Dear Rosie, (Love Letters #2)

The woman hands me my purse.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

Holding the carrier at my side, I walk out of the room and out of the clinic.

ONE HUNDRED FOURTEEN

NATE

I watch Rosie’s location, watch her move out of the vet clinic, watch her glowing dot move through the parking lot.

Watch it stop.

I was planning on waiting until she was home to call, but when her dot doesn’t move for a solid thirty seconds, I decide not to wait.

ONE HUNDRED FIFTEEN

ROSALYN

With the AC blasting, I triple-check that my van doors are locked, then I twist in my seat and face the carrier in the passenger seat.

“I’ll let you out, but you have to promise to go back in when we get to your building,” I tell Charles through the holes in the side of the box.

I don’t know what the rules are regarding guests at Nathan’s building, but probably best if I don’t draw a whole bunch of attention to myself.

Such as rushing off the elevator this morning and almost barreling someone over while crying hysterically with a cat in my arms.

I drop my head back against the headrest, remembering that they called Nathan.

He’s not going to be happy.

I picture his handsome face.

Hear his gentle voice in my mind.

And remind myself that he won’t yell at me.

He’s not the type to scream when he’s mad.

He won’t hit me. Or hurt me.

I fill my lungs.

He won’t do any of those awful things. But he’ll still be upset.

I could’ve killed Charles.

Charles meows.

“Sorry, little man.” I wipe the back of my hand across my cheek, then unlatch the top of the box and pull the sides apart.

Charles pops his head out of the box but doesn’t jump out.

“Do you want to stay in there?” I reach out tentatively. Slowly.

Charles looks at me out of the corner of his eye, but when my fingers brush the top of his head, he leans into my touch.

His purr is so loud. So content. I break out into tears all over again.