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I closed my eyes and let myself sink into him, my favorite day coming to an end.
Chapter Thirty-five
Miles
Something about this place, combined with the three of us, just…clicked. Sunday, we’d spent hiking. Daisy had complained the trails were too flat, and Reed had muttered about wide open spaces, but once we’d reached our lookout destination and taken in the views, they’d both shut their complaining little mouths. Reed had even screwed up his face when we’d taken a silly selfie.
Then we’d parked our asses on the patio of a tap house and had spent the rest of the day there. Not the usual spot for a fourteen-year-old, a non-drinker, and a sober person, but they had good pretzels, outdoor games, and the vibe was relaxed.
Nothing like spending the day in the sun with people you loved.
On Monday, Daisy had to get work done, so Reed and I left her in the penthouse to explore a paved trail by the river.
I pulled into a parking spot, and Reed frowned. “This isn’t the trailhead.”
“Nope. We’re stopping here first.”
“The Humane Society? You’re adopting a dog?”
“I’m not, unfortunately. Maybe one day. Today, we’re going to borrow a dog.”
“Wha—it’s not a library.”
“True. But this Humane Society has a program where you can borrow a dog for the day. Take them on walks and give them freedom. What do you say?”
“What makes you think I like dogs?”
I patted his shoulder. “You’re a cool guy. No way you don’t.”
Actually, I had no idea. I’d read about this program while I’d been checking out what Sacramento had to offer. I was here for me. I wanted to play with a dog or two. Reed also enjoying it had been an afterthought—not that I would ever tell him that.
In the end, Reed was the one to select Solomon, the somber, snow-white greyhound who hadn’t even gotten up to sniff us through the glass when we’d put our fingers through the holes. He’d only started to perk up when we’d gotten him to the trail and let him explore. Since he’d started sniffing every surface and cranny, his tail hadn’t stopped wagging.
We ventured off the trail on a dirt path to the river, and Solomon splashed around, yipping and bounding like a puppy. I’d never heard Reed laugh like he did when the damn dog rolled his long body in the dirt then stood up, looking like he’d bathed in mud.
“The shelter didn’t mention having to return him clean, did they?”
Reed huffed a laugh. “If they did, I didn’t hear anything about it.”
I pointed to the river. “Solomon, go clean yourself off!”
The big, goofy dog seemed to understand me, trotting back to the water and stomping around. He was having the time of his life.
“I already feel like shit giving him back,” Reed said.
“Same, kid. Maybe he’ll hang onto the happiness he’s feeling for a while and some lucky family will come in, see a smiley good boy, and want him.”
He kicked a rock, sending it skittering off the paved path. “Sucks he has to be cheerful for someone to like him. Can’t just be himself.”
“Nah. We liked him, didn’t we? It just took the right people seeing the potential in him.” I thought we might’ve been talking about more than the dog. “We took one look at him and knew we wanted to hang out with him, right?”
“Why’d you want to hang out with him? Was it pity?”
Definitely not talking about the dog.
“Look, Reed. You and I get along because we’re straight with each other, right?”
He nodded once.
