“How’s Harley?” I asked. “Does Willow hate me for what happened?”
Sacha tilted his head at something behind me, a smile pulling at his lips. “Why don’t you ask her yourself?”
I turned to see Willow and Sacha’s sister, Mila, coming down the hallway toward us. Harley trailed behind them, sniffing at the floor.
The women noticed me at the same time, Willow grinning and Mila shrieking.
“Adrik!” they both shouted.
Harley’s head came up. The dog let out an excited bark, his tail wagging as he barreled past them and leaped toward me.
I stilled, bracing myself in anticipation of a panic attack.
Except, as Harley reached me, bouncing up in his excitement to greet me, there was no panic at all.
Laughing softly, I knelt before him, a lightness filling my chest. I wasn’t sure if I had overcome my trauma, or if it was just that I was comfortable with Harley now. But it was definitelythanks to Harleythat I wasn’t having a PTSD attack in that moment. The dog had done a lot more for me than I’d expected.
“Hey buddy, you’re all better.” I ran my hands over his soft fur as he licked my face, making me laugh again.
Willow quickly snagged his collar and hauled him back. “Sorry, Adrik.”
I rose, smiling at her. “It’s okay. Harley and I are friends now. We…worked things out that night in the forest. It looks like his leg healed. That’s good. I was afraid you’d be mad at me.”
Willow snorted. “Right. Mad atyou? Never!” Her expression turned serious. “You’re really okay with him now?” At my nod, she continued, “That’s wonderful! And yes, he’s fine. He has a screw holding one of his bones together. I never got to thank you for taking care of him that night. Pavel said you looked after him until they were able to get him to a vet. So, thank you, Adrik. It means a lot to me.”
“He looked after me, too, you know. He’s a good dog. He might be theonlydog I ever feel that way about, but…” I trailed off, shrugging.
Willow laughed softly. “Well, I’m glad my rambunctious, misbehaved dog was the one to help you.” She paused, smiling up at me. “You look really good, Adrik.”
Heat washed into my face. “Thanks.” I paused. “And your sister? Is she doing okay?”
Willow nodded. “Yes, thank you. She’s back to work now and being her normal, stuck-up self.”
Everyone laughed.
Mila stepped forward, a huge grin on her face. She was a younger, very feminine version of Sacha. “Adrik, you sexy hunk, you!” she teased. “Where have you been? Have you seen Annika yet?”
I shook my head, chuckling. “Not yet. Efrem said she’s at PT.”
The girls nodded, sharing a secret smile. “Don’t worry. She’ll be back.” Mila winked. “And when she sees you, she’s going to drool all over you even more than Harley did.”
The girls laughed.
Sacha cleared his throat and snagged Willow’s hand. “Well, we’re on our way out. Need to get back to Tahoe before it gets too late. Good to see you, Adrik.”
I nodded. “You, too.”
Sacha and Willow left with Harley.
Mila waved, turning to head back down the hallway.
Efrem motioned me into the office.
I stepped nervously into the room, my heart thumping as three sets of eyes focused on me. Not only were Alexei and Pavel seated around the huge desk with paperwork spread out in front of them, but also the family patriarch, Dimitri Popov.
“I’ll talk to you later,” Efrem said, closing the door behind me and leaving me alone with Annika’s father, uncle, and grandfather.
I’d wanted to have this conversation with just Alexei, but it looked like I might have to have it with all three of them.