You're Already Mine

Chapter Four

"Come on, Cocoa," I say, tugging on the leash as I adjust my backpack with the other hand. She stops sniffing the ground and trots to my heels. "Good girl."

As I walk, I think about Ava. She's been giving me the cold shoulder lately, but she's affectionate toward me when we're around people, despite the fact that some of the family doesn't know we're dating.

I reach Sernie's door. Just as I'm about to knock, his dad, Peter, opens the door. Right away, he starts talking.

"We don't want your Girl Scout cookies, newspapers, or any other stuff about clubs and skateboarding. Sernie is upstairs if you're here for him."

"I'm here for Sernie," I say.

Peter does a double take and opens the door further. "It's you."

"It's me," I say.

"Sorry about that," he says. "Too many neighborhood kids have come by today and I'm sick of it. Come inside!"

I smile and step into the house, taking off my shoes. Cocoa follows me and obediently stays by my side.

"Have you eaten today, or would you like some iced tea or cookies?"

"Could I have an Arnold Palmer with mint and honey, please?" I ask politely. An Arnold Palmer is a mix of sweet iced tea and lemonade.

"Of course! I'll fix it up for you and bring it up when it's ready."

"Thank you!" I say as I lead Cocoa up the stairs and up to Sernie's room. I knock on Sernie's door, entering when he says, "Come in!"

"Cameron!"

"Sernie!"

Cedar hops up from his bed in the corner and immediately trots up to me, sniffing my hand and then pushing it so it goes over his head. Laughing, I scratch his head.

"How's Spruce back home?"

"He's good, as far as I know. My friend's coming to stay with him while we're gone. How's Cedar been?"

"He misses Spruce. I can't wait until you move here. Everything's dull without you." He pulls me in for a tight hug and I squeeze him back with equal ferocity.

A knock on the door startles me, but it's just Peter.

"Here's your tea," he says, handing me a cold glass.

"Thanks!"

"No problem at all," he says in his deep voice, closing the door. I hear footsteps in the hall.

"So how did you get Cocoa, again?"

"We found her a few months ago in the woods and couldn't find her owner. My mom said she escaped from the pound. She was cold, tired, and hungry, had no collar, and even now, she sometimes has trouble trusting people. I think I'm the only person she really trusts. The other day I noticed a lot of scars around her body. Come look at this."

Sernie gets up from the bed and walks over to where I sit on his beanbag. I show him the holes in Cocoa's ears, worn paw pads, bald patches on her back and tail, and the bruises, scars, and scabs around her body.

"Who would do that to such a sweet dog?"

"And she's only a puppy!" I add.

"Exactly! Poor girl."

I've read online what happens to dogs in the pound. Apparently the dogs have to be adopted out within five days to a week, or the pound workers kill them. It's terrible.

We spend the afternoon talking, and when it starts getting dark outside, I head back to the lodge after a dinner of spaghetti.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" he says, standing near the door.

I adjust Cocoa's leash and scratch her ears. "Maybe not," I reply, zipping up my hoodie. "We might be busy."

"Alright. Soon, then?"

"Soon," I agree.

I put on my backpack, go outside, and close the door behind me. Lucas is already waiting for me on his motorcycle.

"How long have you been waiting out here?"

He shrugs. "Just got here," he says casually.

I roll my eyes and hop on the back after putting on my helmet and setting Cocoa into the crate. We fly into the night, the motor buzzing down the road. Several minutes later, we arrive at the lodge and Lucas parks the bike by the porch.

I get off the motorcycle, take off the helmet, and get Cocoa out of the crate.

"The Kings just arrived not too long ago," Lucas says, looking in the house window. "Why don't we go say hi?"

"Fine," I reply, carrying Cocoa inside. As I open the door, I let my dog escape from my arms, unclip her leash, and watch as she goes to play with the other dogs. Everyone says hello and I get smothered by hugs from my little cousins.

"Cameron!" grandpa Howard exclaims, his face lighting up. "Ava told me to let you know that she and the others are upstairs."

"Thanks," I reply. I see my cousin Alexis on the couch talking with the family, a little girl next to her. Alexis' husband, Elijah, waves to me from the couch, and I wave back.

"Did you want some dinner?" Mom asks, walking over to me.

"Nah, I ate at Sernie's. Thanks though," I say, heading upstairs.

"Ah, ah, ah," Lucas says, steering me in the direction of the living room. How he got from the door to the staircase without me knowing, I'll never find out. "You need to socialize first."

"I have been socializing," I reply. "I've been socializing all day for the past few days. I

can take a break."

"Let her go, Lucas," Mom says sternly. "You're the one all wrapped up in your work. You need to socialize."

"Fine," he growls, letting me go.

Cocoa whines, writhing in my arms as I walk up the stairs. I reluctantly set her down, and she cowers in the corner, shivering. Apparently she's afraid of staircases.

I sigh, taking her back into my arms and hold her close.

My cousins fall asleep halfway through watching Nimona, but I'm still awake, watching the movie with Cocoa while texting Sernie.

Me: i had fun with you today

Sernie: me too, how's cocoa?

Me: she's fine, how's cedar?

Sernie: he misses both of you already

I laugh and type a new message after reacting with a heart emoji. Ava has been pretty cold toward me lately- should i confront her about it?

Sernie: obvs. hope she isn't mad at you tho lol. cold in general or what?

Me: cold when we're alone, but she's been affectionate in front of people. some of the family doesn't know we're dating

Sernie: yeah, i'd def confront her about it. good luck! <3

Me: thanks

I sigh, throwing my phone down on the bed as I flop on the pillow. On the screen, Ballister's sword has turned into a temporary lightsaber and a green laser shoots the queen in her stomach, causing her to fall backward in slow motion. Outside, crickets chirp and the wind rustles the leaves. In the room, everyone is asleep, and Ava is curled up into a pillow, facing away from me. I gently fix the blanket over her, lifting it up over her shoulder.

Cocoa sits next to me, going to sleep as my eyes slowly close.