“I’ll keep believing that,” Mami said, squeezing Zoey’s hands. “And your young man? Will he be joining us tonight?”
“No, that didn’t work out,” Zoey said, glancing outside to see Boo sitting on his haunches, the light of the half-moon reflecting off his gray fur, making him appear translucent.
“Oh, I’m sorry. He seemed very nice.”
Zoey bit her lower lip until it hurt. “He was.”
When the rice was finally ready, Zoey sat to eat next to her mother and did her best to enjoy a meal with her family. If she weren’t such a coward, Ryan would have been seated next to her tonight. He’d probably be talking to Mami about her movies, or with Tio about learning how to cook. Because Ryan couldn’t cook. She’d laughed about this often. He loved to eat, her food especially or so he said, but he could barely heat a can of soup.
She said her goodbyes to Mami, who promised to visit more often now, and walked home with Boo in the moonlight. There was someone sitting on her outside steps again as she approached, but this time it wasn’t Ryan holding a barking box.
It was another Davis, and Jill didn’t look happy as she turned and fixed her gaze on Zoey. “I did tell you if you hurt him I’d have to kill you, didn’t I?”
“Yes,” Zoey said, hanging her head. “But—”
“No buts! What did you do, Zoey? He’s gutted.”
“W-what?” Her hands trembling, she dropped Boo’s leash. “Why? What did he tell you?”
“Well, nothing of course!” Jill threw her hands up. “But I can tell. I’m his sister.”
“He told me he wasn’t going to run for sheriff, and then he changed his mind, just like that.” Zoey snapped her fingers. “What else is he going to change his mind about? Huh? What if he wakes up one day and decides he hates the color of my wallpaper, or one of my dogs, or—”
Me. What if he changes his mind about me? What if he leaves me?
“What are you talking about?”
“I don’t know,” Zoey admitted. “But I know I was going somewhere with this before you interrupted me.”
“That place better be the loony bin because you’re not even making any sense.”
“Oh yeah? Well, try being in love with a guy who wants to help everyone. Who wants to fix everything. Who thinks he has to. Try being—”
“Wait. You love him?” Jill gaped.
Suddenly Zoey couldn’t speak but simply nodded her head and swallowed the sob in her throat. She loved him so much her heart ached.
“I didn’t know, honey,” Jill said, pulling her into a hug. “I thought you screwed him and then just threw him away.”
“Me? Think about who you’re talking to!”
“I am. I know you’re afraid of being dumped, but you’re the one who left him. Just because he’s going to run for sheriff again?”
“It wasn’t just the job. I need someone who’s stable. Who won’t change.”
“Are you kidding me? You won’t ever find that. Life is change. And you’ve changed, too.”
“No, I haven’t.”
“You’re happier than I’ve ever seen you.”
That was true or had been. “I was, and look at me now!”
“You created your own misery this time. My brother is the most solid dependable guy I know. All his life he did what was asked of him and more. Even our parents had unreasonable expectations of him. I’ve always thought what he wanted was someone to love him simply for who he is, like I do.”
Oh, god. A piercing pain pulsed through her. Zoey was the most selfish person on earth. How was she any different from Mr. Dawson’s wife? She’d wanted to get rid of a dog her husband adored because he was inconvenient for her.
She looked to Boo, ready to commiserate with him, but he was gone.
“Boo!” she said, turning in the direction she’d walked from.
“Not again,” Jill said, following. “What is wrong with him? Can’t he realize a good thing when he has it?”
“Don’t worry, he can’t be far the way he walks. Plus, he’s depressed.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“He’ll be even slower,” Zoey said and hoped.
They walked down her street, both screaming out his name.
Zoey realized she could have chosen him a more dignified name when Mr. Levin, her eighty-year-old neighbor sat on the rocking chair on his porch, and called out, “And boo to you girls! You don’t scare me.”
“I’m sorry. Mr. Levin, did you see a Great Dane come by this way?”
