Tag You're Mine

by T L Osborn

  Riley climbs off the bed and steps over, wrapping her arms around my waist. “I’ll leave you to finish packing and then we can go to my place. It’s my night to cook dinner, so you’ll be enjoying lasagne.”

  “I love lasagne,” I say, giving her a kiss on her forehead. “You know I’m going to miss you too, right.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yup. More than you’ll probably miss me. The bed will be cold and lonely, but I know you’re only a phone call away if I need you.”

  “We can Skype?” she asks hopefully.

  “We can sexy Skype if you want,” I say, swatting her ass lightly. “Now, go make me a coffee, woman.” She walks away from me, Poppy trailing close behind, wagging her tail though a little more subdued than it normally does. I’m glad I’m staying with Riley tonight; she lives closer to the airport than I do and I’m getting a taxi to pick me up in the morning since I have to be at the airport by eight.

  Damn Simon booking such an early flight.

  I finish packing my bag, Riley packs all her writing stuff away, then we head out to her place.

  James

  I feed Poppy whilst Riley makes dinner. We spend the evening talking with Gavin, Chloe and Courtney before heading into her room to watch a movie and try to settle an overexcited Poppy into bed. She finally calms down once being given her favourite teddy and snuggles in, snoring her head off.

  I snuggle into bed next to Riley. “I’ll get up before you in the morning, and make us both a coffee, then feed Poppy before I go so you can have a sleep in. I know your first client isn’t until the afternoon.”

  “You know when my clients are?” she asks, giving me a slightly puzzled look.

  “Well, I wanted to know if I actually had time to have morning sex with you before I left.”

  “Thinking with the little head, huh?”

  “Always around you.” I laugh as I pull her in tightly beside me, drifting to sleep with the occasional whimper from Poppy or a sneeze. There’s light snoring coming from Riley during the night too, but they’re noises I’m used to now. I even manage to roll Riley over at one point, giving her an orgasm through slow, dreamy sex which is the best kind as far as I’m concerned.

  I awake before the alarm even goes off and I’m out of bed to let Miss Poppy outside to do her business. I get dressed while I wait for her.

  As I’m pulling on my tie, I hear a groggy voice. “Damn, you make a suit look good.” I spin around to see Riley, laying on her side, head propped up on one hand while she stares at me.

  “Not bad, huh?”

  “Hot is more like it.” I step over to the bed and lean down to kiss her. “Would you like a coffee, love?”

  “Please. I’d love a coffee and a kiss.”

  I press my lips to hers, giving her a good morning kiss, then exit the room to head into the kitchen. I prepare breakfast for Poppy while the jug boils to make Riley and me a coffee. I hate she doesn’t own a machine, but I can live with it for one morning. After carrying Poppy’s food bowl onto the porch outside Riley’s room, I head back for our coffees, and sit on the bed with my woman while we drink them. Poppy eagerly gobbles up her meal.

  As I’m finishing, we hear the sound of a car horn. “My taxi’s here, sweetheart. I’ll text you when I arrive in Sydney.”

  “Have a safe flight,” she whispers as I give her a quick kiss before heading out the door. I glance over to see Poppy jumping up onto my side of the bed and snuggling into Riley. I’m going to miss them both so much more than they’re going to know.

  Riley

  I’m awoken by barking at the door of my room and I roll over to find Poppy expectantly waiting to go outside.

  Shit! How long have I been asleep for?

  I check the time as I let her out. I’ve overslept for way too long. I decide to leave Poppy outside and rush to have a quick shower. My first photoshoot is in half an hour. I rush through cleaning myself, then dress quickly. Luckily all my camera gear is packed and ready to go as it always is the night before a shoot. I do it while I’m awake, and not half asleep in the morning, so I don’t forget anything.

  I leave Courtney a note asking her to let Poppy in when she gets home and tell her I’m going to be late as I’m heading to the library to get some writing done.

