Page 79 of Pucked Together

"Any-ways, we'll be leaving now. Sorry to bother you—"

"Come in," he says, stepping to the side.

"Uh...no, no, thank you. We're just on a walk. My brother is just right behind," I say, getting nervous.

But instead of heeding the red flags, my daredevil of a dog, shoots forward into the house, tugging the leash out of my hand unexpectedly.

Fuck.

'I'm so sorry! I'll just get her...Wednesday!" I brush past the handsome man and run after the she-devil.

"Wednesday!" The house is huge, and I don't see her anywhere.

That's when I see a figure lounging by the pool and my dog bounding toward him.

"Ohmigod!" I breathe out, going through the open back door to chase after her.

Chapter 25

Ryker

I'm scrolling through pictures on my phone when I land on one that steals my breath.

I remember when I took it. I’m kissing Izzy’s neck as she sits with me on the hood of my car. Her eyes are closed, savoring the contact.

That was our night. The night everything changed. It’s so clear on both our faces.

"Wednesday!"

I look up in time to see a bouncing fur ball coming straight for me.

"Oh shit," I say, catching her in my arms as she hurls herself at me and starts licking my face.

What the hell?!

I look up at the vision running after her. And she's wearing...my jacket?

"I am so sorry," she says, trying to catch her breath. "She just...ran into your house...like she owns the place and..."

"It's ok,” I say, rising from my seat. “It's ok. Just breathe, Izzy. Breathe," I say as I set the dog on the ground and put a hand on her shoulder.

She stiffens. "Oh...it's you."

I cock my head to the side, "Do you know who I am?"

"You're Keelan's friend. From the hospital."

Ok, so she doesn't remember me. Not yet, anyway.

"Yes," I say, trying to hide the disappointment in my voice.

Wednesday is still jumping around my legs.

"That's so weird," Izzy says, her breathing finally stabilizing. "She never acts like this."

"What are you doing here?" I ask her, ignoring the jumping menace at my feet.

"I mean," she gives a shaky laugh. "I was just going for a walk when my dog decided she needed to come attack you with kisses, apparently."