Page 84 of Kylo
“I’ll be here.”
“Can I get Ernie a treat?”
I glanced over at my dog, his jowls vibrating as he let out little barks at something in his dream. He’d never chased a squirrel in his life, but he did like to huff at them from the window on occasion. Which was why his little feet weren’t running after them in his dream.
“I’m sure he believes he deserves one,” I said.
“A nice little steak it is,” Traeger said, going to the door.
“He doesn’t need a st—”
“What was that?” he called back. “Can’t hear you. Love you. Byeeee.”
With that, he was gone.
Alone, I sucked in a deep breath and tried not to stare at the new plants I’d just brought in from the greenhouse after they finished their quarantine.
Kylo had told me when he’d seen them that he definitely wanted one.
But he hadn’t meant that.
It had all been a ruse.
All the plants I’d already sold him were probably dead and in a landfill somewhere.
I pressed a hand to my chest where a familiar shooting sensation moved through my heart.
I had almost gotten used to it.
Without realizing it, I’d attached a lot of things in my daily life to Kylo. My shop, my dog, plants, certain foods, my bathing suit, one of my favorite movies, certain songs, and, of course, my grandmother’s facility.
I knew that there would come a time when she would no longer accept me making excuses not to visit, or insisting we meet at a restaurant.
She was placating me at the moment.
It wouldn’t last long.
I honestly thought I could handle visiting. What I couldn’t handle was her trying to play therapist and forcing the two of us together.
And I just didn’t trust her not to do that.
I hoped that once I was feeling a little better, she might stop trying to tell me to reach out to Kylo and work things out.
Until then, I was trying to keep our conversations on the short end, and focused on her and the crazy antics of her friend group.
I was about to go into the back to grab some plates, napkins, and utensils when a sleek black car pulled into the lot.
There was something oddly familiar about it for a moment, but I couldn’t place it.
I glanced at the clock, trying to figure out if I could make a sale and get this customer out of the shop before Traeger came back, so we could eat in peace, so I wasn’t looking as the door chimed and opened.
When I glanced over, though, I saw a little person making his way inside, wearing a tan suit (vest and all) and a bowler hat.
“Hey!” I greeted, forcing a smile that made my cheeks hurt it was so fake. “Can I help you with anything?”
“Actually, I’m here to try to help the both of us,” he said, stopping a few feet from the desk.
Oh.
