“Pay more attention next time. When you see him start walking in circles or sniffing around, it’s time to take him outside.”
He walks to the couch and nudges Bruno. The puppy jolts awake, then perks up when he recognizes his foster dad. I watch as he picks the puppy up, then scans the room for the leash and harness. I point to the armchair where I left them. He sets the puppy down just long enough to put the harness on, then picks him back up and heads out the door.
I let out a breath once I’m alone. Maybe he’s not ready to give me another chance, but at least he doesn’t expect me to stop taking care of Bruno while he’s at work. Or maybe I’m reading too much into the way he said “next time”. I watch the door for a minute, wishing that it could give me answers.
As I hear the elevator doors opening and closing behind him down the hall, my mind wanders to Luca. I think of all the times I’ve turned down his invitations to meet him, all the times that I might have given him a chance if I hadn’t been dating someone else at the time. Maybe Anne is right. Maybe this is a sign that I’m supposed to meet Luca.
If there was ever a time to make this work and not feel guilty about it, it’s now. I look at my notebook, which is sitting open on my coffee table. I sit down and grab my pen.
ChapterTwenty-Nine
GOOD IMPRESSIONS
Dear Luca,
Come hide away with me.
Love,
Naomi
Iwasn’t going to write another letter, but the fact that I haven’t heard from him is driving me crazy. I decide to use the same words I used when I invited him to leave his fiancée for me two years ago. I know it’s a longshot, but I hope that he’s just been waiting for me to use these words again.
I don’t bother leaving the letter on top of the mailboxes. I drop it on Joel’s desk. He looks at the envelope, then up at me.
“Please make sure it gets to him today.”
Joel nods. I head back to my apartment. I feed the kittens, and then they play by my feet while I make dinner. I’ve hidden the skateboard that Jake gave me inside a closet. I’m reluctant to take it out and subject my downstairs neighbor to the level of noise those kittens can make with a skateboard.
I just finished eating dinner when I hear a tap at the door. I know that it’s unlikely that Joel already gave my letter to Luca. Even so, my heart rate picks up. I comb my fingers through my hair, suddenly conscious of the fact that I haven’t looked in a mirror in the last hour. I slide my tongue over my front teeth to make sure I don’t have food stuck in them. I don’t know why I’m doing these things. Since when have I wanted to make a good impression on Luca?
When I open the door, it’s Jake on the other side. I’m surprised that he came back.
“Hey,” I say.
Without responding, he pushes my door open wider and steps in and kisses me.
“I’m sorry that I’ve been so distant,” he says when he breaks away from me.
“You’re not the one who should be sorry,” I argue. “I should have told you about the letters. I feel like I need to…”
I trail off as he walks past me and into the living room.
“I want to explain myself,” I say, following him.
He drops down onto the couch. I hesitate. I get the impression that he doesn’t want my explanation, but I feel like I owe it to him anyway. I sit down next to him.
“I know that you said you wanted to be exclusive, but I feel like I should tell you that I’ve been—”
“Who is Jake?” he interrupts.
I frown, feeling stumped by the odd question. “What do you mean?”
“Joel told me that you mentioned you were seeing someone named Jake.”
I shake my head. I’m even more confused now. “I was talking about you. Did you think there’s another Jake?” My eyes widen as realization hits. I feel like laughing, but I’m not sure it’s appropriate, so I hold it in. “That’s why you’ve been avoiding me?”
He stares at me, his expression remaining serious. My smile dissolves as I try to figure out what’s going on.
