on Pickles’ fur every time she comes trotting up to Violet like she’s her favorite person.

I know how she loves horses and how her smile looks different around them, like something inside her untangles.

I didn’t know about her dog.

And now I do. And now I can’t just let this happen. I would want my dog if someone took her. I love my dogs. I even named my bar after my dog.

Damn it.

Cami sighs. “I just… I think it would mean everything to her.”

I lean against the counter, arms crossed. “Cami, we can’t just go around stealing dogs.”

She gives me a flat look. “You say that like we’re talking about swiping a stranger’s dog from their front yard. This is her dog, Walker. He’s the thief. We’re just… correcting an injustice.”

I shake my head. “I don’t know.”

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