“We’re on our way.”
I hang up as the woman from the minivan approaches where I’m still kneeling. “What happened?” Her voice is calm and inquisitive.
I know she’s trying to help, and yet my mind is so consumed with fear for Zeus, and recovering from finding Lilly, that I want to scream in response to her simple inquiry. To prevent myself from losing it, I clench my jaw and focus my eyes on Zeus as I softly stroke a small trail on his chest that doesn’t seem to cause him any pain.
It only takes a moment for police sirens to pierce the air, followed by Caulder’s authoritative tone instructing someone to stop traffic until we’re out of the road. It’s another moment more before Jenny runs over to us and takes Lilly, holding her at arm’s length. Her eyes scrutinize every inch of her before clutching her tightly, both of them crying.
I move so I’m kneeling beside Zeus’s head and softly continue to stroke his thick fur, dipping my head so I’m only a few inches from him as I speak reassuring words.
“Hey, boy.” I hear Max’s voice. His leg brushes against mine as he squats next to me. “We’re going to take you to the hospital and get you checked out, alright?” I watch Max’s hands reach forward and gently touch Zeus.
“Ace, why don’t you hold his head, just keep talking to him. Caulder and I can get him in the truck, okay?”
I sniff and nod my head. I’m terrified of them moving him, even though I know he needs to see a vet. I slowly stand up, wiping my damp cheeks with the back of my hand as Caulder and Max plan how to maneuver Zeus and support him as best as possible. I continue to stand by his head as he whines without even moving.
“Alright, one, two, three,” Max counts aloud and both he and Caulder slide their hands under Zeus. As Caulder begins to lift Zeus’s back he releases a heart wrenching whimper, and I take a deep breath so my own anxiety doesn’t heighten his stress.
“It’s alright, Zeus. You’re okay, buddy. We have a really short way to go,” Max says as they continue moving to where my mom’s SUV is parked with the back open awaiting Zeus. The two work swiftly and so gently I want to hug them both in appreciation. But knowing we need to go, I climb in next to Zeus, folding myself in a tight ball beside his head where I can continue to soothe him.
“Ace, you can’t—” Caulder starts to protest. I glance at him, tears still spilling from my eyes. He stops and reaches forward, dusting some loose gravel from my leg. “I’ll escort you guys there.” He turns to Max. “Don’t slam on the brakes or take turns too sharp with her back here.”
When we arrive at the clinic they’re already waiting for us, Kendall or maybe Caulder must have called. The vet comes out to assess the situation and the best way to get Zeus inside. He, Caulder, and Max all work together to get him inside with as much support as possible before shutting us out so they can ascertain what all is wrong.
Caulder and Max go back outside as I wander the small, empty lobby. They’re getting ready to close for the evening, and the vacancy is both welcoming and unnerving. I collapse on a padded bench and cover my face with both hands and cry.
It feels like both seconds and hours have passed when an arm wraps around my shoulders and I’m pulled against a chest that I instantly know just by the warmth and newly familiar scent. Max gently runs his hand over my back, so soft that at times I have to focus to make sure he’s still touching me. The action is insurmountably comforting.
Normally I’d be mortified to cry in front of someone, especially when that someone is Max. Crying is right up there with throwing up—you really can’t do it in any way that’s attractive. I’m certain my cheeks are blotchy and tear stained, and there are streaks of mascara and eyeliner on my face, and yet even knowing that I look awful, I can’t stop.
The door chimes and a sea of voices alerts us my family has arrived. We sit huddled together, not discussing the fact that Lilly had run away, or that Zeus was hit by a car. Kendall and Kyle work to distract us by chiding one another and discussing surface topics to ensure the mood is kept light until the vet comes out to inform us Zeus had to undergo surgery for some internal bleeding where they repaired his hind quarters. He has two broken legs and won’t be able to walk for at least four weeks. He’ll stay a couple of days for observation and will possibly need an additional surgery.
As we stand to leave, I feel Max’s hand leave me for the first time since he came to comfort me, and I turn and wrap both of my arms around his chest, crushing my body against him. “Thank you.”
His arms encircle me and gently squeeze as the rest of my family deals well-deserved accolades to Max for his help.
I hadn’t been intending to get up and run this morning, but as I lie in bed my thoughts wander from Max for the first time in weeks and I think about Zeus. The worrying makes me restless. I head downstairs where I find another note from my dad telling me that he again was called in early. Summers have a tendency for this to occur due to other doctors being away on vacation.
I slide my shoes on and make my way outside, stretching an arm across my chest as I close my eyes and listen to the new playlist Kendall loaded to my iPod.
My attention breaks from the music as a hand brushes my arm and causes me to nearly jump out of my skin. I turn and see Max’s blue eyes alight and a small smirk across his full lips. My eyes travel on their own accord to see he’s wearing a pair of dark, navy blue mesh shorts and tennis shoes … that’s it. He’s shirtless. Again. And his sculpted bare chest shakes a bit as he laughs, making his muscles ripple. I have the familiar urge to reach out and touch him before my eyes snap back to his face and realize he’s laughing at my startled reaction. At least I think that’s why he’s laughing. Hopefully he didn’t notice me checking him out. I pull out an ear bud and glare at him.
“Sorry, I was talking to you, but apparently you couldn’t hear,” Max says, pointing a finger to his ear. “What are you listening to?” He smiles at me, and it’s a genuine grin that makes my heart swell a bit and my annoyance to instantly ebb.
“I don’t know. It’s a playlist from Kendall.” I tilt the screen so he can see the name of the band and song that I’m unfamiliar with.
He nods and then turns his attention to me. “So I thought while Zeus heals, you might like some company.”
I look at Max, feeling a myriad of emotions from appreciation to nervousness to bewilderment, and all I can manage to do is nod in response.
Max lets out a small chuckle and begins to stretch beside me. My heart races even faster. It’s not as though I haven’t run with guys before, and since I run every day, I know I’m not going to be panting and stumbling. This is different though. Max is different.
We run to the track and the sight of the intersection where Zeus was hit causes a heavy weight on my heart as I realize just how fast I had been running yesterday.
“He’s a tough dude. He’s going to be back taking my place before you know it.” I glance over at him and try to smile to show my appreciation.
I had been right. Max is fast and he has the endurance of someone that obviously works out a lot, which is both enjoyable and a bit intimidating.
Running with Max becomes a quick routine, and after a couple of days of getting over my nerves, I even look forward to it. We run well together, matching one another’s pace, occasionally adding some competition as one of us tries to race the other. On these instances Max generally cheats by grabbing my waist and hauling me back a few steps or gently pushes me to knock me off balance before he sprints ahead. But after our morning workout we, fall into our own individual routines.