“C’mon, boy.”
Even off leash, Tracker followed me without hesitation. I took him all the way to my car, and opened the hatch back. He jumped in, happy for an adventure, even at 4am. I got in after him and climbed onto the mattress. I dropped onto it, dragging the folded blankets over my body and pillowed my head on my arm. The sun was rising, a greyish haze on the horizon heralding the encroaching summer day. Tracker happily fell down next to me, leaning his back into mine and offering me his body heat.
I couldn’t stay in that apartment anymore. It was no longer my home, just an echo. When I woke up, I would start looking for someplace new, and talk with the landlord.
For now, Tracker and I would car-life it.
I wrapped the blankets tighter around my body.
They still held the faint scent of blueberries.
My phone buzzed at 9:45am with a message. Groggy, I fumbled for it, and squinted at the swimming letters in the pool of blue light. Gradually they came together and formed a coherent sentence.
Skye
Just making sure you got home safe.
I yawned and typed back.
Yeah. Thanks again for the invite. Thank Halo for me.
Skye
Want to get lunch somewhere?
Sounds great but I can’t. I have to go house hunting today.
“Crap.” I shouldn’t have told her that. I sent it without thinking. Skye was just so easy to talk to.
Skye
Something wrong with your apartment?
Just need a change.
Skye
Meet me for lunch at Bao Down. 12:30. I won’t take no for an answer.
Another yawn escaped me. A warm dumpling lunch sounded pretty good. I set my alarm on my phone for an hour and a half from now and immediately drifted back to sleep.
I arrived at the Bao Down truck just after 12:30, Tracker on his leash at my side. Skye stood from where she sat at a plastic table and retrieved her order as it was called. Dumplings in hand, she turned from the truck and smiled when she saw me.
She had two orders of dumplings, and two sodas.
“Afternoon,” she greeted me. “Sleep well?”
“As well as could be expected,” I said.
She handed me a pair of wooden chopsticks in a paper sleeve. “So, what’s wrong with your apartment?”
“Nothing. Forget I said anything.”
“You’re not leaving Port Haven, are you?” Concern filled her eyes.
“No. It just…” I broke the chopsticks down the divide. A splinter the thickness of a human hair split off from it. “It doesn’t feel like home without her.”
Skye put a hand on my arm and squeezed. “Stay with us.”
