Page 78 of The Riley Effect

“You were good for her, Jalen and deep down, I know she knows that too. You guys will find a way to work this out. There isn’t a person that you two have spent time with that doesn’t think you two are meant to be together.”

It almost feels like a pep talk coach would give us in the locker room. I’m refocused and fired up. I’m going to go get that trophy, then come home and get my girl.

“Thanks, Lola, I really needed that,” I wrap her up in a bear hug and only jump away when Mia lets out a high-pitched bark.

“Oh my gosh.” I take her from Lola’s hands, flip her so she is lying horizontally in my arms and rock her like a baby. When she finally calms down, I place a kiss on her head and hand her back to Lola. “Thanks again for taking care of her.”

“Anytime, I’m happy I have someone to share the apartment with.”

I help bring Mia’s things to the car, and once they pull out of the driveway, I walk back to the house with a newfound bounce in my stride.

37

Ivy

We’re scheduled to leave a few days after the guys, and it honestly feels good to know that I can’t run into Jalen or any of the other guys on campus. I’ve spent most of it in the library trying to get ahead of the classes I’m going to miss while we are on the road.

Now I’m as caught up as my professors will let me be without actually attending classes, and since sitting in my room and crying has lost its appeal over the last few days, I decide to head to the shelter.

The sound of barking comforts me, and I’m as thankful as ever to have this place to come to.

I know it’s silly because I’ll be able to visit whenever I come home, but I’m going to miss this place next year. So, I am going to enjoy every last one of these regular visits.

Jill is feverishly typing at the computer when I walk past the front desk.

“Hey, sweetie, how are you?”

She doesn’t look up at me as she asks the question, and I’m thankful that she can’t see the tears that have betrayed me. It’s the fact that I can’t force myself to answer her question that has her looking up from what she was working on.

“Ivy, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I’m fine.”

I round the desk with my eyes fixated on each step forward. I’m fooled into thinking I’ll be able to break free. I’m a step away from entering the dogs’ housing quarters when a soft hand lands on my elbow. She pulls me back, and then I’m face to face with her for the first time since I decided to take this break with Jalen.

I sag into her hug and just let myself feel the emotions that have been trapped inside me. It’s not just what’s going on with Jalen and me, but it’s leaving home and starting another four years of school, not knowing where that’s going to be. This hug also feels motherly, and now, more than any other time since her passing, I need it.

“I’m just really missing my Mom. I could use her right now.”

“I know I’ll never come close to replacing your Mom, but I’m a good listener,” She links her arm through mine. “Let’s go to my office.”

Once we’re settled into her office, I tell her what happened with Jalen and how upset I am with myself for trusting someone new when I was perfectly happy with the trajectory of my life pre-Jalen. That going back to the status quo isn’t possible because my sister is dating Jalen’s uncle, and even if I wanted to be mad at her for complicating all of this, I can’t. She is thehappiest she has been in a long time, and she hasn’t brought anyone around the kids since Darek passed. If anyone deserves to be happy, it’s her. I end my emotional dumping by telling Jill how much I’m going to miss her.

“Well, you’re not getting rid of me that easily.”

Jill moves from behind her desk and smothers me in another motherly hug.

This is why it’s going to be so hard to move out of Westvale because people like Jill, the people who adopted me into their families, made sure I had a ride to practice when my sister had to work. They always made sure the Rhodes girls knew that they were loved.

When she releases me, her eyes have a soft glow to them.

“Why don’t you come feed the dogs with me? You leave tomorrow?”

I nod and follow her back to where we keep the dog food before walking down opposite sides of the dogs’ living space until we meet at Riley’s bowl. If you’ve ever had a dog, you know they possess some kind of secret power to sense your foul mood and completely flip it.

I sit next to him, run my hand down his back and watch him enjoy his lunch. Riley waits until the bowl is licked clean to place his big ol’ booty on my crossed legs. For the first time since Saturday, a genuine smile slides across my face, all thanks to this seventy-five-pound lap dog.

“Isn’t it crazy the effect these animals have on your life?”

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