Page 68 of Wag More Bark Less

“When did you see him?” It sounded like an accusation. I could hear that the second the words left my mouth, and I silently cursed myself. Fuck, I was on edge. Or was that just my default setting? I attempted a course correction, and added, “You went back to the hardware store to buy those baseboards, didn’t you?”

“You caught me,” Maggie said playfully as Ellie led us to a clearing that seemed as familiar to her as it was to me, as though she knew this was our destination all along. To my surprise, the area was deserted. Come to think of it, I’d only run into a couple of hikers headed back toward the trailhead since I started the hike. Odd, but I wasn’t complaining. I couldn’t do people right now.

“Actually, I wanted a paper map,” Maggie added, following Ellie toward the edge of the clearing.

“Land nav nerd. I forgot.”

“Well, I might have to return my expert badge because I left the map in my car, along with the trail mix your dad gave me.”

“Good thing I brought enough to share.”

“Thank you, Luke.”

Such simple words, and yet, they thawed another layer of ice around my heart without even meaning to. There were still many, many layers to go. But I felt the difference nonetheless, even if I couldn’t make sense of it. Miss Mayhem obviously had secrets of her own. Secrets that should make me apprehensive. And yet, I couldn’t seem to care about any of that after nearly losing whatever this was between us.

I waited beside her, expecting her to take a few pictures, but instead, Maggie just stood, arms folded, and took in the view as if she had nowhere else to be. The sun gave her honey-blonde locks a golden hue, and I yearned to run my fingers through them, this time slowly, methodically. God help me, I wanted a chance to kiss her again.

I waited for the voice in my head to argue with me. To tell me there wouldn’t be a next time because I not only fucked that chance up, but that it was also a terrible idea. Like stepping across enemy lines without an extraction plan.

Quiet.

Huh.

“I won’t judge you if you take pictures,” I said of the lake.

“Really? I thought judgment was your middle name.”

“Funny.”

“Darth Judgment Vader.”

“Why does everyone assume I’m on the dark side?’

“I thought that was obvious.”

“I thought you’ve never seen Star Wars,” I countered.

“I don’t have to see the movies to know who Darth Vader is.”

“I think you do if you’re going to make accusations like that,” I said, full-on grinning.

“My phone died,” she admitted, biting her bottom lip. A dusting of pink colored her cheeks. “I, uh, forgot to charge it before we headed out.” In a mumble under her breath, she added, “Guess I’ve been forgetting a lot of things today.”

“I can take your picture,” I said, pulling my phone from my shirt pocket. “If you want one to share with your sister?”

“Okay,” she said, motioning to Ellie to join her at the edge of the lookout and posing with that radiant smile that came so naturally to her. If she ultimately had to leave, this was exactly how I wanted to remember her.

I snapped half a dozen photos before she said, “Why don’t you get in one of these, too? Ellie only bites if you truly deserve it.” Her eyes sparkled with what I was certain was borderline flirtation. “Considering she hasn’t drawn any blood today, I think you’re safe.”

I almost took the bait. Almost said And what about you, Maggie? When do you bite? Instead, I settled with, “I don’t need a picture.”

Ellie trotted toward me, and I lowered my hand to pet her. But before I could dip my fingers into her fur, she sank her teeth into my sleeve and tugged me, as though she’d understood Maggie. When I hesitated, she pulled harder.

“You’ve forgiven me?” I asked Ellie, skeptical. She stared up at me, and I wished I could read what was in those big brown eyes.

She was the one to track me down on the trail when our paths would otherwise never have crossed, but she was also the one to slam the door in my face last night. I wasn’t sure if I was still on her shit list, but I wasn’t going to give her any reasons to keep me on it, so I shuffled forward.

“She found the treat,” Maggie said, as though in explanation. “In your flannel jacket.”