Page 8 of Second Down Darling

A lot of animals have trouble when they land at the shelter. They keep looking to the door, waiting for their owners to return. They don’t eat. They don’t want toys. They don’t understand why they wereabandoned.

It’s a feeling I’m well acquainted with. Now that I’ve gotten some space from my sister, I realize my family deserted me a long time ago. I was just too blind to seeit.

“The vet says he’s fine,” Sheryl calls out from her desk. “Physically, there’s nothing wrong with him. He got an IV ’cause he was dehydrated, but he won’t go near the kibble.” She pauses. “My hands are tied if he won’t eat,darlin’.”

Meaning Duke will be put down because the shelter can’t afford the feeding tube. She’s already explained the vet will do the first treatment pro bono, but anything beyond that, Second Chances Animal Rescue will have to foot the bill. And since they can’t afford that, they’ll hand the dog over to Animal Control, which will euthanizehim.

My eyes sting at the thought this beautiful animal might lose his life because some asshole mistreatedhim.

I reach out my hand, with my fingers curled in so he doesn’t nip one off. Duke jerks back, like I’m going to strike him, and my heartclenches.

Witnessing the aftermath of abuse is the worst part about volunteering at a rescueshelter.

“It’s okay, buddy,” I say softly. “I’m not going to hurt you. I know what it’s like to not have anyone you can trust. I just want to be yourfriend.”

I shrug off my camera and tuck it carefully into the secondhand padded case. Duke’s headshot will have to wait. I don’t let myself consider how he might not be here later this week when I return with the new adoptionflyers.

For the next few minutes, I try my best to forget what might be on this floor and slowly sprawl out on the ground and wait for Duke to get used tome.

Sheryl’s footsteps echo on the concrete floor. She pauses when she sees me lying down in Duke’s cage. Lifts abrow.

“We’re bonding,” I whisper as I creep my hand closer to Duke. I keep my eyes down because I don’t want him to think I’m challenging him. I’m a huge pushover, something I’m working on, but the terrified dog doesn’t knowthis.

“You’re crazy, Charlie, but I dig that about you.” Sheryl’s husky laugh wanes as she continues to the break room, where Merle’s low baritone voice joinshers.

Sheryl’s in her forties. Divorced. Has a smoker’s cough and is secretly in love with Merle, who runs this place. She’s never come out and said she has a thing for her boss, but I cantell.

After all, I’m an expert when it comes to unrequitedlove.

For a second, I let myself think about Jake and his captivating eyes fringed with long lashes and the way they crinkle at the corners when hesmiles.

I hope he’s doing well. That he’s kicking ass at football and that he and my sister have worked through their challenges. I say a prayer for him and Kota and baby Asher every night. I might not be in their lives anymore, but they’re always in myheart.

Despite moving four hours away, I’m still obsessed with Jake. Not in the way you think. Just… he’s who I compare every man to, especially the datable men around here. And, well, they always fallshort.

At least Jake didn’t know I was in love with him. That’s a level of humiliation I wouldn’t have been able to stand—him knowing how I felt and still choosing mysister.

A scratchy, wet tongue licks my wrist, and it’s my turn to jerk in surprise. Duke stares back at me and whines. He bows his head, and I reach up to pethim.

“Look at you. Aren’t you a sweetboy?”

I relish the distraction. Transferring colleges two years ago to get away from the Jake and Dakota sex-fest helped, but once in a while, those old ghosts hauntme.

Mostly I worry about my nephew. My sister isn’t a great mom, something she admits. Kota’s just not that present when she’s with Asher. I’m sure Jake will hold down the fort, but he plays football, so he can’t fill inallthegaps.

I miss Asher so much some days it’s hard to breathe. He’s three now and probably doesn’t remember his aunt Charlie anymore. The heartache of not seeing him is what brought me to Second Chances originally. I needed something to fill that crater in myheart.

The worst part is I can’t even ask how he and his parents are doing because I changed my phone number when I took off. I left Kota and Jake notes to explain, sorta, so they wouldn’t think anything horrible hadhappened.

And I called my mother so she’d understand why I couldn’t go to NTU anymore. All she did was scream I was ruining everything before she told me not to bother coming home for the summer and hung up on me. Since my father goes along with whatever my mom wants, I didn’t bother calling him because I know he doesn’tcare.

My mother was just pissed she’d have to start babysitting instead of dumping that responsibility onme.

I’ve been on my own eversince.

With a sigh, I drag myself off the floor, but I can’t shake the idea that if I don’t do something, Duke won’t makeit.

Sheryl and Merle are reviewing some paperwork when I pop into the break room. ESPN is on in the background. Merle is obsessed with sports. That’s the only drawback to helping around here. I try to avoid anything that might mention North Texas U football andJake.

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