I watched him go, then nabbed a cart from the parking area. No one returned carts in this lot and I thought maybe having too many different businesses surrounding it was probably why. No one worried about common courtesy any more. Especially not people I considered my friends.
I tucked my rant into my mental pocket and went inside the grocery store. Time to refill the cupboards.
When I got home Emma waited for me by the door. She took one sniff of the bag I carried, then ran to the kitchen door. She needed out. I left her in the back as I carried in the groceries, which kept me from worrying about her getting out the front. She hadn’t so far, but that didn’t mean she didn’t know how. I think my dog knew a lot of things she wasn’t admitting to when you got down to it.
I considered leaving out one of the ice cream containers, but one look at Emma’s brown eyes convinced me otherwise. She’d been very good while I got things done. And bonus, she hadn’t even tried to eat the couch pillows for the last two days while I’d left her alone for the afternoon. I needed to take her running to burn off any excess energy she still had built up. “Let me get changed.”
I got a bounce and a single woof in reply as she went to sit by the back door. She knew exactly what I’d said. Experts say dogs understand about two hundred and fifty human words. I don’t know if their brain shuts down after learning those or if they just get bored with us talking so much, but Emma knew a lot.
Once we got on the beach I was surprised to see it almost empty. It was a lovely afternoon and there were fewer than twenty people doing random activities like jogging or playing in the chilly water. Or just sitting on a blanket reading. That was my favorite beach activity. At least once Emma was worn down from the run. Today I’d considered bringing a book but decided my couch would be much more comfortable while I read. Besides, I didn’t know when Greg was getting home.
The ice cream sitting in my freezer had nothing to do with the decision. Really.
The run was glorious, and by the time I’d turned around my heart was beating out of my chest. And then I saw Toby standing on the steps to the parking area. Emma barked like she’d seen her friend too. Emma had no human enemies, at least none that hadn’t tried to break into her house.
I slowed my pace and got my breath under control. I’d run intervals for the rest of the time. I’d just finished my third speed round when Toby moved from his spot on the stairs and headed out to meet me.
“What are you doing here?” He gave me a short hug and leaned down to do the same to Emma. I think he would have hugged her first except I was one of his bosses. I was also his landlord, his other boss’s girlfriend, and a friend. Lines were hard to keep straight in South Cove. I was amazed there weren’t more people related to others.
“Running to starve off the ice cream I know I’ll eat later.” I wiped my face with a handkerchief. Well, it was really a paper towel I’d stuck in my pocket. “What are you doing here?”
“Rumor has it that you got a letter from Sasha. What did she say? Are they happy there?” He glanced at the ocean while he ran through the questions on his list. Of course he didn’t ask the big one: was she still in love with Toby or had she moved on? “What did she say?”
“She said she’s fine. And so is Olivia. Can you believe she’s almost six?” I nodded to the stairs that rose to the parking lot. “Look, I need to talk to you, but if you’re all brokenhearted still we can wait.”
“That’s sensitive of you.” He slugged my arm. “I was never ‘all brokenhearted.’ I was just under the impression that Sasha and I were building a future together. I was wrong.”
“You’re saying that you’re over her?” I wasn’t sure if Toby was just lying to me or he was actually lying to himself.
“Totally. Except for just a bit of my heart that’s singed, that’s all.” He paused as we finished the steps. “Tell