XOXO, Winter

by Bloom, Nikki

  “You think?” Reed struggled to his feet. Timber jumped like a maniac, trying to get his attention.

  “I’ve never seen him this happy.”

  “Mind telling me a bit more about him. I don’t think this is a decision I should make lightly.”

  “Smart man,” I said. “Come with me.” I unlocked the back where we had a little yard for the dogs to play in. Timber immediately brought a toy over to Reed.

  “He knows fetch?”

  “Well, he knows how to get the toy and bring it back to you but letting go is a different story. He hasn’t quite figured that out yet.”

  “I can see that.” Reed was down on his knees playing tug of war with the dog. His pants looked designer, but he didn’t seem to care one bit if he got them dirty or not.

  Leaning against the building, I smiled to myself. They were a match made in heaven.

  “Are you ever going to tell me his name?”

  “Timber.”

  “Timber?” he repeated. “Like wood?”

  “Exactly like wood.”

  “That’s a strange name for a dog, don’t you think?” Reed had managed to snatch the toy only to have Timber jump on his chest with muddied paws, soiling his crisp white shirt. “A feisty one, huh?”

  “Not usually,” I said. “Most of the time, he’s the calmest of the bunch. This is a brand-new side of him I’ve never seen before.” His tail was wagging a mile a minute. With Reed, he truly was happy. “I think it would be a shame if you left him behind.”

  Reed threw the toy with all his might. “I think you’re right.” He stood there waiting for Timber to return. “I was hoping to find myself a human roommate, but I guess a four-legged companion is just as good.”

  “Human roommate?” I asked.

  “Yeah, my house is way too big for one person. I was hoping to share the place with someone else. It would help curb the loneliness, you know?”

  “Sounds like you don’t like to be alone.”

  “Who does?” he countered. “Even introverts like company from time to time.”

  “I suppose you have a point, but I’m surprised you’re having a hard time finding a roommate. There are a ton of people dying to live in the Rafters. I’d imagine you’d have people flocking to your door.”

  “Oh, I’ve had inquiries. Tons of them. But I’m looking for the right match. I don’t want any random Joe Shmoe living in my house with me.”

  I nodded my understanding. “I hope you find someone.” A little jealous of all the fun they were having, I walked over to the pair only to trip on a toy I couldn’t see. I threw out my arm in hopes of catching my balance, but I was doomed. The ground came up fast and I prepared myself for a mouthful of dirt. Somehow, it never came.

  Reed caught me at the last minute, but my momentum was so much that we ended up falling anyway. Luckily, he made a pretty good cushion.

  Bark!

  Concerned, Timber jumped on top of my back. His weight was enough to press me down onto Reed’s body. I became suddenly aware of his every inch – literally. My heart fluttered and I scrambled to get back on my feet.

  “Careful!” Reed’s warning did not come soon enough. Again, I tripped on something. This time, it was his leg. I flew forward and crashed into Timber who thought this whole thing was one big game. He jumped, tail wagging, bark booming.

  Reed stood before me as his dog slobbered all over my face. “It seems you keep falling for me,” he teased. “First at the airport convenience store and now here. Is there something you want to tell me?”

  “Yeah, get this dog off of me.”

  “Now, why would I do that? He seems to be having so much fun.”

  “Please,” I begged. I held out my hand in hopes that he would help me. He did and that’s when I turned the tables on him. With a yank, I managed to throw him off balance. He stumbled and fell right beside me.

  Timber changed course and went for Reed’s face instead of mine.

  Bingo.

  I rolled away only to have Reed grab me by the wrist and pull me back in his direction. “Did you really think I was going to let you get away?”

  And then he started to tickle me.

  I laughed and curled into a tight little ball. I don’t know how but he knew exactly what places made me most vulnerable. There was absolutely nothing I could do to stop him.

  When I was on the verge of passing out, he finally eased up and I was able to breathe again. I rolled onto my back and stared at the blue sky. “You’re going to pay for that,” I wheezed.

  “That would mean that I get to see you again,” he said with this coy smile on his face. “Do you think Timber could be trained as a therapy dog?”

  The question came out of left field. For a second, I didn’t know how to respond. “Typically, you train a dog from puppyhood because it’s easier for them to learn but it’s not impossible after they’ve reached adulthood.” I thought it over. “On a normal day, Timber has the right temperament so yeah, I think you could. It would take a lot of training, though. Why do you ask?”

  “Sometimes I just see such sadness in the eyes of my patients and I thought, maybe, it would be a good way to cheer them up. After all, who doesn’t like dogs?”

  “I know a few people.” Somehow, laying in the backyard of a dog shelter and talking to this man felt completely normal. It didn’t matter that we were both covered in mud or that we had just had a one-sided tickle fight. In more ways than one, this guy felt like an old friend. Without thinking about it, I shimmied a little closer until I could feel the warmth of his body radiating against mine.

  It felt so good. After almost two years of going it on my own, I had nearly forgotten when it meant to spend time with someone that you’re fond of. My heart thumped with a new rhythm. I wanted to listen to it, but at the same time, I didn’t want to open myself up to new wounds.

