Chapter 6: CHAPTER THREE EIGHTEEN MONTHS AGO

Sadie looks up at me with her leash dangling from her mouth, reminding me that I missed her evening walk. Attaching her leash to her collar, we walk out to the elevator. It was a hell of a day, having two emergency surgeries pop up back-to-back. One dog made it—the other didn't. It always drains me to have to tell an owner their pet died. I'll never get used to it. Being in the room as a living thing takes its last breath isn't something most people experience in their life. Being the one who couldn't save them? Having to look in a child's eyes and tell them their best friend went to heaven? That's the shit that keeps me up at night. The elevator stops one floor below mine, and my breath stops with it. "A. Rose, where you off to?" "Need to clear my head," she says, her voice soft. She had a breakup recently, so I suppose that's what her somber mood is about. It's part of the reason she moved to Charleston. I think she did the breaking, but apparently, he moved on real quick. I never actually met the guy. I don't have all the details, but I don't need them. You hurt Ainsley, I hurt you. That was the motto Brody and I had for years. "Want to walk Sadie with me?" I ask. She steps inside, briefly glancing at me. "I'd like that." She looks so sad. Her usual smile, gone. I can't remember the last time she and I were alone together. The most recent times I've seen her have been holidays, so Brody and Skye were always there, too. It wasn't always that way. When she lived with us, I spent lots of time alone with her. Of course, that was before she'd turned into this bombshell. But even then, I'd always liked her. She was fun to hang around with and always made me laugh. I never resented her living with us. She made it fun. She cramped my style a little bit in the dating department, but she was a teenager. She wasn't doing it on purpose. We used to spend hours on the couch watching some show she was obsessed with, talking and hanging out. Of course, she loved any show about weddings or wedding dresses. Every Super Bowl Sunday, she made me watch the entire puppy bowl with her, and she loved all the awards shows like the Oscars and Grammys, asking me what I thought of the dresses, the shoes. Brody usually refused to watch, but I indulged her. She had me wrapped around her little finger, even then. But I don't mind. Ainsley's the type of person that can make anything fun, even fashion. It's strange how, even after all this time, we can fall back into that place. Back in the day, she walked Sadie with me, or for me, all the time. Sadie moves a little slower now than she did then. Ainsley leans over, rubbing Sadie's coat a little. "Remember how she used to pull on the leash, chasing other dogs?" I ask. "And acting like squirrels were her arch nemesis?" The hair on the back of Sadie's coat stands up at the mere mention of her rival. "She still hates them," I whisper. A small smile crosses her lips, and I hope that means she's feeling a little better. She raises an eyebrow at me. "You really shouldn't make her wear the poop bags around her neck. She's probably embarrassed, like all the other dogs are making fun of her." Sadie rubs up against Ainsley's leg like she appreciates her humiliation being addressed. But that little contraption that holds the bags and attaches to her leash is a life saver. Sorry, Sadie. This time Ainsley breaks into a full-on grin, making my heart miss a beat. How can talking about poop bags and the bowel habits of my canine do that? Charleston is a romantic city by anyone's standards. Tree lined streets echo with the sound of horse hooves from the private carriages, and certain times of the year, the city is painted pink with camellia blooms. Romance lives in the streets here, so it probably isn't the best idea for me to be walking around with a woman that is totally off limits. Too much temptation. Everywhere we turn there seems a couple making out, holding hands, fondling each other on a bench. "So what are your plans now that you're back?" I ask, hoping for a nice, safe conversation. "I'm not sure," she says. I know Brody's letting her live in his place rent free. He says it's in exchange for her making Skye's wedding dress, joking he's getting the better end of the deal, but I know he'd never take a dime from her. "I've got some side jobs making veils and things. I've got some savings and my portion of the money my parents left me. So I have a few months until I have to decide anything." She stops for a second. "I have applied with some designers in New York and Paris." "Does Brody know that?" I ask. "No, but it's a long shot. I'm not sure Charleston is right for me. I'm just keeping my options open. I'm here at least through the wedding. We'll see what happens afterwards. I'm also thinking about looking for space for my own wedding dress boutique. If I stay in Charleston, that's what I want to do." She looks up at me with those blue eyes of hers. "Please don't mention any of this to Brody."