  Most of my day is spent taking pictures of kids, families, pregnant mothers and more kids, though I did have one engagement shoot today which was fun. I spend a bit of time working on the edits of the photos when my phone buzzes on the table.

  James: Hey baby. Arrived in Sydney. Missing you. xx

  Me: Yay. Have fun. Enjoy the conference. Missing you too. xx

  Placing my phone down, I return to my work and by the time I’m heading home, it’s almost seven; the latest I’ve ever worked in my entire life. I stifle a yawn as I climb the front steps to my home.

  “Hey,” I call as I enter the house.

  I’m expecting to hear the sound of Poppy’s collar, but it doesn’t come. I head into my room, dump my camera gear, and come out to the lounge.

  “I put some fresh water in Poppy’s bowl and her food out for her, but we haven’t seen her. We assumed she’s probably asleep somewhere or maybe in the shed like she did that time a few months ago.”

  “Have any of you seen her at all today? The food you put out looks untouched and I put her out this morning.”

  Courtney and Gavin shake their heads and my heart hammers in my chest. What has that cheeky puppy gotten herself into this time? I head out of the ranch slider into the backyard with a torch in hand. I shine the light everywhere. The rain pours down from the sky, soaking me to the bone.

  “Poppy. Poppy, here girl,” I call into the darkness.

  Nothing.

  No sound of her bark or collar.

  I’m absolutely saturated and it takes Gavin to literally pick me up and carry me to get back inside.

  “I can’t. I need to find Poppy.”

  “Riley, you’re nuts. It’s too damn cold.”

  “She’ll be frightened,” I say as he closes the door and carries me into the bathroom.

  “Hopefully, she’s found her way into the shed like she did that time a few months ago, remember? When she was a puppy, I didn’t see her and accidentally locked her in. She slept there comfortably for a few hours. She’s going to be okay.”

  I sniffle. “Okay. I’m going to have a shower, but can you have one more look. Please?”

  He nods and exits the bathroom. I climb into the scalding hot water and allow my body to warm up, crying the entire way through the shower.

  My precious puppy.

  She’s all alone and frightened.

  I get out of the shower and I’m greeted by a crying Courtney.

  “Oh sweetie, I’m so sorry,” she says.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask, then I turn to look at Gavin.

  “I found her, Riley. In the bushes, curled up asleep in a drier patch of the yard. I’m sorry, but I think she’s–”

  No! No! No!

  He’s wrong.

  My Poppy.

  She’s not.

  I collapse into his arms as my eyes land on her. “She’s just asleep, right? We can take her to the vet?”

  Gavin shakes his head. “I’m sorry, Riley, I don’t think that’s going to be an option. I’ve put a blanket over her and you can take her to a vet tomorrow, but we are really sorry.”

  I burst into tears as I look at her. He’s right, she’s passed away and she was all alone too.

  But how?

  Why?

  She was a healthy dog.

  “How? Why? I thought she was on the mend?” I ask, shaking in Gavin and Courtney’s grip as the tears stream down my face.

  “Maybe it was some side-effect of the medication she was taking. Perhaps she was sicker than the vet realised? It would be like Dylan to be a dick and not tell you the truth,” Courtney suggests.

  I nod my head. “Yeah, maybe…”

  “Who was the last one to feed
her this morning?” Gavin asks.

  “James was. He wouldn’t do this. He wouldn’t harm her.”

  “Not intentionally, but maybe he fed her the wrong food. Perhaps he wasn’t looking this morning when he pulled the can out of the fridge.”

  I shake my head vehemently. “No, he wouldn’t do this. He loves her as much as I do. He’s going to be devastated when he gets home. God, how am I going to tell him?”

  “Don’t tell him while he’s in Sydney. Tell him when he’s home,” Courtney suggests. “For now, let’s all go to bed. Do you want Poppy in with you for the night, or can we leave her out here all cozy and warm by the fire?”

  “With me,” I whisper.

