Observations: When I finally got back to writing today, all of the morning’s momentum and writerly high vanished. This was back to feeling a bit painful.
Disclaimer: Draft, draft, draft, errors, typos, bad writing.
Total word count: 21,041
2297 behind đ
You can read previous sections here.
How can familiar dog know heâs black ops? Couldnât he be just a spy?
Familiar dog looks up at me instead of answering. Iâm surprised. I didnât know she could be quiet. She snorts, which makes Heath frown.
âInteresting dog.â
âYep, may be one of a kind.â Of that, I am positive.
I glance around to see if his Gran is nearby. She usually has a baked goods table that she runs with the ladies from her church. Itâs usually swarmed, which is probably why I canât see her. However, in looking around, I notice a young woman Iâve never seen before watching us with more than a passing interest. Sheâs a tiny, brunette with her arms crossed, leaning against a black SUV. She looks ticked, and when she sees that Iâve noticed her, her eyes narrow. Interesting. After turning around, she opens the door of the SUV, climbs in and shuts the door. The windows have dark glazing, so I can no longer see her.
Heathâs gaze follows mine and for a split second I see frustration in his eyes before its gone.
âI need to go,â he says. He strides away before I can say anything, even âgoodbye.â He reaches into his pockets and jabs at his cell.
âVery interesting,â I say to familiar dog. Part of me feels disappointed. Heâs clearly not attracted to me. Is he just interested in what he thinks I might be?
Deflated, I continue walking around the parking lot and adjacent grounds with familiar dog at my side, ever alert.
âMy name is Moira.â
I stop in my tracks. âMoira? Thatâs a complicated name for a dog.â
âIâm a complicated dog.â
True words. We continue. I want to ask, âWhy Moira?â but decide thereâs enough time for that. Just as Iâm passing the deep-fried everything stand, I see the blond tower. Crouching down, I duck behind some bushes. Moira stands next to me and stares.
âYou forgetting youâre wearing a three foot tall pointy hat?â
A sudden wind kicks leaves around us.
âCrap,â I pull it off. âDo you think he saw?â
âWhat do you think?â Moira asks as the blond tower comes to stand next to us.
âHide and seek time?â he asks.
âYeah. You want to play?â
He smiles. Amazing! He can smile. It transforms his entire face. Heâs actually nice looking when he loses his perpetual stern face.
âThat depends. Does your world still depend on me?â
I grimace. He grins.
âAre you recovered? I heard about your accident.â
I pluck leaves from my skirt. âQuite recovered, thanks.â
âYou have a dog,â he comments, sitting on his haunches to pet Moira who leans into him. Her eyes seem to go back into her head as she sighs.
Great. My familiar has gone to the dark side.
âThis isnât the one who was in the woods. This is a nice one.â
âA nice one?â I repeat.
âPardon?â he asks, looking up at me, perplexed.
âI didnât mean to say that out loud.â Which sounds just as crazy.
When he stands, his eyes dart to my ears as if trying to determine whether Iâm wearing an earbud or some other kind of aural device. I can see the gears shifting in his head and know that heâs about to provide an excuse to flee.
âI have to go,â he says. âIt was nice seeing you again. I will see you around.â
Right. I know that he sees me first, Iâll never see him.
Just like that, Iâve chased two men away in the space of ten minutes. That must be some kind of record. Happy Halloween.
end of Day 14