Page 18 of Midlife Animal Rescuer Wolf

“Bryon,” called a voice. “Can I talk to you?”

He blinked. That wasn’t Harold.

His heart suddenly thudding faster in his ribcage, he bolted from the bedroom, nearly stumbling over his belongings as he made for the front door. Sure enough, when he pulled it open, there stood the last woman he’d expected to show up on his doorstep in a million years.

“Rhoda?” he croaked.

The woman tucked her jet-black hair behind her ear, flashing him a tiny smile that set his heart a thousand paces faster. She was shorter than he was, wearing a flowery gown that stopped just below her knees.

“Hey, Bryon,” she said. “Can I come in?”

It took him a few seconds to finally regain his ability to speak. “I...uh, I mean...sure, why not?”

He stepped back to admit her into the living room, almost forgetting to shut the door behind her. When he turned to face her, the smile on her face was gone, replaced with a confused frown as she took in the empty space where his furniture and decorations had once sat.

“What’s going on?” she wanted to know. “Are you moving out?”

Great. First time he’d had the woman of his dreams over at his place, and it just happened to be as he was preparing to make a run for it. What was she even doing here? They’d had a few conversations over the past month, but they hadn’t exactly started dating.

If Harold had heard that Rhoda had paid Bryon a visit, Bryon would’ve never heard the last of I, except Harold didn’t care about their friendship anymore. The realization hit him like a kick in the groin.

“S-something like that,” he stuttered. He cleared his throat, trying to keep his voice as deep as possible. “What... what did you want to talk about?”

She finally fixed her concerned gaze on him. Those dark eyes bored into his, lovely as ever. “I’ve been hearing... rumors about you. Harold said he saw you the other night.”

Bryon shook his head. “Harold says a lot of things. He was drunk. Whatever he saw... whatever he thinks he saw... you don’t really think I’m a monster, do you?”

Rhoda was silent for the next few seconds. Too long.

“Well,” she finally said, “that’s why I came here. I want to know if it’s true.”

He blinked at her in surprise. “What’s that even supposed to mean? Do you believe Harold or not?”

“Bryon.” She pressed her lips together, and for a second her concerned expression gave way to something else. Her hand trembled slightly at her side. “I don’t know what to believe. Now maybe if you could prove to me that you’re not what Harold’s been telling everyone you are—”

“Prove it?” He clenched his jaw, unable to believe what he was hearing. So this was why she’d come to see him. He should’ve known that the second he saw her on his doorstep. “What on earth are you even talking about, Rhoda? How am I supposed to prove...?” He silenced himself, shaking his head. “Maybe it’s best if you leave.”

She looked taken aback by that. “Are you kidding? I just want to know the truth, Bryon.”

“No, you want to see the monster Harold’s been talking about.”

“I don’t want to see a monster.” She shook her head slowly, an expression of hurt creeping onto her face. “I’ve always liked you, Bryon. Really liked you. I don’t want to think of you as anything other than what I’ve known you to be.”

The living room descended into complete silence. Bryon’s heartbeat had slowed to a series of heavy thumps. He stared across the room at her, wondering if he’d misheard her. Rhoda... liked him? Surely he’d imagined that.

No... she’d said it. A flutter of excitement arose in his belly. She liked him. How many times had he dreamed of a moment like this?

Not that it mattered now. His life in this town was over.

“There’s nothing to prove,” he said. “Maybe I am the monster Harold thinks I am.”

She took a step toward him. “Bryon, I—”

“You really should leave.”

It was her turn to blink at him. After a few seconds, she nodded. Then, without another word, she brushed past him, opening the front door and stepping out into the night. The second he heard the door slam shut, he sank to the floor, cradling his head in his hands.

Bryon resisted scoffing, shaking his head slowly. In one night, his entire life in this town had crumbled. Everything he’d built, all the friendships and experiences he’d gathered over the years... all gone. And Rhoda... well, his chances with her had ended the night Harold spotted him mid-shift. There was no coming back to this town. Hell, there was absolutely nothing left for him here.