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But as I hear Ethan coming down the stairs, my heart races faster, and I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve just walked into something I wasn’t prepared for.
9
ETHAN
I hearthe front door creak open and the sound of my daughter’s voice calling out, “Dad, we’re here!” I wasn’t expecting anyone, but Aurora’s spontaneous visits are always a welcome surprise.
She tends to have trouble planning things out in advance, so she likes to just show up. Once, she startled me when I had a female guest over, but this time, I’m alone, fortunately.
I hear something else strange. It sounds like she isn’t alone. Has she brought a boyfriend? I pass by the mirror as I head out of my room and down the hall. I need to make sure I’m ready to confront the young man if that’s the case.
I call back to her and spend a moment pushing my hair back into place and straightening my shirt. I’m just wearing a T-shirt and jeans, but I can look commanding no matter what I’m wearing.
When I turn the corner and reach the kitchen, where the sounds are coming from, I see Aurora. It’s then that I realize what noises was I was hearing. There is a pack of puppies around her feet, their tails wagging furiously. Oneof them notices me and lunges against his leash, barking a shrill, high-pitched yelp. That other puppy looks familiar. Is it Scout? Then, it’s not just the puppies that catch my attention.
It’s Madison, standing there behind Aurora, trying to look like she’s not as uncomfortable as she clearly is.
The sight of her makes me pause, and my stomach twists into an uncomfortable knot. For a brief moment, I’m not in my house but back in that awkward encounter in front of my house, where she accused me of stealing the puppy. The memory is still fresh—too fresh. But even fresher than that is the way it felt to pull Madison against me.
I try to push those thoughts away so that they aren’t obvious on my face.
“Dad, look who I brought!” Aurora says, completely oblivious to the tension in the room. She’s grinning ear to ear, clearly pleased with herself, and I can’t help but feel a pang of affection for her.
I clear my throat, schooling my expression into something neutral as I approach them. “Aurora, this is a surprise. I didn’t know you were stopping by.” I glance at Madison, and the knot in my stomach tightens.
Aurora doesn’t seem to notice the subtle shift in my tone. “I thought it’d be fun to bring the puppies over for a visit. I know how much you love dogs, and I was hanging out with Madison. You remember Madison, right?”
Oh yes, I remember Madison. There are a lot of things I remember about Madison, but I try to hide them behind a curtain of boredom in my eyes as I glance at her. “Yes, she was your friend a long time ago.”
“Still is my friend, Dad.”
Madison is standing there looking like she’d rather beanywhere else. I catch her eye for just a second, and there’s something in her gaze that unsettles me. It’s almost like she’s daring me to say something, to acknowledge what happened between us, but also hoping I won’t.
I can’t let Aurora know what’s really going on. I force a smile and turn to the puppies, crouching down to give them some attention. They’re adorable, tumbling over each other in their eagerness to get petted.
“These little guys are cute. How’d you end up with so many, Madison?” Should I pretend I don’t know she’s dog-sitting? I’m not sure how to play this. I didn’t have time to mentally prep myself beforehand.
She hesitates for a fraction of a second before answering. “I’m dog-sitting for a few clients. They’re all staying with me for the weekend. I’m sure you’ve heard the extra barking in my backyard.”
“Ah, sounds like a lot of work.” I can’t help it. I’m trying to play it cool, but her presence here throws me off balance. I’ve spent the last few days trying to forget about that encounter, trying to push her out of my mind, but now she’s right here, in my house, with my daughter. And if Aurora knew what I was thinking, she would probably disown me.
Aurora, blissfully unaware, beams at the sight of the puppies playing at my feet. “Aren’t they just the cutest? I knew you’d love them, Dad. This one is Scout, and this one is Barney. And that’s Madison’s dog, Samson.”
I smile at Aurora as I give each puppy a proper amount of attention. Barney suddenly flops down like he’s absolutely exhausted, but Scout must remember me. He rubs his whole body against me as he tries to get more and more attention.
I stand up, taking a step back from the puppies, and my gaze flickers back to Madison. She’s still standing there,arms crossed over her chest, looking like she’s bracing herself for something.
I can’t let this go on. I need to maintain control, to keep Aurora in the dark about whatever the hell this thing is between me and Madison. So, I do the only thing I can think of. I think of excuses to get them out of there. Aurora and I can spend time together later, when Madison isn’t present.
“Well, thanks for bringing them by, but I’m not really in the mood for company right now.”
Aurora looks up at me, surprised. “What? But Dad, I thought you’d be happy to see us. Come on! Don’t be grumpy!”
I force myself to keep my expression neutral, even as I see the hurt in Aurora’s eyes. “It’s just not a good time, Aurora. I’ve had a long day, and I need some time to unwind. Maybe you can call me tomorrow, and we can talk more. Besides, I don’t need these puppies ruining my house.”
“They already peed a thousand times outside,” Aurora responds. She’s not standing up, and she’s not leaving. Maybe Madison will get the clue.
But she doesn’t say anything. She just stands there, watching me with that same defiant look in her eyes.