  Gavin carries her into the room and places her into her crate while I climb into bed and snuggle against the pillows.

  I wish James was here right now. Tears burst free from my eyes and I soak my pillow within minutes.

  Who would take my beautiful puppy from me?

  James

  “Baby, tell me what’s wrong,” I beg Riley over the phone. She’s sad, crying and I can hear the devastation in her voice.

  “I can’t. You’re away and I don’t want to ruin your trip.”

  “You won’t. Now, just tell me what’s going on.”

  “It’s P-Poppy.”

  “What’s wrong with Poppy?”

  “She’s…dead…James.”

  Riley cries harder down the phone, her voice breaking with every breath she takes. I wish I was there to hold her right now, comfort her and just be with her. I can’t believe this has happened. I lower myself onto the bed as Simon enters our room.

  “What happened?”

  “I don’t know exactly. She was fine when I left for work yesterday, but when everyone else got home, they couldn’t find Poppy. Gavin found her in the bushes by the shed. James, she was already…” She wails before I hear more crying.

  “James, it’s Courtney. Sorry to interrupt, but she’s absolutely devastated.”

  “I can hear that. Does she need me to come home?” I ask.

  “No. She’s shaking her head. No. She wants you to stay at the conference and work. I’ll take her to the vet and get everything sorted, but she wanted you to know and to hear your voice. Okay, she wants you back.”

  “Hey,” I whisper as I hear her breathing.

  “Is it possible you fed her something different?” she asks. “I know you didn’t do it, but is it possible?”

  “No, it’s not, I fed her the food like normal.”

  “Okay, sorry, I had to ask.”

  “It’s okay. Sweetheart, if you don’t want to stay at your place, go and see Aria at Billington, she has a spare key to my apartment. You’re welcome to use that while I’m away if your place gets too overwhelming, okay?”

  “Okay, thanks, babe.”

  “I gotta go, honey, the conference is starting soon.”

  “I love you,” she whispers down the phone.

  “You too, baby,” I reply.

  I hear a click and I know she’s gone. I shut off my phone and sit staring like a fool at the wall. She’s just said ‘I love you’. Wow! Who knew those words would have much of an impact on my life?

  “What’s going on, bro?” Simon asks.

  “Riley’s just told me Poppy’s died.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. That’s awful.”

  “Yeah, and she also just said ‘I love you’. Is that a grief thing, or did she mean it?” I ask him.

  “Possibly a grief thing, but you won’t know until you’rehome. I’ll get Aria to organise some flowers to be sent to Riley.”

  “She’d like that. God, this is shit. I wish I was with her.”

  I do. I really do.

  Chapter Nineteen

  James

  I’m finally home after a long week of meetings, dinners, lots of whiskey drinking and long lonely nights of sleeping alone. Riley has been staying at my place since Thursday as things between her and her roommates took an unexpected turn and they’re not exactly on happy terms.

  Apparently, Gavin is determined to blame me for Poppy’s death, while Courtney and Riley believe it to be the product of the medication she was on for the illness. Either way, I wished I’d been there to not only defend myself, but comfort Riley too.

  I park my car, grab my suitcase out of my boot and make my way inside. As I do, my phone buzzes in my pocket.

  Riley: I can’t wait for you to get home. xx

  Me: I’m coming up the elevator now. xx

  I smile, but as the doors opens, I see my closed apartment door.

  A flashback hits me like a tidal wave crashing over me.

  Ashley.

  Cheating.

  Home alone.

  Woman.

  Baby.

  Our Baby.

  My heart pounds so loudly it rings through my ears. My blood pulses through my veins as I begin to sweat. I loosen my tie and try to control my breathing, but I can’t. The room spins around and around, unstopping, going faster and faster.

  What the hell is wrong with me? Why have I suddenly been overcome with these feelings?

  My breathing quickens, my chest tightens and I struggle to bring air in. I slide down the wall and place my head between my legs, trying to let it blow over.

