eird Dogs and S

as's grip, her face burning. "So

mly. "No worries. I'v

the car. Through the windshield, Alex was stari

t and shut the door. "Just drive,"

over. "You okay? That call sounded

ared out the window, chewi

her voice softer

me," she said, her voice shaki

a little as Ale

and turned to face her.

ast. "I caught him. In

ropped. "No

ered. "But the only thing he was pra

ttle slimeball. I knew something was off. Di

e with her sleeve

"If I see him, I might accidentally hit him

indow. Her birthday wasn't supposed to end like this. James was supposed to

into Alex'

e parked. "Unless you've got other plans...

My mom's working another overn

and when Alex flipped o

asked, pointing to a small

udly. "That's Hubby.

d your do

a name that sounded loy

e could say anything else, the dog shot up a

ust me!" Ava stepped

like she was under at

It's Ava-she

ing didn

frowned. "Okay, rude. I'v

tense seconds, Hubby yelped, jumped o

just win a staring c

ed. "She's never

"Guess she got

needs time to

ly, it kind of fits. Everyone'

e hall. "Come on. You can crash i

ped her bag. "Thank

a blanket. "Yo

ng the blanket on the floor. "The flo

take a shower. Don't cry

Ava said with

iet, the soft hum of the house the only sound. She stared at the ceiling, he

rything star

realize when s

.

sound, just a feeling. That kind of weird, c

s dark, except for Alex's phone

t up s

ked on Alex, even though everything seeme

mething f

oor, stepping into the hallway.

m, her eyes scanning the shado

ng pulling her, sh

round herself. It was late. Still. But that feeling in

o go back in

hing

yard, behind a tree

walk

shif

standi

she cal

ans

ack toward the do

It just stood there, l

Her fingers reached beh

shut, locking it fast. Then she crept to t

w was sti

stan

l st

o idea who-or