Counting Paths

Chapter 24.

Roland

"Moose! Stop!" I yell after her, but she completely ignores me and continues running down the driveway where Sterling is waiting by the front door.

I try to take off after her but I'm fucking exhausted. Before the run, I was worried my normal trail through the woods would be too much for Moose, but I was slowing her down. I did not know a dog could run full speed for so long and not get exhausted. I thought they needed breaks as we do. Fuck, was I wrong.

"Moose!"

She reaches Sterling and jumps happily in the air, but not on Sterling. I'm glad she understands how big she is because she would've brought Sterling down and crushed her with no hesitation.

"Hi, beautiful girl!" Sterling squeals, petting Moose aggressively as I approach. "I've missed you too!"

"Had fun?" I say breathlessly. She nods, most of her attention on Moose. "Can you tell me where y'all went now?"

She looks at me. "I'll show! Come on!"

We walk inside and I order Moose to wait by the front door. She whimpers and pouts with her head hanging low. I sigh heavily. "Give me three minutes and I'll take you a bath outside," I promise her.

Sterling smiles at me. "She's growing on you."

"Ha, Kevin used to say the same thing about you."

"That's not funny."

"It's true."

She shakes her head and grabs my arm. "Come on!" She tugs me into the kitchen. Kevin is pouring what looks like a banana smoothie into my usual mug. He hands it to me, and I inhale three large gulps.

"You can't drink so much so fast!" Sterling hits my arm and snatches my mug.

"Really?" I growl at her.

"Yes. Here." She pulls a gray gift bag from thin air and holds it up. "Happy early birthday!"

"Wait..." I glance back and forth between her and Kevin a couple of times before settling my gaze on her again. "Really?"

"Yes, really, you asshole!" She hits my arm again. "Open it."

"Why do you keep hitting me?"

"Open it," she pushes.

"Okay." I take the bag, pull out the black tissue paper, and pull out a box that's almost as big as my hand. I knock off the lid and...and laugh. "Hello kitty? Really?" She has to be joking, the both of them have to be joking, I mean, would they really get me a hello kitty watch? But she's looking at me like she truly wants me to like it.

"Try it on...?"

I pull out the watch from its case and Sterling takes everything else from me. I try the watch but it doesn't fit. "I can get a longer band for it," I say.

Her eyes slightly widen. "Wait, really?"

Kevin laughs.

Ignoring him, I tell Sterling, "yeah. I love it, kid, thank you."

She groans loudly. "Kevin!"

"I got it here." He opens a drawer, takes out a larger box, and tosses it to her. She catches it with no issues, then hands it to me.

"This is a thank-you gift for everything you've done for me," she tells me. "I know I didn't make it easy on you in the beginning, I probably still have my irritating moments, and you had no reason to take me in but you did, anyway, so thank you. And not only did you save me because I think...I'm pretty sure I would've died if you hadn't picked me up both times, but you also made me happy. I want to live again," she says the last part shyly.