  “You know, when I was an undergraduate, I had every intention of becoming a doctor.”

  “What made you change your mind?” He leaned on his elbow so he could look at me. His eyes were so intense, they seemed to pierce through my very soul. Reed was the kind of guy that made you feel like you were the only girl in the entire world.

  “I just couldn’t take the depression that stemmed from the job. Being a vet is similar but a little more heartwarming. I get to save animals who have kids who love them or a family that’s praying for them. Back when I was an undergraduate shadowing doctors, they told me that there were a lot of people suffering inside of hospitals utterly alone. They’d die in those beds with no one to hold their hands.”

  Reed reached over and took mine. “I know. I’ve seen it all the time.”

  “How do you cope with it?”

  “Someone has to be there for them and I’d rather it be me,” he answered.

  Our eyes locked and my heart thundered. He squeezed my hand.

  “If you ever–”

  Fearing what he might say next, I got to my feet, cutting him off. “I believe you came here to adopt a dog and yet we’re doing a lot of lying around.”

  He frowned.

  It was difficult to keep him at arm’s length, but I knew it was for my own good. I needed to get through school first and foremost. I couldn’t have this guy clouding my judgment in any way. With his good looks, he’d be a monumental distraction, and with my slipping grades, I just couldn’t afford it.

  8

  Reed

  It was clear that Winter was afraid of letting me into her life. I knew she had her reasons, but it was still agonizing to try and give her the space she needed.

  “Here’s the paperwork you’ll need to fill out. I know you’re a doctor and all but try to make it as neat as possible.”

  I sat down in a tiny chair that looked like it belonged to a second-grader. Meanwhile, Winter busied herself by cleaning out some of the kennels. Every single dog looked happy to see her. Their tails never stopped wagging the second they saw her.

  Winter, too, had a certain gleam
in her eyes as she took care of the animals. It was clear that she enjoyed volunteering at the shelter.

  On the back deck, I noticed one of her textbooks. It was open and there were a bunch of colorful tabs all along the side. By the looks of it, she had been studying. “How’s school going for you?” I asked in a conversational tone.

  “Fine,” she answered but there was a certain edge to her voice. “I have an exam coming up so I’m trying to remember everything but it’s just…a lot.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want some help?”

  “I’m fine.” She sure had a stubborn streak.

  “You know there’s nothing wrong–”

  “I said, I’m fine.”

  “Alright, alright. Don’t bite my head off.”

  I was finally done with all the paperwork. I brought the clipboard over to her, Timber trailing at my heels. “Done already?”

  “I think so.”

  She brought the paperwork back over to the desk and looked it over. “It seems like everything is in order.”

  “How much is this going to cost?”

  “Well, there are the adoption fees and then you can opt to buy a starter bundle, and of course, you can always make a donation that will help keep this place up and running.”

  She gave me the numbers, and in the end, I wrote her a rather hefty check.

  “Are you sure you want to donate this much?”

  “Can I get a receipt, you know, for tax purposes?”

  “Of course.” She disappeared into the back.

  I bent down and scratched Timber behind the ears. “You’re coming home with me, yes you are,” I cooed. “But we need to get you cleaned up before you ride in my car.” I looked around for a rag and eventually found one hanging by the sink. Timber was a bit fidgety, but I managed to wipe away most of the mud from his paws. “There, that’s better.”

  “Here you are.” Winter handed over a piece of printed paper. “And here’s the starter bundle. That should get you through the first few nights, but I’d recommend you go to the pet store as soon as you can.”

  I nodded and helped Timber into a harness. Once it was fastened, I clipped the lead in place. “So, is that everything then?”

  “Just about,” she said. “And if there are any problems, just let me know.” She grabbed a business card and wrote down her personal number on the back.

  “Ah, I was hoping for this.” I grinned.

  “Only call me about the dog.”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  She groaned. “I already regret giving you that.”

  “Anyway, it’s just about closing time, isn’t it?”

  She looked at her phone. “Yeah, I guess so, why?”

  “Well, I was just wondering whether you were headed home for the night. I would love to walk you there.”

  “Why do I have a feeling that you planned this?”

  “Fate,” I answered. “Nothing more than that.”

  She shook her head. “You’re quite the odd one.”

  “Hmm, I never noticed.”

  “Let me pack up my things.”

  To my surprise, she was actually going along with the idea. I thought for sure that she would have swatted me away like a fly on a summer’s day. I waited for her outside while Timber chased around some invisible insects – mosquitoes probably.

  Winter emerged with a backpack on her shoulders. “Do you want me to carry that for you?”

  “What?” She blinked, taking a moment to realize that I was pointing at her bag. “No. I can handle it, thank you.”

  “Just thought I’d offer.”

  “Thanks, but no thanks.”

  “Alright, no problem.” We started down the street together. “And just so you know, I only agreed to this because I’m not quite ready to say goodbye to the dog. He was one of my favorites.”

  “Whatever helps you sleep at night,” I said. I know it was probably mean to tease her, but I just couldn’t help myself. That subtle shade of pink that colored her cheeks was just too damn cute.

  Suddenly, Timber’s leash went slack. I looked back to see him deep in the act.

