Snowcrossed: Currently Under Construction

13. A Token of Peace

Song:
"A Little Bit Yours" - JP Saxe

Dogs weren't allowed in the house, let alone on the couch, and if Linda walked through that door, she'd surely kill me.

Wolf sat next to Hadley on the cream-coloured sofa, thoroughly enjoying herself.

There weren't many I feared, but Linda was one of them, and if she found one hair on that couch...

The dog needed out, and I wasn't about to pass up the opportunity to make amends with Hadley. It was the first time she'd been nice to me since she came home, or somewhat nice. I only prayed Hadley being out of her room with me and not arguing would be enough to absolve me of breaking Linda's rule about the dog.

Maybe she wouldn't be that mad, I hoped as I scrubbed rock-hard cheese from the pan. Maybe I could convince her Wolf was needed. That she was acting as an olive branch, a voiceless mediator, a token of peace?

Who was I kidding? I was so dead.

I watched the two from the sink—cleaning Hadley's mess. Not because I was kissing ass, though I probably was, but because Linda would be home soon and anytime Hadley ran her hands under hot water, the burning sensation came back.

Her laugh wafted through me like cool spring winds as Wolf attempted to lick her face. Bright, cleansing, new.

I smiled, inked hands submerged in the sudsy water as I observed.

My dog wasn't mean, but people were concerned, given the wild blood in her veins and often avoided her. I huffed. If someone broke in one night and stuffed a bag over my face, she'd probably watch from her bed in the corner wagging her bushy tail, but Hadley seemed comfortable around her.

"Where did she come from?" Hadley asked, admiring her brown and white fur and pointy ears. The beryl eyes and long snout.

She sat sideways, giving Wolf all the attention she craved, and my supposedly aggressive dog tipped her head back, tongue hanging out of her mouth.

"Luke found her," I answered, "roaming along the track near the woods last spring. We think she might be related to the neighbour's husky."

"Jack?"

I nodded.

"Huh, I wonder what happened to the mother?"

"I don't know," I answered. "There were no other pups." And we weren't supposed to keep her. We were supposed to take her to the shelter, but I couldn't do it.

"Her paws are huge," Hadley went on, tipping her head to get a better look. "It'd be interesting to know what she's crossed with?"

"The vet's pretty sure she's part wolf." Hence the name.

"I wouldn't doubt it," Hadley agreed, going back to her ears and speaking to my dog the way one would a child.

It was the longest conversation we'd had without arguing in nearly a year, and I wasn't about to tease her about it. Especially not when she looked so happy doing it.

Wolf had been a saving grace after Hadley had left. The split was fucking agonizing, and I'd be lying if I didn't feel it. Everything reminded me of Hadley–pieces of her ghost remained in every corner, admonishing me for the stupid decisions I'd made.

I missed her. And I hadn't realized how much until she laughed. I was angry when she left, but I knew I wanted to be better, that I could be better.

Wolf kept me busy. Between bottle feeds, her training and mine, work, and therapy I was reluctant to tell anyone about, things slowly got better. But it didn't fully take that pain away. I thought if I progressed and could prove to Hadley that I'd change, that would be enough to convince her, but after seeing Hadley with her boyfriend and the new life, she created–

I thought about breaking again, and I might have if it wasn't for the supports I'd built. What would be the point? Hadley was gone. So was my mom. And it didn't matter how many races I'd won or what I did to prove I was worthy. She wasn't coming back.

My phone vibrated in my back pocket, and my thoughts were put on pause as I quickly dried my hands.

Incoming call Luke.

"Hey," I greeted, tucking the phone between my shoulder and ear.

"Why am I grabbing a large ham and pineapple pizza?"

Nosy prick. He knew exactly why. "Because I asked for it." In the text I sent ten minutes ago and because it was Hadley's favourite. "Where are you anyway?"

Hadley's head snapped. Brows furrowed in question.

"Out," Luke said, being as mysterious as me.

I caught Janelle's voice. "Is that Hadley?"

"Baker," Luke answered.

I smirked. "What are you doing with Janelle?" I asked as I scrubbed burnt cheese from the pan.

Hadley adjusted on the sofa, not minding Wolf nosing her face when she gave her attention to me. "Who is that?"

"Luke."

Her brows pinched together. "Where's Nate?"

"Where's Nate?" I asked, relaying the question.

"Forcing Johnny up the ladder," Luke answered. "Mom caught us in town, and now we're hanging up the lights."

Ah.

"What are you doing?"

I caught the playful tone in his words and ignored it. "Dishes."

"Dishes?"

I explained the jalapeño spice situation, and Luke burst. "Since when does Hadley cook?"

"She's learning," Janelle snapped, then snatched the phone after listening to every word. "Does that mean you and Hadley made up?"

I rolled my eyes at the implication. "Tell Luke we want pizza."

I didn't know how much the boys told her about Hadley and me, but I'd hazard a guess and say everything if the hopeful nature in her tone said anything.

I didn't know much about Hadley and her boyfriend's relationship but judging by the way Janelle talked about him she didn't like him very much, meaning he must have been pretty bad for Janelle to choose me over him. It might have made her my new favourite person, but it also made Dallas my least.

"Well, we're leaving here soon," Janelle said, taking dominion of Luke's phone.

"Alright."

I hung up and dried the sheet pan, knowing the time for apologizing had come.

A/N: I thought about scrapping this chapter. I went back and forth so many times, but there were a few of you who wanted to see who the lover of pineapple pizza was from the comments in the last chapter lol. And I felt like it was a little important to show how much Wolf truly meant to Baker.

Thank you guys so much for reading <3