Page 29 of Rescue Me (Forget the Past 1)

My friend chuckles in a deep way that made all the girls at our high school sigh with longing. His rumbly voice and smoky eyes never affected me the way they did the rest of my gender. For a couple of weeks of sophomore year, we tried dating. But that first kiss I might as well have been locking lips with a relative. Charlie is more like a brother than anything. I think both of us being only children, we decided to adopt each other.

“So, who are you lusting after?”

Suddenly, I’m embarrassed. This topic is so foreign to me. I’ve been with the same guy since senior year of high school, which means any crushes I’ve had over the years got pushed so far to the back of my brain they eventually fizzled out and died from lack of sunshine. The only love life Charlie and I discuss is his.

I don’t know how to do this.

“It’s ridiculous. No reason to even think about it. I just latched on to the first hot guy I saw. I’ll get over it soon.”

“I disagree. Why get over him when you can get under him?” Carlie wiggles his eyebrows with such a devious skill level I can’t help giggling.

Pumpkin grumbles and shifts on my chest, obviously not a fan of the vibration.

The laughter leaves me feeling lightheaded and lighthearted, with only my longing weighing me down. “I miss you. When is your next trip back to the States?”

Charlie’s award-winning smile reappears. “Not sure, but I think I can make some time before the end of the year. You still going to be in NOLA?”

“I don’t know.” I frown past my phone, focused on my current living situation again. “I hope I’m out of this house at least. But I need to figure out what my life is, sans-Martin.”

Charlie nods and we talk about our parents for a bit before he starts yawning too much to keep up with the conversation.

“Go to bed, sleepyhead.”

“Okay. But we should make these video chats a more regular thing. I miss your face.”

Despite his sweet words, I grimace. “You know I don’t like talking on the phone.”

Charlie rolls his eyes. “Really? So, you’ve just been in misery for this last hour?”

A quick glance at the clock proves his time telling correct. Funny, with Charlie everything seems easier.

Can’t let him know that though. He’ll get a big head.

“Okay. Okay. I’ll think about it.”

After we end the call I consider getting up and making something for dinner for my parents and me. Only, I have no idea when the two of them will be home. Mom is off delivering a car, and the work of a judge can sometimes lead to late hours.

Besides, I have a heavy warm puppy on my lap that I don’t have the fortitude to move.

Instead, I settle back in the chair and open up my text messages.

Paige:Dog training Sunday still a go?

I’ve almost drifted off to sleep when my phone buzzes with a response.

Dash:Yes. We’ll work on walking.

Oh good. The ache in my shoulders grows worse each day as I get a thorough workout holding on to Pumpkin during our morning walks.

I sigh in contentment, the idea of seeing Dash again bringing about a warm tingling in my toes.

Or maybe I’m just losing circulation in my legs from having an eighty-pound dog on my lap.

Chapter Eleven

Dash

“Good. Make sure her nose doesn’t go past your thigh!” I call out to Paige as she and Pumpkin walk around the edge of their backyard. It took some time to get the dog to understand what we wanted from her, but that pit bull is a people pleaser. Now that she knows the rules of the game, she’s happy to play.

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