Page 87 of Connectio

Chapter Fourteen

“What do you mean you’re not finished with me yet?” I take his hand, and he helps me stand but doesn’t let go, his fingers sliding between mine.

“I want you to meet someone.”

“Who?”

“Molly.”

“Molly?” My stomach tightens, and I frown. I don’t want to meet Molly. I’ve had a somewhat lovely day, and meeting Molly will surely ruin that. “Er… I really should just go hom—”

“It won’t take long.”

I pry my hand loose from his and scratch the back of my neck. “So, who’s Molly again?”

“My roommate. She’s awesome.” He slings his bag over his shoulder and grabs my hand again. “Come on. You’ll love her.”

I highly doubt that.

* * *

Roughly twenty minutes later,we pull up outside his home, and it’s even better in the daylight—moss-covered rocks, flowers, and cobblestone paths weaving around gum trees and various shrubs.

I gleam. “Your house looks like a magical fairy garden.”

“Yeah, I know.” He takes my hand and leads me up the path to the front of the house, a cement troll-looking creature standing guard by his door.

Its existence is entirely odd, and yet it looks as if it belongs nowhere else.

“Are you sure Molly wants to meet me?” I whisper, leaning in just a little too close.

His eyes meet mine before dropping to my lips, and the sudden urge to lean in even closer is like an invisible, magnetic pull. My mouth parts as I inhale, and I almost do lean in farther, my heartbeat an unsteady thump in my chest.

A low growl emanates from Will’s throat, and he unlocks the door and pushes it open. “Yes,” he says, clicking his neck from side to side while momentarily closing his eyes. “She does want to meet you.” He gestures inside his home. “Come on in.”

I gingerly step into his entryway, his hand once again finding mine before guiding me into his lounge.

“Molly, meet Elizabeth. Elizabeth, meet Molly.”

Will points to a black Labrador curled up in a bed at the base of the sofa, and my heart settles to a pleasant rhythm again. I’m fairly sure it even swells a few sizes.

Molly raises her weary head, white hair peppering her face and ears, and she slowly rises to her feet before waddling over, her tail wagging happily.

“Molly’s one of the loves of my life,” he declares.

I drop to one knee and pat her head, and she sits. “One of the loves of your life?”

He points to the far end of the room. “They’re some of the others.”

Following his extended arm, my jaw nearly hits the floor when I spot a tropical fish tank filled with an array of brightly coloured fish, a reptile tank with what I think is a bearded dragon, and a white, lop-eared rabbit peeking out from a plastic tunnel on the floor.

“Oh my God—”

A bird screeches behind me, and I almost piss my pants.

“Jesus!”

Will smiles, all teeth and pride. “That’s Romeo and Juliet, my love birds.”