Page 87 of On a Deadline

Erin watched the scene, the curve of Jamie’s smile, the way Leo’s tail wagged fast enough to shake his whole body. Something in her chest tugged loose.

Jamie stood again, brushing dirt off her knees. “Thanks forletting me see him,” she said quietly.

“Yeah,” Erin said. “He’s missed you.”

Jamie’s eyes lifted to hers, and for a long moment neither of them spoke. The light caught on the fence, scattering across their shoes, and Leo barked once, impatient, like he was reminding them to keep moving.

Erin blinked first, looking back toward him. “He’ll wear himself out soon.”

Jamie nodded, voice soft. “We’ll stay until he’s ready.”

They stood there in the half-light, watching Leo chase something neither of them could see, and pretending that was enough.

Forty Four

Leo trotted a few steps ahead, tail swaying with each bounce in his walk. He paused every few feet to sniff something with deep, earnest concentration, like the entire neighborhood had reset overnight.

Jamie watched him for a moment, then said lightly, “He seems happy.”

Erin kept her eyes on Leo, nudging a pebble with the toe of her shoe. “He’s pretending I didn’t disrupt his entire routine. He’s better at forgiving me than I deserve.”

Jamie’s chest tightened. “He’s loyal. That’s different.”

Erin huffed out a breath, something almost like a laugh but not quite. “He’s stubborn is what he is.”

Jamie’s mouth curled. “Wonder where he gets that from.”

Erin shot her a look, half warning, half amused. “Don’t start.”

Jamie raised both hands like she was surrendering. “Not starting. Just talking.”

“Careful,” Erin said. “You’re not great at that lately.”

Jamie’s smile faltered. “Yeah. I know.”

They walked a few more paces in silence. Leo found another dog, sniffed politely, then bounded away again. Erin followed his path with her eyes, and Jamie found herself watching her instead.

“You’ve been back at work?” Jamie asked.

“Desk duty.” Erin’s tone stayed neutral. “Typing reports, answering emails. Safe stuff.”

“Still feels weird, huh?”

Erin nodded. “Like I’m waiting for someone to tell me I shouldn’t be there.”

Jamie exhaled slowly. “I know that feeling.”

Erin glanced at her. “No, you don’t.”

Jamie took that quietly. “Maybe not exactly. But I do know what it’s like to feel like you’ve wrecked something you cared about.”

Erin’s jaw tightened. “You didn’t just wreck it, Jamie. You broadcast it.”

“I know,” Jamie said. “And if I could take it back, I would. I wasn’t thinking about the fallout. I thought I could manage it. I thought telling the truth wouldn’t destroy everything else.”

“That’s what you do though,” Erin said, her voice low. “You tell the truth, even when it burns the people standing next to you.”

Jamie winced. “I thought I could do both. Be good at this and be good to you.”