Page 40 of Tangled Up

He had a particular concern about me spending too much time with “those orphans in Eden.” If he was so worried about me being close with people he considered beneath us, he could’ve stopped sending me here every summer.

He didn’t, and I didn’t give a shit what he thought.

My adolescence was like a black and white cookie. The bright white were the summers I spent here, while the black were those long winter months at home.

“Too bad we don’t still have bikes.” Carly glances at me over her shoulder, and her eyes are so bright.

When she looks at me, I still see the girl she was then, and I still want to touch her so badly. I want her body pressed against my back as we ride everywhere together. “You think we could both still fit on one bike?”

“I haven’t ridden a bike in ages.”

“You have the truck.”

“Trucks are useful and they retain their value.” She turns away, and I’m pretty sure she picks up the pace.

I know why she’s moving faster. We only took the truck for drives at night, and on those nights, we only had one destination on our minds. After her declaration last night, I’ve been thinking about how to approach the idea of reconciliation.

I want it.

We belong together.

Now I just have to convince her what we had all those years ago still matters. “I’m glad we cleared the air last night. Now we can start fresh—”

“We’re not starting anything.” Her voice is sharp.

She’s adorably fierce, and I fight a smile. If she were less angry, I’d know she didn’t care. As it is, the intensity of her fight makes me believe we have a chance.It’s a thin line between love and hate.

The path opens, and we step into the parking lot of an old strip mall I remember well. A white and green sign reads Dr. Paw Paw, and beneath it is a smaller sign reading Dr. Henry Dennison.

“Henry’s the new Dr. Paw Paw?” I gaze up at the establishment. “When did that happen?”

“He took over a few years ago.”

The front door bangs open as we approach. A small brass bell clangs against the glass, and a teenage girl with dark brown hair struggles to drag outside a statue of a black cat in a witch’s hat.

Carly rushes forward to help. “Lana, here. Turn it this way, and it won’t fall over.”

I had almost forgotten it was Halloween, and I step side to side, trying to find an angle to assist.

The girl straightens, shoving her hair behind her ears. “Dr. Henry says not to decorate, but it’s Halloween! It’s my favorite holiday!”

“Don’t worry about him.” Carly waves her hand. “I’ll take care of it.”

Reaching above her head, I hold the glass door as we enter the waiting room. It’s not too crowded. A man holds the leash on a big dalmatian, who looks sad in his neck cone. A woman has a carrier in her lap from which a low yowl emanates. I’m pretty sure that’s a cat.

Another woman and a small boy have a cage with a rabbit in it, and an older woman has a tiny, pink poodle. She’s very fancy in a matching pink suit, and she stands as soon as we enter.

“Thank goodness you’re here, Caroline. Snookums made a doodle in the house this morning, and she never does that. She’s clearly sick.” She sniffs at the teenager. “This young woman says we have to wait our turn.”

“Here, let me get her vitals.” Carly takes her through another door, and Lana rushes to the computer.

She taps on the screen, and calls out, “Sparkplug Evans?”

The man with the dalmatian rises just as the door opens and my old friend steps into the waiting area. Our eyes meet, and a rush of homecoming floods my chest.

“Dr. Dennison,” I announce.

“Dr. Munroe.” He echoes my tone, and we laugh, giving each other a firm hug. He steps back, bracing my shoulder. “What the heck are you doing here?”

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