Page 77 of Fierce Love
“You don’thaveto,” he says, quietly.
I stare up at him, and I wish so badly that were true—that I didn’t have to be the bad guy in any scenario, that I didn’t have toleave the island, that consequences for actions didn’t reverberate years after a decision was made. If only I could live inthatworld.
“Let me go, Nate,” I say, keeping my voice equally quiet. I don’t want to fight with him, not when the clock ticks between us, making our time together limited and finite. I’ve got a second chance, and even if it doesn’t look the way I want, I won’t spoil our time with bitterness and anger.
He releases me, and I step around him into the house. He doesn’t follow.
As soon as I enter, I call out for Kinsley, but instead of my sister, a little black dog with a white splotch on his chest and the biggest feet comes plodding toward me, his tongue lolling out of one side of his mouth. I deliberately stayed away from the puppies the last few weeks because I was afraid I’d fall in love too. A dog isn’t practical with our life in New York, but I can’t deny this little guy’s cuteness.
I drop my purse on the floor, and I fall to my knees to embrace his rambunctious puppy wiggles and licks. Kinsley stands in the light, deeper into the house, and I can tell she’s hesitant, probably because Nate didn’t come back inside.
“Are you mad?” she calls out.
“He’s Nate’s dog,” I say, keeping my tone airy. “How could I be mad?”
“I got to name him and pick out all his stuff.”
I survey her from a distance as the puppy gives me enthusiastic slurps on the face. “I want to be happy for you, Kin, but I need to be sure you understand thatwecan’t keep him.”
“I know,” she says. “I already told Nate that.” She comes closer, and I can clearly see her face now.
“You’ve been crying.”
“I lost it when Nate showed up at school with Henry.”
“That’s what you’ve called him?” I scoop him up under his front legs and hold him aloft, scanning his face. Strangely, it suits him.
“It means a lot to me,” Kin says, and I can hear the emotion in her voice, “that Nate adopted him. It might be…” She takes a shuddering breath. “It might be the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.”
My heart aches at how hard she’s trying to keep her tears at bay, and the creak of the door behind me signals Nate’s return to the scene of his crime, but I don’t even try to stir up anger.
Like always, Nate’s been able to see what lies in someone’s heart to deliver their deepest desires right to their feet. His thoughtfulness, his generosity, is unmatched. Given that I remember what it’s like to be on the receiving end of that, how can I begrudge her this?
The sadness will come—it has to. But for now, we can both bathe in the happiness we’ve started to carve out in this house. Maybe I can’t keep Nate or this dog or this life, but it’s mine for now.
“Anybody hungry?” Nate asks from behind me. “I can order in.”
“Sure,” I say, half turning toward him so he can see that even that brief desire to murder him for his impulsive kindness is gone.
His lips tilt into an almost smile, as though he can read my thoughts.
“Kin?” he asks.
“I didn’t know I was getting a puppy today, and I made plans with Indy. Can I take Henry with me?”
“As long as Indy’s family is okay with it and you take something to keep him penned up in case he’s running a bit wild.”
“He has a crate.” Kinsley glances from me to Nate and back again. “And since it’s Friday, maybe I can sleep over at Indy’s place?”
“Withthe puppy?” I ask.
“If her parents say it’s okay?” she asks.
I look at Nate, as though seeking a second opinion, and he shrugs. “You can ask.”
Twenty minutes later, Indy’s parents, Indy, and her sister are all in the driveway, making a big fuss over Henry with his sparkly purple collar and leash. Since Kinsley is spending the night, I explain about the security detail and, not for the first or likely last time, apologize for the fact that my parents are horrible people.
Just before the car pulls away, Kinsley sticks her head out the window. “Nate!”