He pointed in the other direction, away from her Tia’s home. “He went thataway.”
Of course. It was the direction of the main road and the way to the Dawsons. Zoey took off and saw Boo in the distance, running faster than she’d ever thought him capable of. Not running. More like galloping, his long legs giving him a clear advantage. Zoey knew better than to chase a dog, but what other option did she have? If Boo got to the main road he could encounter traffic.
“There he is!” Zoey pointed, and Jill started to run.
These days she was much more physically fit than Zoey and she’d definitely always been faster. There was a reason her kindred animal was a horse.
“I’ve got this!” Jill said, her voice carrying as she galloped ahead. No, ran.
It took everything in Zoey to catch up to them, and when she finally did Boo sat on his haunches, panting, Jill holding the leash triumphantly, not panting. “Settle a bet. Which is faster? A horse or a Great Dane?”
“You...got...him.”
“I sure did,” Jill said, handing Zoey the leash.
“For whatever good that’s going to do me. I guess I’ve just saved him from a long and probably dangerous run.” She squatted in front of Boo and met his eyes. “Okay, boy. Message received loud and clear. You’re going home.”
* * *
Two hours later, Zoey had packed Boo’s belongings with Jill’s assistance. This time, he was going home with everything he could possibly need. Including, if Mr. Dawson would have him, Corky. The two best friends shouldn’t be separated, and if Mr. Dawson had the room and the inclination, she’d let Corky go, too. The little pig needed Boo more than he needed her.
“Why are you being so nice to me?” Zoey suddenly asked Jill, who’d wanted to kill her earlier.
“Because,” she said, slamming the full trunk’s lid. “You said you love him.”
“I do. More than I ever thought possible.”
They drove in silence and Jill said she’d wait in the car with Corky since the jury was still out on that. Despite the fact that Corky needed Boo and he needed Mr. Dawson, she wouldn’t unload Corky on someone who didn’t want him. But maybe after Mr. Dawson heard the rest of her reasoning, he’d agree with Zoey that Corky actually belonged here, too. Holding Boo’s leash, Zoey walked up the stone pathway to the front of the Dawsons’—Established 1985—home and rang the doorbell.
And if Zoey had any doubts at all, they were erased when Mr. Dawson took one look at Boo and his eyes got weepy. He didn’t have to crouch to pet him. “Andre. How’ve you been, boy?”
It was as if Boo had been asleep for a week and suddenly woke up. He went up on his hind legs, clearing a height well above Mr. Dawson. Easily he commanded Boo to sit and Mr. Dawson hugged his neck.
“He misses you,” Zoey said without preamble. “And I’m guessing you miss him, considering you stole him out of my backyard.”
“Not my finest moment.” He straightened to his full height and bent his head. “I’m sorry.”
“I know what it’s like to miss someone so desperately,” Zoey said, thinking of Ryan.
“It was so wrong of me. I was desperate. But you were worried about him, I know.”
Oh, he thought she meant Boo. Yeah, him too.
“I didn’t think you deserved him back, but then Ryan t
old me what happened. I’m sorry, too. No one deserves that. Can you make sure it never happens again?”
“Never again,” he said. “It’s what I told the sheriff. You can rest assured.”
“I’ll take you at your word.” Zoey stuck out her hand and they shook on it. “But if you ever need him to go to a new home, just give me a call first. No judgments. Promise.”
“Don’t worry. It won’t happen.”
“I’ve got his personal items in the trunk of my car, if you’ll help me with them.”
She unloaded the pillowed bed, his dog food and water bowls, a month’s worth of feed, his vitamins, his special brush and his oatmeal dog shampoo.
“I think that’s everything.” Zoey said.
Corky snorted from the back seat and Jill shushed him.
Mr. Dawson ducked to see through the rear window and cocked his head. “Is that... Is that a pig?”
