Reckless Love

Chapter Eleven*Old Times

Josh holds the door open for us, his hand lingering on the handle as we step through. The air inside is cool, almost sterile, and it smells faintly of old wood and something metallic. I feel a slight chill in my bones as I enter. We walk into the space, the silence heavy.

There's a guest bedroom down the hall. He gestures lazily toward a door at the far end, his voice flat and emotionless.

Damian gives him a quick nod, his face warm with gratitude but still guarded. Thanks, man, he says, his tone polite but not overly familiar. He heads down the hallway toward the room.

Josh's gaze shifts back to me when Damian's already out of earshot. I hope you don't mind, but we have a dog. He's still in the car.

He smiles, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes. Nah, it's fine. I love dogs. You can go get him.

Thanks, I say awkwardly, feeling the weight of his stare even as I make my way back outside. It's like the air inside is too heavy, and I need the space to breathe.

When I reach the car, I open the door to the back of the Jeep, and Ecko's face lights up instantly. His tail wags so hard that his whole body shakes, and I can't help but smile at the sight of him. Hey, buddy, I greet him in my usual baby voice, bending down to give him a few scratches behind the ears. Come on, Ecko. You wanna go inside?"

He lets out a happy bark in response, jumps out of the car, and dashes ahead, eager to get inside. I chuckle as I watch him run up to the front door, his excitement contagious.
Damian and I still don't know why Josh left us behind all those years ago. He didn't give us an explanation, just disappeared one day. But I'm pretty sure it had something to do with Damian. Josh's mood always changes when Damian's around, like he's two different people one for me, and another for him. It's subtle, but I can feel it, like a strange undercurrent between them.

I push the door open for Ecko, who bolts straight to the room where Damian is. I giggle Ecko really likes Damian.

Josh's voice cuts through the moment, unexpectedly close. It's cute when you laugh.

I glance over and see him leaning against the counter, his arms folded, a smile on his lips but it's sharp, almost like he's trying to figure me out.

Oh, uh... thanks? I mumble, unsure how to respond. The tension in the air is thick again, so I quickly make my way to the room, eager to escape the awkwardness.

Inside, Damian's humming softly to himself, focused on unpacking the little supplies we have. Ecko is curled up on the cair in the corner of the room.

So love Damian says, his voice warm as he glances over at me, after we get settled in, wanna go to the store and get more clothes and stuff?

I can't help but smile, the excitement bubbling up. Of course, I do. I am a girl, after all. I sit on the edge of the bed, crossing my legs, feeling the softness of the blanket beneath me. I never used to be into shopping or clothes, I never cared about makeup or jewelry. Back then, I had no need for any of it. But now, I find myself loving it all. Maybe it's because I have someone to dress up for, or maybe it's just because I'm happy now. Either way, I'm grateful. I'm not just existing anymore, I'm living, and it's all thanks to Damian. Without him, I have no idea where I'd be.

He puts the last of our stuff in the drawer and grabs his wallet, alright let's go, we'll bring Ecko to though he mind be grumpy to have to be put on a leash.

I laugh, yeah but he'll be happy to go out. We take Ecko and head to the car, I look around as we're walking out but I don't see Josh maybe he went to work or something.
We get in the Jeep and drive to the mall.