Page 30 of DOG Part 2

“Okay,” she answered, slipping her hand in mine. “If you tell me not to, then I won’t.”

“Do you want to talk about what happened with you and Banner?”

She bit her lip, debating before finally shaking her head. “Maybe sometime soon, but not today.”

“No pressure.”

“I know, it’s just... I don’t know that I completely forgive him yet, but I want to, you know? All his life he’s just been doing what he thought was right. He’s been doing things in the best way that he knew how to.”

“Everyone is,” I murmured.

She nodded. “Yeah, I’m seeing that. And maybe if the world had thrown me all the same things it did him I would have reacted in the same way. I’m sorry, by the way... about Deuce.” Her eyes fell to her feet. “And Amanda.”

I worked my mouth around, trying to get the words out despite the ache they caused me. “How do you know about that?”

She looked back up. “Your mom.”

“Right,” I laughed dryly. “Of course. Why did I even have to ask?”

“I’m also sorry for everything I said to you that was ever bitchy. Well, almost everything.”

I chuckled as I slipped my free hand around her waist and pulled her close. “I like you the way you are Kim, which includes that attitude.”

“Good,” she coyly smiled up at me.

Over her shoulder, Skate and Kyle peeked around the edge of the truck bed, spying on us.

“Hey, why don’t you two mind your own business?” I loudly asked them.

Kyle threw his hands up in surrender. “Sorry, sorry. Just watching the show. There’s not much else to do out here.”

Kim giggled and pressed her waist against mine, filling me up with her warmth.

The morning sun was bursting through the buildings across the street, throwing streaks of light across the parking lot, illuminating the scene. Illuminating the woman I loved. Illuminating a new kind of beginning I had never even dreamed I could have. Illuminating the best that life had to offer.