  “Jeez, I didn’t expect this – what do I do?”

  “Have you never picked up dog poop before?”

  “All my dogs were indoor dogs. They didn’t poop inside. Besides, my mother usually handled the mess.”

  “Looks like someone’s going to have to get his hands dirty,” she giggled.

  “Just tell me what to do.”

  “Grab a doggie bag.”

  “Okay…”

  “Now, pick it up. This isn’t rocket science, you know.”

  My stomach flipped. I could handle cutting someone open and working through a sea of blood but dog poop? Yeah, that was enough to make me queasy. Maybe this whole idea of adopting a dog wasn’t my brightest.

  Meanwhile, Timber just looked at me like he was proud of what he had just done.

  “Jeez, look at the size of that thing.”

  “That’s nothing,” she said. “Man up and pick it up already.”

  I held my breath and picked it up. In my rush to tie the bag, it fell to the ground and I was forced to pick it up again.

  “Looks like I’m not the only clumsy one here.”

  “Shut up,” I grumbled. “Now, what do I do with the bag?”

  “You hold it until we get home.”

  “You have got to be kidding me.”

  “Not at all. Maybe if you’re lucky you’ll find a public trashcan and you can dispose of it there, but if not, you’re carrying it all the way home.” She was standing in a rather suspicious manner. I tried to look behind her, but she kept moving, blocking my view.

  I shoved her aside and there it was – a trashcan. “Oh, you sneaky–”

  “Hey, you can’t get mad at me for making you sweat a little. Consider it payback for that little tickle fest at the shelter.”

  “If that’s all I get in terms of punishment, I’m not going to complain.” I tossed the doggie bag, relieved that I didn’t have to carry it all the way back home.

  “So, tell me again why we’re walking when you’ve got a nice car?”

  “I just wanted to enjoy a nice walk with a beautiful woman,” I answered honestly.

  And there was that blush again.

  I turned and took a step forward. Without thinking, I leaned into her until our faces were but a few inches apart. I could smell the cherry flavor of her lip balm. It enticed me forward as I imagined how sweet it would be to kiss those lovely lips of hers.

  She backed herself into a tree and I followed.

  I was so close I could almost taste her.

  Push!

  With both hands on my chest, she shoved me back. I stumbled and nearly fell.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” Her voice shook and she actively avoided looking me in the eye.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “I’d really appreciate it if you didn’t do that again.”

  I desperately wanted to ask her ‘why,’ but I knew better than to broach the subject. She had told me that she wanted to focus on school, but I had a feeling that there was something else underneath the surface of that excuse.

  “I’m sorry.”

  She didn’t say a word.

  We kept on walking as I tried to wrack my brain for a solution. I didn’t want the night to end with Winter hating my guts. Before I could figure something out, Timber yanked on the leash and took me into the woods.

  “Where are you going?” Winter called out.

  “I don’t know! Timber is the one in control here.”

  “Well, do something about it.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Don’t give me that crap. You’re a fully-grown man. You can handle a sixty-pound dog.” Despite her words, she jogged after me, her backpack bouncing up and down.

  Secretly, I wanted to know where the dog was taking us. I had a sneaking suspicion that he was onto something.

  Sudde
nly, we broke into a clearing. In front of us was a gorgeous lake that shimmered in the moonlight.

  “Wow…” Winter whispered as she settled next to me. “I had no idea this place existed. It’s beautiful.”

  Looks like Timber was officially my wingman.

  “Well, we’re already here, we might as well enjoy it,” I said.

  “It’s freezing,” she countered.

  “I’ll keep you warm.”

  She jabbed her elbow into my ribcage.

  Okay, maybe I deserved that.

  9

  Winter

  I was drawn to the edge of the water. The surface was so calm and still that it worked as a mirror. Bending over slightly, I could see my own reflection. With a beanie stuck on the top of my head I looked like any other New Englander trying to fend off the cold. And yet, Reed kept complimenting me like he thought I was some kind of supermodel. What did he see that I couldn’t? I rubbed the back of my neck as it itched with a certain level of self-consciousness.

  “It’s peaceful here,” Reed whispered as he walked up behind me. “Looks like a scene out of a movie.”

  “I can’t believe I’ve lived in this town all my life and I had no idea it was here.” I reached into my backpack and pulled out my spare sweatshirt. I laid it down on the ground like a blanket and sat down. I could still feel the chill of the earth, but it certainly helped curb most of it.

  “Do you mind?” he asked.

  “Go ahead.” Since there wasn’t much room, our shoulders rubbed together. A spark of electricity ran through my system. What was it about this guy that made me feel this way?

  “This reminds me of my childhood. I used to spend countless hours in the woods. Most afternoons, my mother had no idea where I had gone off to. Then, my parents divorced and everything changed. I don’t even know where my dad is anymore.”

  “That’s awful. He doesn’t call?”

  “Doesn’t call. Doesn’t write. Nothing. It’s been nearly ten years. And then as soon as I was able to make it on my own, my mother ran off to Florida to be with her new boyfriend.” I had no idea why I was telling him all this, but he felt like the kind of person who would listen to my problems without judgment. “So, I guess you can say that messed me up a bit.”