“That’s Corky, a potbellied pig, fully trained, and Boo’s best friend. If you’ll have him, I’d like to give him to you, as well. I hate to see them apart again. Plus, Mr. Dawson, I hope you don’t mind but I took a little time to figure out Mrs. Dawson’s kindred animal. This usually takes me a lot longer, but I almost feel like I know your wife. Her kindred animal is a pig, so I think she and Corky would really get along.”
“I’ll tell her you said that.” Mr. Dawson gave her a wide grin. “I’d love to take him. We certainly have the room here.”
After that it was simply a matter of saying goodbye to both Corky and Boo. For now, anyway. Of course, this took longer than it should have. Mr. Dawson assured her she had visitation rights and that he’d be bringing them by her store from now on to get everything he’d normally shopped for online. So she had a new customer. This didn’t make her feel any better about leaving them behind.
“C’mon, let’s go,” Jill finally said after several minutes. “It’s getting late and I need to get home before Sam worries.”
As they drove back to Zoey’s house, she managed to contain the tears she knew would fall when she was home and trying to explain tonight’s events to both Bella and Indie. They’d understand, she was sure. It had always been Boo and Corky, Bella and Indie. Oh, who was she kidding? Indie would be ecstatic and at least Boo would never have his paws nipped again.
She’d tried to save every animal so that she’d eventually save herself, too. But she’d stunted her own growth by refusing to take a risk with her heart...until Ryan.
Now she had to love him without conditions. It might be the scariest thing she’d ever done but he’d be worth it.
“Do you think Ryan loves me?” Zoey asked as Jill pulled up to the curb.
“I don’t know,” Jill said. “He doesn’t exactly tell me about that stuff. Very private guy. But I’ve never seen him look quite so miserable as he’s been this last week. Never. So if I was a betting woman, which of course I am, I would have to say yes. He must love you. I mean, what’s not to love? Right?”
“Plenty,” Zoey said with misery. “I let him down. I made him think I didn’t love him enough. I didn’t even tell him that I love him.”
“Lucky for you, that’s an easy fix.”
Chapter 29
The night’s basketball game had been the one bright spot in Ryan’s long-ass week.
Ethan was back, playing hard and enjoying himself, actually talking to Ryan and Aidan, and understanding that not all authority figures were his enemy. He’d been so scared, he’d privately admitted to Ryan, that no one would believe him. That no one would have his back. Scared he’d be arrested and hauled off to prison to be tried as an adult. Ethan didn’t know the difference between felonies and misdemeanors and he’d been one scared kid. But Ryan had been there for one tall, gangly and troubled teenager. He hadn’t known whether Ethan was guilty or innocent, but he’d simply given him the benefit of the doubt until all the evidence had been collected.
And two days after Ethan had been brought in for questioning, Aidan caught a kid in the act of throwing a lit rag into a dumpster and that mystery had been solved. Put to rest. So Ryan was good...sure he was, even if his chest ached with a kind of constant heartburn no matter what he ate. Day and night.
“See ya,” Aidan said, clapping Ryan on the back as he left the gym.
Ryan was the last one out. He was in no rush to get home to his apartment. Tonight maybe he’d head on up to the ridge for the nighttime star-gazing zip-line tour at Outdoor Adventures. It was a monthly event and quite popular with their clientele. Jill had been bugging him to attend and god knew he wanted something to do tonight. Anything to take his mind off her.
Disappointment had plagued him for a week after Zoey chose her safe life over a life that included him. It hit him harder than he’d expected. Even though she’d never said the words to him, he’d believed that Zoey loved him. He’d obviously been wrong because she didn’t love him enough.
But this was why he didn’t do relationships well. You always had to give something up to make it work. He didn’t want to know what he’d have to give up to actually make it last. Too much. If he and Zoey didn’t work, and she had his heart, he now knew it wouldn’t work with anyone. End of sad story.
Move on, soldier.
