Page 18 of Love in Training
Theo dodges, but when he straightens, his eyes soften. “Just give it a month, okay? If you really still don’t want him then, I’ll figure something out. But can we just...”
He doesn’t finish, but from his tone, I can guess what he didn’t say.Can we do this for Kyle?I press my lips together, not sure I have this in me after everything my ex put me through.
The dog whines again. I glance at him, and when he cocks his head, Drew Forbes’s words echo through my mind:You’re the reason my brother killed himself.
I swallow hard, blinking at Rufus through a sheen of tears. He might’ve meant a lot to Kyle Forbes, but clearly he didn’t make him any happier than I did.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do with aBelgian Malinois,” I mutter. “But I’m glad I didn’t have to give him to Kyle's asshole brother.”
After Theo heads out to walk the dog, I put my back to the enormous kennel by the bed, trying to focus on the other two-thirds of the apartment: the green midcentury couch and throw pillows I love, the cute coffee table and vintage barstools I sourced at a yard sale. I spend a minute imagining my life and home as they were yesterday—exactly the way I wanted them.
But my apartment already smells like dog. There’s fur on my couch. Drool on my jeans. And a giant lump in my throat. It doesn’t seem fair. I’ve been doing my best to move on for the last two years, rebuilding my life alone. But Kyle gets to haunt me with his dog, and I can’t even ask why.
I curl my hands into fists and close my eyes, but as soon as I do, he’s there. Handsome and smiling, whispering how much heloves me. When I open them again, my vision blurs. I reach for my laptop. I can barely see the screen through a sheen of tears, but still manage to pound out an email and send it into the ether.
Friday, March 12, 20__, 10:12 PM
From:[email protected]
Subject: Re: no subject
Dear Kyle,
Why is it you get to destroy yourself and keep destroying my life? Adog, really? What made you think any of this was a good idea? Did you even know me?
C
I don’t really feel better once it’s sent, but at least I feel like I did something. Then my phone chimes with a text.
Lydia
Hey! No rush on the car. Are you back? What was it for?
You won’t believe me until I show you.
Do you have some time in the morning?
Lydia
Yeah, Henry and I don’t need to be back at PetExpo until ten.
Damn, I almost forgot PetExpo. I get up and set my laptop on the counter, opening a new document along with my notes to write up the article for Randall. I already know what it’s going to say. I’ll open with a glowing description of the expo as seen through Lydia’s eyes—the dog and cat wonderland of her dreams. Then I’ll highlight some of the businesses, give generous exposure to The Pooch Park, while never even alluding to the dog trainer from the black lagoon.
Perfect. Pick you up at eight.
Lydia
On a Saturday??
Trust me when I say this is an emergency. I’ll buy donuts.
Lydia
You hate donuts, Caprice. What is going on?
DREW