  I haven’t had a panic attack like this in almost nine years. I had them for months after Ashley and I broke up.

  Just breathe, it’ll be over soon.

  In and out.

  Slowly, I begin to get control of my breathing as Simon’s words ring through my ears.

  Riley isn’t Ashley.

  Riley isn’t Ashley.

  Slowly and steadily, I get to my feet, my knees and body shaking. I open the door, hesitantly and with an eerie familiarity, leaving my suitcase by the front door.

  Apprehensively, I walk down the hallway, my heart slamming within the confines of my chest. I can’t see Riley.

  Where is she?

  Then I hear sobbing coming from inside my room. Riley is curled on the floor, cradling herself as she sobs, her face buried in her hands. I rush over to her and kneel on the floor, pulling her flush against me.

  “Shh. Shh… I’m here.” I place light, gentle kisses on her head while I rub her forehead. She wipes her eyes and face before looking up at me. “You weren’t meant to see me like this. I meant to have the dining room table set up with candles and romance to welcome you home and then, I found one of Poppy’s tags underneath the couch while I was cleaning and well–”

  I smile. “Just being here with you is all I need. Being able to hold you is something I wanted to do since you told me about Poppy.”

  She snuggles back against my chest. “It was weird being here without you and her. I felt like I was trespassing.”

  “I bet it was.”

  “I really should sort out dinner.”

  “No. Lay here with me.” I pick her up from the floor, lay us on the bed and snuggle close together. She’s clutching Poppy’s tag tightly in her hand. I hold her gently, allowing her cry against me. Hearing her upset like this makes Poppy’s death all the more real. I have to admit, it’s strange not having her curled up with us on the bed.

  Hugging Riley a little tighter, I kiss her forehead.

  “I miss her so much.” She sobs. “The way she’d wake me up by licking my face, or the way she’d bark at leaves blowing around the yard.”

  “Or the time she peed on my mum,” I say.

  I hear a light chuckle next to me. “I’m really sorry about that.”

  “Don’t be, it was her finest moment.”

  “I’m sorry this isn’t the welcome home I wanted to give you.”

  “It’s okay, there’s nothing to be sorry about. We can sort dinner soon, just let me hold you a little while longer.”

  Riley

  I snuggle into James’ chest, grateful that he’s here with me.

  It’s been a long week.

  Gavin is sure James hurt Poppy and I d
on’t believe for one minute he would have hurt her. Poor Courtney is stuck in the middle, so I made the decision to move into James’ apartment to remove the tension, though I know I have to go home soon.

  “I should get dinner ready,” I say, sitting up.

  “Out of curiosity, what is for dinner?” James asks, his stomach growling loudly.

  “Homemade pizza.”

  A soft grin appears on his face. “Marry me and make me pizza forever?”

  “Here I was thinking we’d marry for love.” I smile.

  “Yeah, my love of pizza.”

  I giggle lightly, knowing he’s joking. “I’ll just go clean up, then get started. I’ve already made the dough, I just need to prepare everything.”

  “I’ll pour us some wine.” He rolls off the bed. “Would you like white or red?”

  “There’s a bottle of white in the fridge.”

  I make my way towards the bathroom, place Poppy’s tag on the counter and look at myself. I look awful. My eyes are red and swollen, my cheeks tear-stained and lips chapped. Grabbing a towel from beneath the counter, I wet it with warm water and wipe it over my face. This was definitely not how I wanted tonight to go, but I’m hoping it can be repaired.

  As I step into the dining room, feeling much more like myself again, James wraps his arms around me.

  “I missed you,” he whispers into my hair.

  “I missed you too. It was strange being here without you, but thanks for allowing me to stay here.”

  “How are things with Gavin and Court? Have they calmed down?”

  “Not yet, but then again, I haven’t exactly been home.”

  “You can stay here as long as you want.”

  “Thanks,” I say as he slides a glass of wine over to me. Picking it up, I take a sip. “Let’s start dinner. I need a distraction.”