Curiosity got the best of Cade, and he searched the internet to see where she had been the night before. He wasn't a stalker. The thought chilled his bones. Interest should have been reason enough. He admired her for not posting social media, but discovered that Tyler Hathorne did. The first thing he noticed was there were no recent pictures of him with Meg. There was a picture of him with a woman very different from her. She looked like she ate as Cade had when accused of murder. The picture tagged #Kanegardenparty. Following the tag, he found pictures of movers and shakers in Boston. Then he saw her out of focus in the background behind a posing couple.

She belonged to a different world, wearing a long dress and chatting with wealthy people. He had money, but he wasn't her kind of wealthy. Following the trail, he eventually found her face frowning. A gossip site had a photo of her and her friend with neither happy. In sharp contrast, there was a photo of Hathorne dancing with the skinny one. The collage didn't need a caption, but it had one. Poor Meg, even if they were only friends, her friend publicly replaced her. He tapped down his itch to reach out to her.

Cade dreaded Mondays. Although Confetti was making great strides, Daisy's owner was getting persistent. A trip to the dog park seemed innocent enough. The crooked cops had duped Cade, but he recognized the trap. He arrived a minute late hoping to avoid her before the instructor started class. Predictably, she walked over to stand by him. His dog licked her dog's ass, but it didn't mean he wanted to. Meg popped in his head. If he wanted to cheat on his hand, she was the one he wanted. At least she would understand why he kept the hallway light on all night.

Cade's focus was on his dog as Confetti showed off. He enjoyed the enthusiastic praise from the instructor. When Confetti played with Daisy, her owner stood in his personal space. "I think they should play together."

He looked at her and shrugged. "Maybe you're right."

"Tomorrow evening?" She smiled like a dog with a steak.

"I'll ask my girlfriend if she'll take him, I have a meeting." If necessary he would bribe Leigh to stand in.

"Um, no. Maybe another time when you're available. We could work on their training. You're so good."

He shrugged. "Just consistency." With lots of unoccupied time.

A million times, Cade regretted the sale of the company. Would he have worked while Leigh quit her job to defend him? The desire for an all-consuming project grew. For years, he worked nonstop. As unhealthy as his schedule was, at least he was never bored.

As his week continued, he began looking forward to the weekend. He made excuses in his own head. It was his brunch plans with Leigh on Sunday or football season had started. Baseball was winding down for the year without playoff hopes. Cade was a fair weather fan, although his childhood neighbor was on the team. He watched or at least follow the score of any local sport's team which was doing well.

Cade woke to rain on Thursday morning. Secretly, he was happy for an excuse not to run. The cold and damp didn't help his mood. By mid afternoon, he wondered if counseling or medication could bring back the old Cade. First, he needed to schedule a physical, since he was about two years overdue. With an appointment on the books a month away, he regretted not calling sooner.

When his phone vibrated while he was working, he didn't stop to look. At four, he broke to take Confetti out. Outside it felt misty. The rain had stopped, but the clouds lingered. When he returned, he looked at his flashing phone.

Do you want to run? His heart sped up. Who needed fate? He needed a friend and his gut told him she did too. The bridge? 6? Her response was a thumbs up emoji.

Cade felt funny and struggled to define it. His heart beat a steady pace, but his steps felt lighter. When he used the bathroom, he glimpsed his smiling face. His eyes had brightened. Denial was fruitless. Meg made him happy.

They arrived first, so he saw her exit a car. She smiled, and she bent down to great Confetti. "I missed you, good boy." His dog agreed by the speed of his wagging tail. After a long greeting, she looked at Cade. "I'm glad you agreed."

He nodded. If he talked, he might mention what he saw her online. The last thing he wanted to see was her frown. The sky was still gray, but she brought sunshine. "Ready?"

She nodded, and they set out. Gaining speed he let her set the pace. The quiet companionship tamped down his need to be on alert. Maybe his trauma started with Meg and it was fitting for her to help heal him. He took comfort in knowing her life wasn't perfect either. They weren't a couple but a pair, each damaged.

As they wound around towards the bridge, they both slowed. For close to an hour, they ran without talking and Cade felt the silence like a weight on his shoulders. He sputtered the first thing on his mind. "Here on Saturday morning?"

Her face lit up, and he felt it was his goal to maintain the glow. "Yeah. Great." She cleared her throat. "You don't have to be afraid."

Did she know? "I'm, um..."

"I just mean. I'm good at being friends. Plus, I think you know you can trust me."

He nodded. "I'm afraid of the dark." What the hell!

She nodded. "I would be afraid of knocking."

He wanted to cry. She understood. "Yeah, that too."

"I wasn't afraid that night. Maybe because I didn't know what was happening. When the guy followed me, I freaked. I was only that scared one other time in my life."

"When?"

She waved her hand. "It was a long time ago."

Cade wanted to know what made her afraid and happy and so many other things. "Trust goes both ways. What's your favorite food?" Who said that?

She laughed. "Hamburgers, why?"

"Seriously? I thought you would say something I had never heard of. Like, I don't know foie gras."

She giggled. "You've obviously heard of it, but I've never had it. What's your favorite meal?"

Cade didn't know. He liked a lot of cuisines. As if with a mind of their own his vocal chords coordinated with his tongue. "Meatloaf and mashed potatoes." His mind caught up. Because they reminded him of his family when he felt safe before the divorce.

"I guess we both eat beef."

He laughed. Friendships had been based on less. "It's Confetti's dinnertime."

"Yeah, I have to work tomorrow." She paused. "See you Saturday."

"Bye." He waved and started his jog across the bridge. Confetti knew the way home and pulled him. When he said heel, the dog fell back to his side. As they drew closer to his house, Confetti surged ahead. Cade didn't blame him; he was hungry too.

On Friday morning, Confetti sighed when they crossed the bridge. Cade wanted to laugh because his dog had fallen for her. Cade didn't find humor in his own thoughts. Saturday the dog stayed by Cade's side until he saw her and yanked the leash forward to greet her. Cade watched as she hugged him. Loving dogs was another thing he never learned about her.

"Do you have a dog?" She looked up at him and frowned. "No. My mother would never allow it." Her mouth opened, and she quickly shut it.

"Mine wouldn't either."

She nodded. "Um, next weekend, I'm dog sitting."

He felt disappointed. "Can you still run?"

She looked down at Confetti. "It depends on if you like Blue. Will you be jealous?"

"Whose dog?"

She looked at him. "Tyler's."

He had turned into the jealous one. "So friendship restored?"

A shadow crossed her face. "No. I have visitation."

"Seriously?"

She laughed. "Not really. He's going away with his girlfriend."

Cade raised his eyebrows as he pretended he hadn't spied on her. "So he's moved on."

She shrugged. "I guess." She had stood up and stamped her foot. "I really don't understand men."

Cade chuckled. "We're really not very complicated." She resembled a bull breathing out of her nose, but it somehow looked adorable. "What exactly is the issue? If you are just friends, shouldn't you be glad he's dating?"

"Yes, but he said we can't be friends or his relationship will have no chance. We're just friends!"

Cade resisted the urge to laugh. "Because he liked you for a long time." And probably still does.

"If you had a girlfriend would she be jealous because we run together?"

"We need to run. Are you ready?"

She nodded. "You didn't answer me."

Cade laughed. "No." Because he wasn't looking for a relationship.

If he let his small head decide, the question would have no bearing. As they set pace together, he wondered how long they would continue as running partners.

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