Page 118 of Bookworm

"Yeah," she said, quickly wiping her eyes, "it's just she hasn't approached anyone like that since she got here."

"Really?"

She nodded. "Most of these animals have been through a lot.It's a beautiful thing when they open up after they've been treated badly."

Dare came over and wrapped his arms around Viola from behind.

"What's up, ladies?" he said.

"Nothing," Viola said back. "What are you doing?"

He shrugged. "Taking a break. I missed you."

"But I talked to you like ten minutes ago."

"Too long," he said and dropped a kiss on her neck.

Viola smiled softly at him, and Dare grinned back.

"You guys are making me feel extra single," Scarlett said.

"Me, too," I agreed.

Viola frowned. "But you're with Bo, right?"

I forced a laugh and waved that off. "Oh yeah, of course, I am. It's just…you know how it is with couples. When you're around them, you feel kinda confused and alone. You know?"

She shook her head.

"Well, it's true."

Scarlett jumped in then to save me from my ramblings.

"Hey Vi, I wanted to talk to you about that new string piece we're performing," she said. "Can you come with me for a sec?"

"Sure," Viola said, and as my sister tugged her and Dare away, I shot her a grateful look.

In response, Scarlett mouthed, "What was that?"

"I don't know," I mouthed back.

There was only one explanation I could come up with. Faced with the very real relationship between Viola and Dare, the clear affection between them, I hadn't remembered my pretend arrangement with Bo. It was an honest mistake. Anyone would've made it.

Speaking of which, my fake boyfriend was coming this way.

I shook off all the odd thoughts andsmiled at him. "Did you like story time? Princess Anaobviously loved you."

"Ah yeah," he said, "she's a sweet dog."

"Viola told me she hasn't let anyone pet her."

"Why not?"

"She thinks she might've experienced some hard times before getting to the shelter."

Bo's frown was fierce.

"It takes a long time to come back from something like that," I said.

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