He locked the doors to the gym, clicking the key fob as he approached the Jeep. It lit up the dark parking lot that, due to a broken streetlight, tonight only had the benefit of a full moon for illumination.
Zoey sat on the hood of his Jeep, legs crossed like a pretzel.
What the hell?
“What are you doing out here alone in the dark? This area isn’t safe.”
Now he was irritated. Angry. No, he was tired. Exhausted.
No, damn it. He was hurt. It was difficult to admit even to himself.
After everything he’d been through in his life, how shocking that one small woman could single-handedly pierce his heart.
“Hi,” she said shyly.
“Get down,” he ordered and offered his hand.
She took it, jumping down and straight into his arms. He’d been about to step back when he saw the tears in her eyes. Despite all the anger and resentment that tightened his chest and made it hard to breathe most days, his heart rate sped up in fear that something or someone had hurt her.
“What’s wrong?”
She didn’t answer, shaking her head and biting her lip.
“Zoey. Talk to me.” Hand on the nape of her neck, he tugged her up to meet his gaze.
“Y-you said I’d know w-where to find you.”
If you change your mind.
He didn’t trust himself to speak, so he just studied her gaze.
“I gave Boo back, and he took Corky, too.”
“You didn’t have to do that—”
“No, you were right. It was the thing to do. People make mistakes and he should be allowed a second chance. And I... I did surround myself with my animals not just because I didn’t want them to feel abandoned but because I didn’t want to be abandoned.”
“Zoey—”
“I’m the luckiest girl in the world to have my aunt and uncle, who mean the world to me. But I’ve always had it in the back of my mind that people leave me eventually.”
His chest pinched uncomfortably. “Your father. Your mother.”
“Yes, and I was afraid when you changed your mind about the job, that you might eventually change your mind about me, too. I couldn’t bear that thought.” Her eyes were watery and shimmering in the moonlight.
“Look at me. You never have to worry about me leaving you. Ever. I lo—”
“Wait,” she said, a finger to his lips. “I want to say it first. I thought I loved you from the moment I first saw you. But now I know you, and I know what love is. It’s knowing that someone is so good that they’re everything you want to be, too. When someone completes you. When you fit togeth
er. I love you, Ryan. I love you like crazy.”
“Can I talk now?” He chuckled, pulling her closer. “I love you, Zoey, and I take you right along with all your animals. I’m never going to ask you to give up anything that you love. I love your heart and I love the way you love me.”
* * *
In the arms of the man she loved more than she’d ever believed possible, Zoey felt light enough to float away and join the moon above in the black velvet sky. She’d waited for him outside the gym on the hood of his car, the full moon her only company. Somehow, she’d have sworn, the moon had given her the courage to stay and wait for him. To say what she needed to say. Jill was right. It was, in the end, an easy fix. The truth.
He loved her. She loved him. Could anything on earth be richer than this? A coil of warmth rolled through her as she clung to Ryan’s broad shoulders.
“You’re going to have to give me a little direction on how to be a good and supportive girlfriend to the sheriff. I have no idea what to do.”
“You don’t have to do anything but love me.”
“That part is easy. But I want to be everything you need.”
“Just be yourself.” He tugged on a lock of her hair. “Everyone will love you like I do.”
“Promise to hold my hand when we’re at a big party and don’t leave me alone for too long until I find a friend.”
“You got it, baby.”
Then, as a ray of moonlight lit up his beautiful face, Ryan Davis bent to kiss her.
And once again, just like the very first time, it was everything she’d always dreamed it would be and more.
Epilogue
Six months later, election night
Throwing the sheriff a party on his election night was in some ways a lot like a family party given by Tia and Tio, who knew how to celebrate. Zoey and Ryan could have made the party bigger and far more glamorous. They could have rented a hall, since they certainly had enough well-wishers. But neither one of them had a need or desire to make the occasion any bigger than necessary. Besides, the election wasn’t exactly a nail-biter since Ryan had run unopposed.
Home for a Hero Page 19